What is House Snagging & When’s a Survey Necessary?

There are several methods for inspecting the structure for existing faults or concerns that may cause problems in the future when buying a house. In the conveyancing procedure, there are various sorts of surveys and valuations, one of which is known as a snagging survey.

What is Snagging?

Snagging is the process of thoroughly inspecting your newly constructed home or apartment for flaws. A snagging check can reveal anything that isn’t up to standard in terms of craftsmanship.

• Identify anything that hasn’t been done according to the agreed-upon specifications.
• Identify any tasks that have yet to be completed.
• Most significantly, it can detect work that is in violation of building codes or other laws.

Who needs a Snagging Report?

Anyone purchasing a new house or unit should consider a snagging inspection. You could argue that if you’re spending £150,000 to £1 million or more, it’d be crazy not to!

A snagging examination can also be beneficial after a significant renovation or extension.

Property investors might benefit from snagging services as well. It’s much better for a snagging service to discover major flaws in your new buy-to-let than it is for your new renter to discover them!

A professional snagging report can also help strengthen your case if you’ve already moved in and are having snagging concerns with your builder or developer.

When Should You Do a Snagging Inspection?

Before your solicitor completes the sale and before you hand over any money, you should have a snagging survey completed. You’ll have a lot more clout in getting the issues fixed this way.

If that isn’t an option, simply order the snagging report as soon as possible after receiving the keys.

Don’t worry if you moved in a while ago and have yet to complete your snagging survey. Before the builder’s warranty expires, you can have it done at any time. In most circumstances, this means you can get a snagging survey completed up to two years after you move in, and in other cases even longer.

Why You Should Use a Professional Snagging Company?

If you want, you can make your own snagging list. However, there are numerous benefits to employing a professional. Professional snagging services can save you a lot of time and effort while also providing you with a much more comprehensive snagging report.

Professional snagging services are familiar with the most common problems that arise in a new build home or flat, and where to look and what to check for. They recognize when something is correct and when it is incorrect based on their previous experiences.

What happens next?

After the survey is completed, the snagging list should be forwarded to the property developer, who can analyze the findings and correct any issues that are discovered. If you hire a surveyor, they will send the list directly to the developer and provide you with a copy to evaluate. This saves time in the process, which is yet another reason why employing a surveyor is the ideal alternative. If you’re still unsure, a surveyor can walk you through the issues they discovered. If you conducted the survey yourself or had it done for you, you’ll need to make arrangements to deliver the results to the developer.

The surveyors on our panel can improve your snagging process by monitoring construction on site, digitizing snagging evidence and completing a smooth handover through our Snagging Report Service. Contact us for more information.