If you’re buying a new build in Sutton Coldfield, ask about inspection access while the developer is still giving you an estimated completion date. Once the Notice to Complete arrives, you’ll need to fit the inspection around the site team’s availability and your conveyancer’s timetable. Gather the documents now so you can request a slot quickly.
Arrange a Local Inspection and Site Access
Sutton Coldfield is within Ashbridge's Birmingham inspection area, where the lead engineer attends in person. Send the development name, plot number and site office contact when asking about availability. If your plot has a new postcode, include the developer's site entrance or a marked site plan so the inspector can meet the right person. See the Birmingham inspection service and coverage and confirm the appointment before relying on a completion timetable.
Check the Developer and Reservation Date
Find the developer’s legal name in the reservation paperwork, then check the New Homes Quality Board register. A trading name on a development sign may differ from the company in the contract. The register explains when coverage starts and how to check a developer whose status has changed.
For a home covered by Version 2 of the New Homes Quality Code, which applies to eligible reservations from 2 March 2026, the developer must give you the opportunity to inspect or appoint a suitably qualified inspector. Earlier covered reservations use the earlier version. If your purchase is outside the scheme, ask the developer and conveyancer which code or warranty terms apply and how access is arranged.
Ask for a Slot and Send the Right Information
Under Version 2, the inspection is normally after the Notice to Complete and before legal completion. An earlier visit is possible by agreement. Ask the site team to confirm the date, access arrangements and any safety requirements in writing. Give your inspector the development name, plot number, reservation specification, site office contact and agreed appointment time. The new postal address may not yet be easy to find, so include a site plan or arrival instructions.
If you hire an inspector under Version 2, check their professional association membership, relevant professional indemnity insurance and experience with residential inspections. They must follow the standard NHQB checklist. Use the house or apartment checklist for the property you’re buying.
Example: The Notice Arrives Before a Weekend
Suppose the notice arrives on Friday and the site manager offers a slot on the following Tuesday. Send the plot reference and notice to the inspector that day, then check with the developer whether the offered time allows the inspection to be completed in daylight. If you have an agreed upgrade, send its written specification. The inspector can use it to identify the fitting you expect to find and record a discrepancy if it is within the inspection scope.
Know What to Do With the Results
The pre-completion inspection records accessible issues within the checklist’s scope. Send the record to the developer, ask which items will be addressed before completion and keep their response. If a significant issue raises a question about completing the purchase, share the record with your conveyancer. The checklist itself is not intended to change the completion date.
After you move in, log any new issues as you discover them. A post-completion snagging survey is a separate appointment and may help you document defects for the aftercare team.
If you have your Sutton Coldfield plot details and an estimated completion date, check your inspection window with Ashbridge Design.