New Build Snagging Inspections

Snagging is the process of checking and verifying a new construction property in detail, looking to detect defects, identify poor workmanship and any other serious problems that do not comply with construction regulations.

In a new property, almost anything can be snagged during a snag inspection. Your snagging inspector will look for anything broken or damaged during the construction process, checking how well fixtures and fittings have been installed, verify the quality of the construction finish and decoration and the like. The types of problems a snagging inspector may find could include scratches on a window pane or counter, clouds on surfaces due to poor decoration, faulty ventilation fans, insufficient insulation on water pipes and tanks , uneven and poor turf laying (often caused by poor groundwork), a ladder off the tolerance or poor caulking on woodwork. A full list would be almost endless, as anything on a property could get detected. Most new homes in the UK will easy have about 100 constructive issues as most developments are built massively and on tight deadlines.

Snagging inspections work perfectly when you are moving into new construction. You can hire experts to review the home’s defects and make a report to you. This would completely improve the quality of your newly built home and give you the peace of mind that you won’t have to repair any defects in the immediate future.

The snagging survey, snagging list or snagging inspection is a common expression used in recent years in the UK construction industry. It is used to detect or identify construction defects and describe their resolution process.

This is due to the fact that most new-build properties are now being purchased in blue print (planned), exposing buyers to an unknown quality of construction finishes. Snagging inspection is often a source of conflict between buyers and builders, which has led to an increase in demand for this service to cover the buyer’s legal rights.

Also known as a snag list, it is a list of defects on a recently built property. They are the result of a visual inspection led and carried out directly by a qualified professional of Architecture or Engineering or by personnel duly trained for that purpose, including surveyors, project or site managers, contractors or building traders and in general professionals with extensive experience in the construction industry who are known as snaggers, but always supervised by the Engineer or the Architect.

It is recommended that a construction professional take care of your snagging inspection, as he will find more defects than “any of your best friends”(they will know what to look for and spot issues that would be missed by the untrained eye), since the builder is not obliged to inform you about defects that he is aware of. It is for the good of the buyer.

The top ten snagging defects that we see most often are:
1.- Plasterwork & decoration improperly finished, particularly around areas such as piping, media plates, light switches and plug sockets
2.- Tiling grouting incomplete.
3.-Architraves & skirting boards caulking incomplete.
4.-External brickwork lack of wash and drain vents in place.
5.-Block work improperly pointed.
6.-Loft insulation incomplete or laid incorrectly.
7.-Extractor fans venting into interstitial space or voids.
8.-Soil vent pipes not connected to roof discharge grill.
9.-Broken roof tiles.
10.- Defective or scratched glazing.

This list is comprehensive but not limited
So, this is an extensive list of what a snagging inspector would look for:

For windows – has all paintwork been finished off, including undersides of sills?
Is the framework on windows and doors free from damage?
Is glazing throughout the property free from scratches, paint splashes and cracks?
Are all sanitary fittings undamaged and clean?
Are all kitchen units and worktops free from damage?
Are the doors of cupboards hung correctly?
Is any floor tiling complete, especially around cupboards, fittings and doorways?
Is any sheet flooring flat and free from curling edges and bubbling?
Is the skirting woodwork and paintwork undamaged and free from defects?
Does the gradient and access of the drive/path allow for clear access?
Has a top coat been applied to all external painted surfaces; and is the finish to a satisfactory standard?

It is important to note that you can perform the snagging inspection at any time during the first two years of your warranty and submit a problem list at any time during this period.

If you are not buying the property on blue print and the property is finished, you should inspect it before exchanging contracts. This will allow you to include written clauses in your contract to cover snagging issues, such clauses could allow you to withhold a sum of money or delay completion until repair work is completed to standard.

This is typically done two weeks prior to move-in (legal completion) and will give the builder a reasonable amount of time to deal with any defects identified during the inspection.

