A snag is any defect in a new home: unfinished, damaged, or not built to the required standard. A snagging survey is an independent inspection that finds and records them.
What gets checked
- Walls, ceilings, floors and finishes
- Windows and doors: fit, seals, operation and security
- Kitchen and bathrooms: sealing, fittings, water flow and drainage
- Heating, hot water and electrical fittings (visual and functional)
- Loft: insulation, ventilation and services
- Outside: brickwork, pointing, render, roof line, gutters, drainage and paving falls
Is it worth it?
Most new homes have defects, and buyers find it hard to spot the ones that matter. A professional report is specific, photographed and referenced, so it's much harder for a developer to dismiss than a buyer's own list.
When to book
Before completion, if your developer is NHQB-registered: see pre-completion inspections explained. After completion is still worthwhile, and again just before the developer's two-year defects period ends.
Cost
From £325 for a flat, £370 for a 3-bedroom house. Get an instant price.