New Build Snagging

A new build home should be handed over complete, properly finished, and built to an acceptable standard. In practice, many new homes are occupied with defects, incomplete works, poor finishes, damaged fittings, or workmanship issues that should have been identified before handover.

At Alliance Resolve, we provide independent new build snagging surveys for homeowners, purchasers, landlords and investors who want their new property checked properly before defects become accepted as normal.

Our role is to inspect the property, identify visible defects and workmanship concerns, and provide a clear photographic report that can be issued to the developer for remedial action.

A snagging survey is an inspection of a newly built property to identify defects, incomplete works, damage, poor workmanship or items that do not appear to have been finished to an acceptable standard.

The Consumer Code for Home Builders describes snagging as the process of identifying and flagging imperfections in a new home, including items such as paintwork, driveways, damaged items, incomplete specification items or things that are not working properly. It also advises that issues should ideally be reported before completion and, where applicable, within the early post-completion period. 

A snagging inspection can include both cosmetic and more technical concerns, including poor falls, defective sealant, poorly fitted joinery, damaged fixtures, inadequate finishes, drainage issues, poor external works, ventilation concerns and areas where further investigation may be required.

Buying a new build home is a significant investment. Many purchasers assume that because the property is new, it must have been fully checked and properly finished before handover. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Warranty providers and Building Control bodies do not provide a full quality inspection of every finish, fitting, junction and detail. NHBC’s own homeowner guidance explains that its inspectors concentrate on the most significant points of construction and recommends that homeowners inspect all areas before and shortly after moving in. 

A professional snagging survey gives you an independent record of the property’s condition at the point of handover or shortly after occupation. This can help ensure that defects are raised clearly, evidenced properly and issued to the developer within the relevant reporting period.

The developer’s handover process is not the same as an independent inspection.

A handover meeting may be brief, and buyers are often focused on keys, meters, appliances and moving arrangements. Defects can easily be missed, particularly where the property is unfurnished, unfamiliar or still being cleaned and finished.

An independent snagging survey allows the property to be inspected methodically, room by room and externally, with photographic evidence and clear descriptions of the issues identified.

A snagging survey is usually most effective:

• Before legal completion: where the developer permits a pre-completion inspection 
• Immediately after completion: before furniture and belongings obscure defects 
• Within the early defects period: where issues have appeared after occupation 
• Before the end of the developer’s initial warranty period: so outstanding matters can be raised clearly 

For homes covered by NHBC Buildmark, the builder warranty period is usually two years from the start date shown on the policy certificate. During that period, the builder is normally responsible for rectifying problems arising from failure to meet NHBC requirements, subject to the terms of the policy. 

Where permitted by the developer, a pre-completion inspection allows the property to be checked before legal completion.

The New Homes Quality Board’s 2026 Pre-Completion Inspection Checklist explains that the purpose of the inspection is to confirm that the standard of finish is acceptable and, where issues are identified, to provide both the buyer and developer with a checklist of items requiring attention. The guidance also states that the inspection is designed to be carried out by a suitably qualified professional and that an unqualified person may overlook or misinterpret certain requirements or standards. 

This can be particularly useful where a buyer wants defects recorded before completion, rather than discovering them after moving in.

If you already have the keys, a post-completion snagging survey can still be highly valuable.

This inspection is usually more practical because the property is complete, accessible and capable of being reviewed in greater detail. We can inspect the internal rooms, external areas, visible services, finishes, fittings and workmanship issues that may not have been obvious at handover.

A post-completion snagging report gives you a clear evidence base to submit to the developer and helps avoid vague complaint lists that are easier to dispute or ignore.

Our snagging survey is a methodical visual inspection of the property and may include:

• Walls, ceilings and floor finishes 
• Paintwork, plasterwork and decorative defects 
• Doors, frames, architraves, skirtings and ironmongery 
• Windows, glazing, trickle vents and seals 
• Kitchens, worktops, cabinets, appliances and finishes 
• Bathrooms, sanitary fittings, tiling, sealant and ventilation 
• Staircases, balustrades and internal joinery 
• Electrical fittings, sockets, switches and visible accessories 
• Heating controls, radiators and visible pipework 
• Mechanical ventilation points and extract fans 
• Loft access and visible roof void areas, where safe and accessible 
• External walls, brickwork, render, cladding and pointing 
• Roof coverings visible from ground level or accessible vantage points 
• Gutters, downpipes and rainwater discharge 
• Driveways, patios, paths, boundaries and external drainage 
• Garages, balconies or outbuildings where included 

The inspection is visual and non-invasive. We do not undertake destructive opening-up, specialist testing or commissioning checks unless separately agreed.

