DIDIM AFTERSALE SERVICES
Snagging: what is it..... who does it and when ?

For those who have never bought a new home "snagging" is the name for the seemingly endless process that identifies and lists all the major and minor problems that you find in your new home. In the past people would attempt to do these themselves. However the modern way is to get a professional inspector to do it for you.

This will give you an ultimate detailed list and save you the risk embarrassing yourself perhaps arguing with a site manager who is trying to baffle you with technical jargon and "regulations".

The number of defects or "snags" found in new homes is increasing year on year. Last year, the average number of defects per home was 62. You can expect to find at least 40 problems in a one-bedroom property to well over 130 for a four-bedroom house.

The industry and other experts have various explanations for this, but the one salient fact is that very little is being done by the builders, which is actually improving the standard of their new homes.

A new home can have many areas that can give rise to snags, some of which may not becomenoticeable for some time. It can be difficult for the site manager to set aside a period when he can thoroughly check every aspect of your new home without being interrupted.

All too often the site snagging process becomes a rushed affair and areas are missed or not checked at all. Sub standard work or defects can often go unnoticed or even become acceptable as the site staff become more familiar with your new home during the construction.

There are even occasions when the site team "take a view" on a problem or defect, balancing the difficulty, time and cost of rectification, against the likelihood of the customer noticing the defect at all.

90% of buyers had experienced defects with their new home

Industry figures also show that 90% of buyers had experienced defects with their new home. Of course the homebuyer may choose to inspect their home themselves but this can be very time consuming at a period of heightened stress. "Apart from the obvious decoration defects, you really do need to know what to look for and where to look," .

By using a professional snagging service the home owner has the benefit that the report and the contents will be taken more seriously by the builder and each item is far more likely to receive attention, than if the owner had prepared their own list.

This is because these professionals are respected within the industry and they may already have a "working relationship" with some of the larger builders and will put the home owner’s interests first by dealing with the builder’s representatives at a professional level, independently and emotionally detached. This is something that the new home buyer could not do.

Appointing a professional is the easiest solution to ensure your new home is fully completed to acceptable standards before you move in, avoiding the hassle of works being carried out in your new home, on your new carpets, after you have moved in.

With all the recent publicity regarding the falling standards of new homes and the failure of the builders to be proactive in improving the situation, using a professional to inspect and check your new property thoroughly will be money well spent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a snagging Report?
A snagging report is a document detailing the conditions of your property and highlighting any sub -standard or unfurnished work.

Q. Once I have received my first report, what should I do?
A copy of your report will also be sent to the developer, now you need to contact your developer to discuss having the outstanding works rectified.

Q. Why is there sometimes a need for a second snagging visit?
The second visit is conducted to check that your developer has completed the works that you requested.

Q. When does the first snagging take place?
It makes sense to carry out the inspection as close to completion as possible as snagging too early will only list outstanding works that the developer has yet to schedule.

Q. Should I expect all the points raised on my report to be rectified?
The snagging report is a list of the visual observations made at the time of inspection, but generally small scuffs or marks will be listed for your information but it is larger defects or faults that you should expect your developer to rectify.

Q. Should I expect all the defects to be rectified prior to completion?
Not always, very often the builders are still on site after the completion date, so minor works may still be carried out after you have completed on your property.