A snagging survey checklist is an essential element of the new build process that ensures all minor issues are identified before completion. These issues can be cosmetic, but they should also be spotted and fixed before you move in to your new home. It is important to conduct a snagging inspection because it can be difficult for the housebuilder to catch everything themselves, and often the quality of work falls down during the half-year or year-end completion periods when the site teams are focused on meeting their numbers.
While a snagging survey is not a structural survey (which can only be carried out by a RICS-qualified surveyor), it will identify many issues your housebuilder must rectify before you can move into your new property. Often, these issues are very small and can be missed by a new homeowner, but it is vital to check and test each area of the house to make sure it is finished to the standard you expect.
Creating a Comprehensive Snagging List: Tips for New Homeowners
Using a snagging survey checklist can help you get the best results from your new build. Ideally, this should be done before exchanging contracts with your housebuilder and should be conducted by a snagging inspector.
It is important to be specific with your snagging list and to clearly state which issues are the most urgent, and which are less so. This helps to ensure that the correct tasks are allocated to the right person and that the tasks are completed in a timely manner. Using a snagging software management system like PlanRadar can help to ensure that each task is assigned to the relevant people and is tracked as it is completed.