Snagging - When is it meant to be done?

Neoneo

Im due to move into my new build bellway home soon. We've got a date when they show us how to 'work the house'. Is that when we can do the snagging?

They've told us their site manager does it (when i don't know) but everywhere else i've read people are normally invited to do it before they move in.

mark5

We done our snagging list with the site manager and sales rep about a week before we exchanged, the site manager showed us how the boiler etc worked the same time. That was with Barratt's in 2006.

I've still got the list and some of the minor issues were never put right, it was a total waste of time.

Kyrae

I think the builders usually like to do the snagging themselves, and they claim they do the snagging and the house is inspected by multiple people, multiple times etc, how much this is true i don't know. We were shown around the house by the site manager (Barratts, not Bellway) after exchange of contracts but before completion, and as we walked around he filled out a tick box form saying he'd shown us things etc, and we could point out anything we weren't happy with.

After we moved in, our site manager dropped in a week later then about a fortnight later to check how we were getting on and to see if we'd spotted any snags, by that time we'd had a chance to spot snags and reported them. All our snags were fixed within a week or so, couldn't ask for better. However that might be because they're still building houses on the estate, I've heard plenty of stories of people buying houses on estates that have been completed and having problems getting snags fixed.

Have you exchanged contracts on the house yet? If so, probably won't matter if you spot the snags now or once you've moved in, builders will still expect you to complete on the date planned unless it's a huge snag that makes the house unsafe, etc. So might be worth snagging once you move in and at your own leisure. If you haven't exchanged yet then it might be worth doing more thorough snagging as maybe you can delay exchange until you're happy all snags are sorted.

Neoneo

Thanks for your post. Exchange is done but not completion. I've been told the same thing, that they do the snagging but what they feel is fine to get away with i may not. I think i'll take someone with me on the day to have a look around too and then do as you did which is then to look around fully after completion.

Neoneo

Anyone got any more advice? Going to see them soon

julianashcroft

When I bought my first house, a new build, before final payment was paid to the builder and their solicitors were pushing me for it be made, I went round and snagged the house myself and sent the list off to the solicitors and told them the final payment would be made once the items on the list had been attended to. I think they were all done in about three days.

Cannon_Fodder

Also keep snagging through the weeks and months after purchase.

Don't be fobbed off if something didn't make the list during an "official" visit.

Hassle them to complete fixes before they close down the site.

Neoneo

Will they have an issue with me snagging during the inspection of the house where they show me how to work the boiler and them everso tricky doors and windows?