ABOUT
After 35 years of working in the New House building industry, and witnessing firsthand a continuing decline in quality standards, it was time to create a New Build Snagging service that new home buyers can feel confident in to ensure their new house is of the top quality standard that is expected.
If you've purchased a brand new home, you're probably expecting it to be absolutely perfect. Unfortunately, even the best new homes can have issues.
For too long, housing developers have been taking advantage of new home buyers limited knowledge of quality standards and take little responsibility for spotting and rectifying defects themselves. Allow us to find the faults you can't see.
SG Snagging Surveys offer that extensive knowledge to assist new home buyers in understanding the quality standards needed to ensure your new house is good enough to be your new home.
A new home does not mean it will be a flawless property - ensure you get the quality you have paid for.
Due to the fast paced nature of the building industry, the undue pressure on site managers to achieve targets and overall reduction in the skills base within the industry, new builds are continually being handed over to their new owners with high levels of defects, caused by poor workmanship and lack of quality control.
Developers are not obliged to inform you about any defects that may be present in your new home whether they are aware of them or not. It is up to the homebuyer to report the defects in order for them to be rectified.
Defects need to be reported within the first two years of taking ownership of the property, otherwise, the developer has no responsibility to remedy them, and they might not be covered by the building warranty.
As property is likely to be the largest purchase you will make, full identification and dcumenting of defects is essential to safeguard your investment and ensure that you get the property you have paid for.
Warranties
One of the big attractions of buying a new-build home is the peace of mind that comes with the warranty associated with the purchase.
Most new-build homes have a 10-year warranty for building problems plus a developer’s warranty – usually for two years – for fixtures and fittings. It is within the 2 years builders warranty that you need to have all defects rectified or they will be at your expense.
When you purchase your new property, you should receive details of the warranty provided by the developer. There should be clear guidance on what is covered and how to make a claim.
While NHBC Buildmark cover makes the builder responsible for putting defects right within a reasonable time, as long as a problem is raised within 2 years after the completion date, and up to 3 years in cases of shared parts. If the builder fails to do so, the NHBC offers a free resolution service to help with disputes about defects relating to the NHBC standards. (other insurances are very similar with some variations).
Keeping clear records of any snagging issues, including a professional Home Snagging Report, will greatly aid any dispute resolution process.
How we can help
SG Snagging Surveys will give you peace of mind in the knowledge that your new home has been thoroughly inspected for any defects that may otherwise go unnoticed until your property is out its warranty period.
On average a home owner will find 10 - 20 defects in their new build homes. A professional snagging survey will on average identify 130 - 200 defects giving you the comfort that your new home is snagged to the level you deserve.