It’s a common assumption that a brand new home doesn’t need a survey — it’s new, so it must be fine. In reality, new builds are finished at pace, and even good developers hand over homes with defects, or “snags”. A snagging survey is your chance to catch them while it’s still the developer’s job to put them right.
What a snagging survey covers
A snagging survey is a detailed inspection of a new property looking for defects in workmanship and finish — the things that should have been done properly but weren’t. That ranges from the cosmetic to the genuinely important:
- Poor paintwork, plastering and finishing
- Doors and windows that don’t fit or close properly
- Tiling, grouting and sealant issues
- Plumbing and drainage problems
- Heating and ventilation faults
- Gaps, draughts and insulation issues
- External issues — brickwork, guttering, drives and landscaping
Why timing matters
The best time for a snagging survey is before you complete or as soon as you move in. New homes typically come with a developer’s defects period (often the first two years) during which the builder should fix legitimate snags at no cost to you. The sooner snags are documented and reported, the smoother that process tends to be — and a thorough, independent report carries far more weight with a developer than a homeowner’s own list.
Why use an independent surveyor
You can certainly walk round with a checklist yourself, but an experienced surveyor knows where defects hide and what’s actually a defect versus normal settlement. A professional snagging report gives you a clear, credible document to hand the developer.
We carry out snagging surveys on new builds across Bath, the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire. If you’ve bought new, get in touch and we’ll make sure you get the quality you paid for.
