Why Snagging Inspections Are Essential in Today’s New Build Market

In 2022/23, over 200,000 new homes were delivered across the UK. While this figure still falls short of the government’s 300,000 homes per year target, it reflects a staggering volume of development that continues to accelerate — placing immense pressure on the industry to deliver quickly and at scale.

However, the sheer volume of construction brings with it a very real challenge: a widespread shortage of skilled, qualified tradespeople, site managers, and building inspectors. This shortage, which has been widely reported across the industry in recent years, raises serious concerns about quality assurance and workmanship on new-build sites. When experienced professionals are stretched thin or missing altogether, the risk of corners being cut increases — often unintentionally, but with lasting consequences for homeowners.

In this context, the role of snagging inspections becomes not just important, but essential. These detailed checks act as the final line of defence, ensuring that quality hasn’t been sacrificed in the race to meet targets.

Snagging vs. Traditional Home Surveys

It’s important to note the difference between a snagging inspection and a traditional home survey. While home surveys are typically done on older properties to assess value and condition, snagging inspections are specific to new builds.

Snagging inspections are proactive — aiming to prevent problems before they occur. In contrast, home surveys are often reactive, identifying wear and tear or historical issues.

What Is a Snagging List — And Why It Matters More Than Ever

Buying a new-build home is a huge financial and emotional milestone — but even in high-end developments, minor defects or unfinished work (known as “snags”) are common. With the construction industry under pressure to build fast, and a well-documented shortage of skilled tradespeople and experienced site managers, the risk of missed details or substandard finishes is real.

That’s where snagging inspections come in. A professional snagging survey provides a detailed, room-by-room checklist of issues to be fixed — from cosmetic flaws to more serious structural or safety concerns. These inspections offer buyers peace of mind, ensuring their new home has been properly reviewed by a qualified, independent expert before move-in. In today’s fast-paced, skill-stretched housing market, a snagging inspection is one of the most effective ways to protect your investment.

The Value of Snagging in the Modern Build Environment

Snagging inspections aren’t your average home survey. While traditional surveys focus on ageing properties and long-term wear and tear, snagging inspections are proactive — designed to catch faults that should never have been there in the first place.

A thorough inspection covers everything from internal finishes to external elements, typically including:

  • Joinery and finishings

  • Masonry and brickwork

  • Roofing and guttering

  • Paintwork, tiling, and fixtures

  • Fire safety compliance

  • Windows and doors

  • Garages, driveways, paths, and boundary finishes

  • Loft and insulation quality

In the hands of a skilled inspector, even subtle or hidden issues can be picked up early — before they evolve into costly problems. Many defects don’t reveal themselves until after the two-year builder warranty has lapsed. Beyond that, most structural warranties (like those from NHBC or LABC) only cover major issues, leaving homeowners to foot the bill for anything else. A professional snagging inspection ensures those issues are flagged and fixed before that window closes

Why PCI Timing Matters

A Pre-Completion Inspection (PCI) is your opportunity to independently check the condition of your new home before you’re legally committed. But to be effective, the timing has to be right.

The Right Time to Book

Your PCI should take place:

  • After the builder confirms the home is finished

  • After the CML (UK Finance Disclosure Form) has been issued by the warranty provider

But a completion certificate alone isn’t enough. For the inspection to be meaningful, the home must also be clean, accessible, and truly finished — not still being snagged by the builder or fitted out.

What “Finished” Means

Before booking your PCI, check that the following complete:

  • Kitchens and bathrooms are installed

  • Flooring is laid (or prepared where flooring is excluded)

  • Heating, plumbing, and electrics are commissioned and working

  • Doors, windows, ironmongery, and trims are in place and adjusted

  • Decoration is complete — not mid-paint or patching

  • Lofts are accessible, and the property is clear of tools and materials

Why This Matters

  • Unfinished areas hide defects
    If works are still in progress, key items may be covered up or missed entirely.

  • Early PCIs create weaker reports
    You can’t raise issues on what hasn’t been completed. Builders may later say “that wasn’t finished yet.”

  • Re-inspections cost more
    A rushed PCI may mean a second visit later — avoidable with the right timing.

Why Some Builders Push for Early PCI – and Why You Shouldn’t

Some builders encourage buyers to carry out a PCI while they’re still working on site — often to meet internal deadlines or keep completion on track.

While it may sound helpful, this approach undermines the purpose of the inspection. A PCI is meant to check the final quality of the build — not to help the builder finish it. An early inspection may give you a false sense of assurance, while real snags remain unspotted or unresolved.

In Summary

A well-timed PCI ensures:

  • A complete, detailed report

  • Fewer disputes with the builder

  • No wasted visits

  • A stronger position if anything needs putting right

If you're unsure whether your home is ready, just ask — I’m happy to advise on the right time to book.

Understanding Your New Build Warranty

Your home comes with a 10-year warranty — but knowing how that warranty works can help you make the most of it.

Most new-build homes in the UK are covered by a structural warranty, often provided by NHBC, LABC, or Premier Guarantee. But not all 10 years offer the same protection — and the first two are where you have the most leverage.

Years 0–2: Your Builder’s Responsibility

For the first two years after legal completion, your builder is responsible for resolving:

  • Snags

  • Defects

  • Issues with workmanship or materials

However, these problems must be reported in writing during the two-year period. If something isn’t raised in time — even if it was present from day one — your builder is not obliged to fix it later.

Years 3–10: Limited Structural Cover

From year three onward, the warranty provider takes over — but cover is limited to serious structural issues, such as:

  • Foundation movement or subsidence

  • Failure of load-bearing walls or floors

  • Major roof structure defects

General faults, cosmetic issues, and non-structural defects are no longer included, even if they affect daily use of the property.

What’s No Longer Covered After Year 2?

Once your builder’s responsibilities end, the following types of problems are often excluded from warranty cover:

  • Cracked plaster or shrinkage around door frames

  • Loose or poorly fitted doors, windows, or kitchen units

  • Cold spots or draughts from missing insulation

  • Minor leaks or decorative defects

  • Mismatched finishes or incomplete paintwork

  • Uneven flooring or creaking stairs

In more serious cases, you might discover:

  • Water ingress that doesn’t qualify as structural — but can cause long-term damage

  • Poor workmanship concealed behind finishes

  • Electrical or plumbing work that falls below standard — but isn’t technically classed as a defect

Why a Warranty Deadline Inspection Matters

If you’re approaching the end of your two-year builder liability period, this is your final opportunity to raise any issues before your cover reduces significantly.

A warranty deadline inspection helps ensure nothing is missed — giving you a clear, independent report you can use to request fixes while you’re still entitled to them.

It’s a one-time check that can save time, stress, and future cost.

Testimonials

⭐️ Client Feedback from Industry Professionals ⭐️

"Simon was the site manager on a scheme for ten houses constructed for us. It was quite a technically challenging site, but Simon managed to negotiate the extensive civil and groundworks issues with ease, ensuring all went according to plan. He maintained a strong focus on quality while minimising customer care concerns. It was a pleasure working with Simon, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone seeking a quality product, delivered on schedule, and with care and passion for 'getting it right first time'."

— Andy Fudge, Carloggas Homes