Guides
Plain-English Guides
Practical answers for homeowners and new-build buyers, with sources listed on every guide.
New-build Snagging and Inspections
How Much Does a Snagging Survey Cost? (2026 Prices)
What snagging surveys and pre-completion inspections cost in England in 2026, what changes the price, and what to check before you book.
Read the guideWhat Happens After Your Snagging Report?
Do builders have to fix snags, and how long do you have to report them? Sending the report, the Code timescales, complaints and the New Homes Ombudsman.
Read the guideNew-build Warranty Explained: 10-year Cover and the First 2 Years
How new-home warranties split into a two-year builder period and years 3–10, what that means for defects, and when to get a 2-year inspection.
Read the guideBuying a New Build at Langley, Sutton Coldfield
The 5,500-home Langley development near Walmley: what's planned, who is behind it, and how to protect yourself when you buy there.
Read the guideCan I Do My Own Pre-completion Inspection? (2026 Rules)
Code V2 lets buyers inspect their own new build before completion. What the rules say, the hard part, and when a professional is worth it.
Read the guidePre-completion Inspections Explained
What the New Homes Quality Code lets you do before completion, when to book, and what happens to the defects found.
Read the guideIs a Snagging Survey Worth It?
What a professional snagging survey checks that you might miss, when it pays for itself, when to book and what it costs.
Read the guideWhat Is Snagging? Meaning, Snag Lists and What Happens Next
What snagging means for a new home and in construction, what counts as a snag, when snagging happens and who has to fix the problems.
Read the guideNew-build Snagging Checklist: Room by Room (Free to Print)
A room-by-room snagging list for new-build homes in England, written by an engineer. Print it or save it as a PDF and take it round your home.
Read the guideHow to Choose a Snagging Company: 9 Checks Before You Book
Qualifications, insurance, independence and the report itself: what to check before you pay any snagging company or inspector.
Read the guideSnagging Survey for New Build Flats
Buying a new build flat in England? Find out what a snagging survey can cover, what to confirm about shared areas and when to arrange access.
Read the guideSnagging Reinspection After Repairs
Find out when to book a snagging reinspection, how to prepare your original report and what to ask when a developer says the repairs are complete.
Read the guideNew Build Snagging Before Flooring Is Fitted
Decide when to snag a new build with unfinished floors. Find out what can be seen before fitting and which checks need the finished floor.
Read the guideShared Ownership New Build Snagging in England
Buying a shared ownership new build in England? Learn how to request inspection access, check your defect dates and send snags to the right team.
Read the guideHow to Prepare for a Snagging Survey
Get your new build ready for a snagging survey. Confirm access, prepare your plans and photos, and tell the inspector about issues that come and go.
Read the guideNew Build Garden Drainage Snagging
Water collecting in your new build garden? Learn what to photograph after rain, what to ask the developer and what a snagging survey can check.
Read the guideNew Build Window and Door Snagging
Check how new build windows and doors open, close and lock, and learn how to record glazing damage, draughts and leaks for your developer.
Read the guideNew Build Loft Insulation Snagging
Learn what visible gaps and uneven insulation can look like in a new build loft, and what drawings or photos to ask the developer for.
Read the guidePre-completion Inspection in Sutton Coldfield
Buying a new build in Sutton Coldfield? Check when you can book a pre-completion inspection, what the inspector can check and what to send.
Read the guideNew Build Handover Checklist for Solihull Buyers
Use this Solihull new build handover checklist to record keys, warranties, meter readings and defects before you lose track of the details.
Read the guideExtensions, Planning and Building Regulations
Do I Need Planning Permission for an Extension?
Permitted development, prior approval and full planning, explained for houses in England, including the catch on newer estates.
Read the guidePlanning vs Building Regulations Drawings: The Difference
Why most extensions need two sets of drawings, what each one shows, and where structural calculations fit.
Read the guideSnagging Your Extension: Practical Completion and Final Checks
How to snag a finished extension or loft conversion with your builder: the walk-round, the paperwork, holding back a retention, and what to check.
