New build snagging - any recommendations?

hoth0416

Hi all

My new build is due to complete in March so I'm starting to look at snagging companies.

From my research, it seems as though the consensus is that getting a snagging company to do an inspection is worth the money.

So we're now looking at the wide range of companies trying to work out who the best option is.

We've found the following companies for a 4 bedroom house in Wales:

- HomeSnag (https://www.homesnag.co.uk)
£995 for Snagging Survey​, Re-inspection Survey, ​18 month Snagging Survey, Thermal heat loss Survey

- HouseScan (https://www.housescan.co.uk/)
£725 for Inspection, thermal imaging scan, re-inspection / de-snag

- New Build Inspections (https://www.newbuildinspections.com)
£699 for Inspection, re-inspection

- SiteSnagging (https://www.sitesnagging.co.uk)
£435 for Inspection

- MDR Home Inspections (https://www.mdrhomeinspections.co.uk)
£366 for Inspection

- GH Professional Snagging (https://www.ghprofessionalsnagging.co.uk)
£579 for Inspection, thermal imaging scan, re-inspection

- Brick Kickers (http://www.brickkickers.co.uk)
£449 for Inspection

Does anyone have any recommendations?

It would be good to have a comprehensive report done, with a follow up to check the issues have been rectified, but is this worth the extra money?

Thanks

Geordielad

hoth0416 wrote: »

Hi all

My new build is due to complete in March so I'm starting to look at snagging companies.

From my research, it seems as though the consensus is that getting a snagging company to do an inspection is worth the money.

So we're now looking at the wide range of companies trying to work out who the best option is.

We've found the following companies for a 4 bedroom house in Wales:

- HomeSnag (https://www.homesnag.co.uk)
£995 for Snagging Survey​, Re-inspection Survey, ​18 month Snagging Survey, Thermal heat loss Survey

- HouseScan (https://www.housescan.co.uk/)
£725 for Inspection, thermal imaging scan, re-inspection / de-snag

- New Build Inspections (https://www.newbuildinspections.com)
£699 for Inspection, re-inspection

- SiteSnagging (https://www.sitesnagging.co.uk)
£435 for Inspection

- MDR Home Inspections (https://www.mdrhomeinspections.co.uk)
£366 for Inspection

- GH Professional Snagging (https://www.ghprofessionalsnagging.co.uk)
£579 for Inspection, thermal imaging scan, re-inspection

- Brick Kickers (http://www.brickkickers.co.uk)
£449 for Inspection

Does anyone have any recommendations?

It would be good to have a comprehensive report done, with a follow up to check the issues have been rectified, but is this worth the extra money?

Thanks

A new build will always need snagging, I'm talking as a joiner here who has worked on newbuild housing.
These prices seem high, but never mind. A couple of easy snags you can do yourself, that will only show up after maybe a year. All tradesmen on newbuild houses are on a price so will therefore try to cut corners to make more money. Here are a couple of easy snags.
Look at the screws in your doors. If you see the letters GYP on the heads, this means they're drywall screws. Joiners use them becasuse they're faster that pre drilling screwholes. But they're on
Y designed to hold plasterboards so,after a while they work loose and the door won't close. These need to be removed and replaced with proper wood screws. Another problem you might find is on your door handles, if the plate against the door the handle is atttached to is round, it should be fitted with throughbolts. These are fine bolts that go from one side of the door to the other therefore clamping the handles together. Joiners often omit these as they're fiddly. But you won't know for a few months until the handles come loose.
To find out remove the round cover at base of handle bu unscrewing or popping it off.
Hope that helps even a little

KNorth

Hi,

We have just moved into a new build property and we used HomeSnag after being recommended them by a family member. The report was very detailed (around 40 pages long...!) and helped to pick up a number of things that I wouldn't have noticed. Most were very minor and I know that perhaps they have to be seen to be worth the money, but knowing nothing about building it was helpful to point out all of the little finishing bits that need rectifying. I actually have a maintenance guy from the developer here going through the list as I write this. The site manager has been great so far... I hope it continues.

We only went for the basic package (3 bed) and that is enough for now. We will likely opt for the re-inspection survey before our warranty runs out if we find any further issues.

Worth the money in my opinion.

Thanks

billy2shots

Very interested in this as we are moving to a new build imminently.

What's the consensus on time of survey.
I keep reading after exchange and before completion or even after completion.

To me, before exchange is logical as it may speed up the repairs from the developer so exchange can take place.

rijack

billy2shots wrote: »

Very interested in this as we are moving to a new build imminently.

What's the consensus on time of survey.
I keep reading after exchange and before completion or even after completion.

To me, before exchange is logical as it may speed up the repairs from the developer so exchange can take place.

I'm also looking into this.. Unfortunately for me this wont be doable, as it's still being built..

I have heard that the 2 year warranty you get with the developer should cover snagging issues, so some people have said to go in after completion and a certain time being at the house..

That being said - i also read that doing so can sometimes create issues in the sense that the developer could say you caused it?

billy2shots

It is a mine field. I completely understand the 2 year developers responsibility and the 10 year nhbc warranty but I thinking practically.

If the developer moves off site it could by a pain in the backside getting them back to fix things. Add to that the grey area of 'you caused that' and I would feel safer to have the house snagged before exchanging.

Of course more snags will be picked up in the next 2 years but hopefully anything major will be picked up by the 'experts'.
My house has been standing a few months so I have visited a few times.
I already picked up ALL the extractor fans aren't wired correctly and don't turn off with the lights (ever, had to manually turn them off on isolater after 30 minutes). 4 toilets, kitchen and utility!!

Doesn't fill me with confidence and who knows what else I haven't picked up.

rijack

I was tempted by the snagging.org checklist. I wonder if anyone has used this.. 9.99 for the guide and a forum for any questions..

I might try and dig out some reviews of anyone who's used it to see how detailed it is.. Some free ones are things like.. "are the corners painted" etc.

KNorth

We had our survey completed after exchange but before moving in as the sale overlapped with our rental agreement. We also made sure to notify the sales office of any defects e.g. scratches on the hob on the first day it to get around who caused it etc. They seemed fine with that but are yet to replace..

I have read that some developers won't allow survey companies onto the site until completion and in our contract it stated that exchange couldn't be held up for 'minor works' so might be worth checking what these entail if you also have that clause.

billy2shots

KiNorth wrote: »

We also made sure to notify the sales office of any defects e.g. scratches on the hob on the first day it to get around who caused it etc. They seemed fine with that but are yet to replace..

.

That's my worry. Once exchanged there is no incentive to remedy defects in a timely manner.

Good point about the minor works not delaying exchange and something to look into.

My developer agreed that a snagging company can come in before exchange so hopefully feedback on here about companies will help me choose.

hoth0416

Thanks all for responses.

After speaking to a number of people, we are unsure on whether to get a professional snagging company.

Part of me thinks that if we get a comprehensive list that we go through ourselves, we will be able to spot most of the major things.

Whilst I have some concern about whether we miss some finer points, we need to way that up against:

1) The cost for a full report
2) Whether the report will just find minor points in addition to what we've found.
3) Whether the builder will actually fix all the smaller points the report finds if they claim it's above and beyond what the NHBC expects

Seems like a tough one to decide upon!

MystArch89

Hi there,

Just wondering did u eventually went with a snagging done or not?

I've done the same research as yourselves and have came to the same few companies, there's just been so many of these popping out now with the amount of new builds being churned out.

If you did, mind telling who you went with and the quality of it?

Am considering one but looking at the numerous companies, none gives me the confidence at all if im honest, even the newbuildinspection seems more like a paid advert done in guardians etc to boost their names.