New build snagging

Abbey10

We are finally due to complete on our new build property tomorrow and would like to get some advice on what items to include on our snagging list. We had our home tour and noticed a few things that absolutely need to go on the snagging list (broken toilet seat, kitchen unit doors on uneven and a poorly fitted drawer) but should we also include more minor, cosmetic items? For example, during the tour I noticed that there there are some areas around the window that haven't been painted very well and that the banister needs to be sanded. I am sure once we are in the house we will find other small cosmetic items. I would like to know if I should include everything or just the things we cant do ourselves (we can fill in some minor paintwork easily).

Thanks!

whatdoyouthink...

http://www.nhbc.co.uk/NHBCpublications/LiteratureLibrary/HomeownerDocuments/filedownload,42392,en.pdf
Print this out and take it around the house with you

Sammyd159

Hi Abbey, which builder are you buying from?  Did you mention to the sales person, the items you have spotted on your tour?  You should not be moving in with things like broken toilet seats, the site and sales team should have spotted things like that to rectify. 
With regards to minor cosmetic items, you absolutely should note these.  Most builders have a policy of checking on you after 7 / 14 days where you can present your snagging list and discuss with the site manager.  You should not be having to do minor touch ups yourself, although I would ask for some paint so you can touch up walls where you mark them moving in your furniture etc. I've worked for a number of major house builders so any help I can give you I will.  This is a big purchase and it should be as perfect as a hand built product can be.  Do not accept or put up with poor workmanship. 

Abbey10

Thanks for the quick replies! Yes, I mentioned them as I went around with the sales person and site manager, and they took a note and agreed to have them rectified by tomorrow. I will just note everything down...and great idea to ask for some of the paint!

pinkteapot

You should definitely note everything. The price you're paying - they can fix the minor things. It'll cost them peanuts, especially if they're still on-site. 

When you're next there, test absolutely everything you can. We took a hairdryer and tried it in every single plug socket to make sure there wasn't a dead one! Annoyingly we couldn't test the boiler pre-completion as the house isn't on mains gas and the LPG had run out. Luckily it worked fine when we got the keys.

Inevitably you'll add to your snagging list after completion. No matter how well you snag initially, after living in the house for a couple of weeks you'll have another list of things you've spotted. 

Raise everything with the builder - worst that happens is they say no to some of the more minor ones. 

Sammyd159

Abbey10 said:

Thanks for the quick replies! Yes, I mentioned them as I went around with the sales person and site manager, and they took a note and agreed to have them rectified by tomorrow. I will just note everything down...and great idea to ask for some of the paint!

Ask if they have any spare tiles as well that were used in your house. Just in case you need to replace a broken one at a later date, or they have to replace any because of a fault. Different batches will be slightly different colours, and if the tiles are porcelenosa they discontinue tiles all the time.