Read the guideHow Much Do Extension Drawings Cost in Total? Fees Explained
Drawings, structural calculations, the national planning fee and building control: what you pay before building starts, with a Birmingham worked example.
Read the guideWhen Do You Need Structural Calculations?
Wall removals, steel beams, extensions and lofts: when calculations are needed, why building control asks for them, and what they should include.
Read the guideHow to Compare Extension Design Quotes on the Same Scope
Compare extension design quotes on the same scope, including survey, planning drawings, building regulations, calculations and follow-up work.
Read the guideParty Wall Agreements for Extensions: When You Need One
When the Party Wall etc Act applies to an extension or loft, how much notice to give, what happens if a neighbour disagrees, and who arranges it.
Read the guideWhat Drawings Are Needed for a Planning Application?
See which site plans, floor plans and elevations to prepare for a house extension planning application in England, and what to check before submitting.
Read the guideHow Much Do Planning Drawings Cost for an Extension?
Compare planning drawing fees for single and double storey extensions, find out what Ashbridge includes and separate design costs from council fees.
Read the guideWhat Is Included in Building Regulations Drawings?
See what goes into a technical drawing pack for an extension, how it supports building control and what to check before handing it to your builder.
Read the guideSteel Beam Calculations for Removing a Load Bearing Wall
Find out what an engineer checks before a load bearing wall is removed, what the calculations cover and what to send for a quote in England.
Read the guideDo I Need a Structural Engineer for a Loft Conversion?
Find out when to bring in a structural engineer for a loft conversion, what they check and how their work fits with drawings and building control.
Read the guideGarage Conversion Building Regulations Drawings
See what technical drawings should show when converting a garage into a habitable room in England, from the floor and door opening to ventilation.
Read the guideWhat Happens in a Measured Survey for a House Extension?
Learn what a measured survey records before extension design, how to prepare for the visit and what to ask about levels, boundaries and access.
Read the guideWhat Drawings Does a Builder Need to Quote for an Extension?
Put together the drawings, specifications and instructions builders need to price the same house extension, and spot allowances when comparing quotes.
Read the guideSolihull House Extension Planning Application Checklist
Prepare a Solihull house extension planning application. Check which consent you need, what to show on the drawings and what to submit.
Read the guideBuilding Control for House Extensions in Birmingham
Find out how Birmingham homeowners apply for building control, what a full plans submission includes and how to arrange inspections.
Read the guideDo You Need Planning Permission for a Garage Conversion in Solihull?
Check whether a Solihull garage conversion needs planning permission, how parking conditions affect it and what to prepare for building control.
Read the guidePermitted Development on New Build Estates in Solihull
Before extending a new build in Solihull, check planning conditions, your plot’s permitted development rights and any separate estate restrictions.
Read the guideExtension Drawings for Conservation Areas in Birmingham
Planning an extension in a Birmingham conservation area? Check Article 4 and estate controls, then prepare drawings that show the local context.
Read the guideDo You Need Planning Permission for a Rear Extension in Coventry?
Check planning routes for a Coventry rear extension and use the council’s design guidance to assess boundaries, windows and ground levels.
Read the guideDo You Need a Lawful Development Certificate for a House Extension?
Find out when to apply for a lawful development certificate for an extension in England, what drawings to include and which checks still come next.
Read the guideBuilding Notice or Full Plans for a House Extension?
Compare building notice and full plans for a house extension in England, including design checks, inspections, quotes and when to choose each route.
Read the guideWhen Do You Need a Build Over Agreement for an Extension?
Planning an extension near a sewer? Find out when to contact your water company, what to show on the drawings and how to avoid late design changes.
Read the guideDo You Need Planning Permission for a Side Return Extension?
Work out the planning route for a side return extension in England by checking the original house, side wall, boundaries and local restrictions.
Read the guideWhat Happens If Planning Permission for Your Extension Is Refused?
Learn what to do after a house extension is refused planning permission in England, including reading the decision, revising plans and appeal deadlines.
Read the guideReady for a Fixed Price?
Tell us about your project or the home you're buying. You'll get a clear, fixed quote, usually the same day.