Having a snagging report given to property developers before moving in means that there will be no disagreement about damage being caused by a developer or by an occupant

Home Builders Federation (HBF)has published a voluntary code, Customer Service Code of Conduct, which states: The home builder will cooperate with duly qualified professional advisers appointed by the client to resolve disputes, if they arise.

If the builder has difficulties to allow you access, but having both parties interest in the final deal, your lawyer will be able to arrange access amicably. This has not been a major problem lately as developers are used to dealing with us, knowing that it is a legal right of the buyer.

It depends on the size and condition of the property, but as a reference, we spend around 2 to 3 hours in a three bedroom house. Larger properties will take longer accordingly.

We aim to turn around the report within 24 hours as we need time to put the report together off site. If you have chosen for us to provide a printed and bound hard-copy, please allow 2 working days.

In general, the answer is no. That is the importance of getting a detailed snagging inspection and a complete snagging report the first time. A never ending list of issues is a headache and costly for a developer. They also want to avoid owners from adding drawbacks they have caused.

Generally, building developers will have a policy in their contracts that you can only submit ONE list of issues and cannot add items once it is submitted. However, major failures will be covered by the new constructions’ 10 years warranty.

The home owner will pay for the snagging inspection and report.

The developer must pay the costs of fixing all the inconveniences in a newly built property.

The new build snagging period is two years. A developer must fix any snags reported during this period. However, ideally a snagging survey will be done before move in day. This is to ensure that any defects found are not attributed to damage caused by the property being lived in rather than poor workmanship.

A new build property in the UK could reach up to 100 drawbacks, but the buyer won’t know what to look for when following a complicated checklist. This is where professional snagging experts come in. The making of a snagging, can become a very stressful and expensive experience if new construction defects are not detected accordingly.

Considering nowadays new home prices, paying a specialist to make sure you get value for your money is worth every penny.

This will depend on the size of the property and the quality of the development. The same developer can have different finishes depending on the locations or neighborhoods. For a typical four-bedroom house, we found around 150 drawbacks. However, only 50 and up to 400+ can be found.

Builders commonly use the term snagging, but it is not exactly a contractual term. It’s a construction industry slang term for the practice of inspecting building work before it’s completed and generating a list of unsatisfactory or outstanding work that has to be completed. These snags are minor flaws or omissions that the contractor must correct for their client before the project’s practical completion.

Snagging inspections should be performed following a thorough builder’s cleaning. Space should be kept clean at all times and be readily accessible. Any tools or protective materials should be removed from the area. There should also be ample, permanent lighting to allow for easy inspection of all items. Hot water, alarms, ventilation, and under floor heating should all be tested to ensure they are in good working order.

A professional inspector is more likely than a homeowner to find more flaws. As part of the service, they can communicate with the house builder on your behalf and advocate for remedying the flaws. That also means you won’t have to become involved personally. For an extra cost, you can have them verify the work to ensure that no additional damage has occurred, as well as provide support until your new house warranty expires.

Along with the National House-Building Council (NHBC) and Premier Guarantee, LABC is one of three major providers of structural or “new home” warranties. The most prevalent warranty is the NHBC warranty, which covers 80 percent of the new-build market. There are additional warranty providers who follow distinct rules of ethics. The NHBC, LABC, Premier, etc., will all expect the builder to fix any flaws within the first two years; and only intervene if a disagreement arises.

It enormously depends on the property’s length and production quality. A three-bedroom residence will usually incorporate a hundred and 250 snags, but this wide variety is probably a good deal decrease or a good deal greater.

A Snagging Inspection is different in that it is a specialized process that focuses on the quality of craftsmanship and issues with objects that do not comply with building requirements or tolerances established by organizations such as the NHBC. A structural survey is more appropriate for an older home with problems.

Snag surveyors examine all property sections that can be visually inspected, including cosmetic concerns, plumbing, electrical, and outside finishing. They inspect your property for compliance with technical standards and construction rules, as well as including thermal imaging as part of our assessment to offer documentation of any defects, such as draughts around doors and heating system malfunctions.