Typical issues identified during new build snagging inspections include:

• Poor paint finish or patchy decoration 
• Cracked, uneven or poorly finished plaster 
• Damaged doors, frames, skirtings or architraves 
• Poorly aligned kitchen units or worktops 
• Defective sealant around baths, showers and worktops 
• Damaged sanitaryware or poorly fitted fittings 
• Loose ironmongery or poorly adjusted doors 
• Scratched glazing or defective window operation 
• Incomplete mastic, grouting or tiling 
• Poor falls to patios, driveways or external paving 
• Blocked or poorly finished drainage channels 
• Defective rainwater goods or poor discharge arrangements 
• Brickwork, pointing or render defects 
• Poor insulation or draught-related concerns 
• Ventilation issues and condensation risk 
• Incomplete works or missing items from specification 

Some snags are minor. Others can indicate weak workmanship, poor supervision or defects that may affect long-term performance if not addressed.

Alliance Resolve does not treat snagging as a simple decorating checklist.

We bring a surveyor-led and construction management approach to new build inspections. That means we look not only at whether something looks unfinished, but whether the workmanship, detailing or installation may create a future defect.

This is particularly important for:

• Damp and condensation risk 
• Weatherproofing details 
• Ventilation and extract arrangements 
• Thermal bridging and insulation continuity 
• External drainage and ground levels 
• Poorly detailed wet areas 
• Roof, gutter and wall junctions 
• Movement, cracking and settlement indicators 
• Defects hidden behind “new” finishes 

A new home can look presentable on first viewing but still contain issues that require early correction.

Following the inspection, we provide a written snagging report for the homeowner.

The report typically includes:

• Room-by-room findings 
• Photographic evidence 
• Clear descriptions of each snag or defect 
• Location of the issue 
• Practical commentary on the significance of defects 
• Items requiring developer attention 
• Matters requiring urgent action, where applicable 
• Recommendations for further investigation, where required 

The report is designed so that it can be sent to the developer, site manager or aftercare team as a clear record of the issues identified.

Alliance Resolve provides independent, technically informed snagging inspections.

We are not connected to the developer, sales team or contractor. Our role is to act in the client’s interest and provide a clear, professional record of the property’s condition.

Our service is particularly suited to clients who want more than a basic checklist. We bring:

• Chartered Construction Management experience 
• Surveyor-led inspection methodology 
• Knowledge of workmanship quality and building pathology 
• Understanding of domestic construction sequencing 
• Technical awareness of damp, ventilation and thermal risk 
• Clear photographic reporting 
• Practical advice suitable for developer aftercare discussions 

We understand the build process and how defects arise. That allows us to identify not only visible snags, but also workmanship concerns that may indicate wider quality issues.

Where appropriate, Alliance Resolve can also provide additional diagnostic services, subject to agreement in advance.

These may include:

• Thermal imaging assessment 
• Damp and moisture testing 
• Drone roof or high-level inspection 
• End-of-defects-period inspection 
• Follow-up reinspection after developer repairs 
• Technical defect report for unresolved items 

These services may be useful where defects are disputed, where repairs have not been completed properly, or where there are concerns about moisture, heat loss, roof defects or workmanship quality.

Many new homeowners only raise defects at the beginning of occupation. However, some defects become apparent after the property has been lived in through different weather conditions and seasonal changes.

An end-of-defects-period inspection can help identify outstanding or newly apparent issues before the initial builder responsibility period expires.

This is particularly useful for:

• Cracking and shrinkage defects 
• Leaks or water ingress 
• Heating and ventilation issues 
• Damp or mould concerns 
• External drainage problems 
• Defective landscaping or paving 
• Poorly completed developer repairs 
• Items previously reported but not resolved 

Where the home is covered by a new build warranty, homeowners should keep a clear record of what has been reported, who it was reported to, and when. NHBC advises homeowners to contact the builder as soon as reasonably possible within the builder warranty period and to keep records of communications

A vague list of complaints can be easy to dismiss.

A properly prepared snagging report provides a stronger basis for discussion. It records the issue, location and photographic evidence, helping the developer understand what needs to be corrected.

This can help you:

• Raise defects clearly 
• Avoid missing important issues 
• Create an evidence trail 
• Reduce dispute over what was present at handover 
• Prioritise urgent matters 
• Follow up unresolved items 
• Protect your position during the defects period 

Where complaints remain unresolved, the New Homes Ombudsman Service provides an independent route for eligible complaints against registered developers.

If you are buying or have recently moved into a new build home, Alliance Resolve can provide an independent snagging inspection and report.

Please send us:

• The property address 
• Developer name 
• Completion or handover date 
• Property type and number of bedrooms 
• Whether the inspection is pre-completion or post-completion 
• Any specific issues you have already noticed 

We will confirm the appropriate inspection approach, availability and fee.