New Build Snagging

If you move into a new build home, you may expect everything to be perfect. However, unfortunately there are often small problems and issues that occur. These issues are known as snagging and they need to be put right after completion.

This brief guide aims to help with the problem of new build snagging. It will also show how a structural warranty can help both property developers and homeowners.

Where do you find snagging?

New build snagging may include:

• Small areas of damage (such as cosmetic scratches or minor settlement cracks)
• Areas where the work isn’t up to standard (such as loose hinges or screws)
• Areas where the specification is not completed to the agreed standard, or not completed at all 
• Any serious oversights concerning defects or breaches of regulations

Under the Consumer Code for New Homes, new-home developers must provide the buyer with comprehensive and accessible information on snagging. They must explain what it is and how the homeowner can report any snagging issues. 

When moving into a new home, developers may request that snags are reported as soon as possible. So understanding what to look for in new build snagging is crucial.

What is a snagging list?

If you’re not sure where to start, there are some useful snagging list templates that you can download online. Here are some tips of things to look for.

What to look for outside:

• Do any of the roof tiles look cracked or loose?
• Is the brickwork and/or render in good order?
• Are all the outdoor boundaries, such as fences, complete?

What to look for inside:

• Are the doors properly hung?
• Do all external doors and windows open and close as they should? 
• Are there any scratches on the glass?
• Do all the appliances in kitchens and bathrooms work properly?
• Are all walls and ceilings evenly painted, with no scratches and defects?

How is the homeowner protected? 

Under a New Home Structural Warranty Policy, the developer of a new home sold on the open market is responsible for all repairs and defects within the first two years. 

One Guarantee is a member of the Consumer Code for New Homes. This offers dispute resolution, where there is a breakdown in communication between the developer and homeowner.

To find out more about the features of the New Homes policy, please get in touch with the Guild at www.guildmc.com