Question 1

What is snagging?

Accepted Answer

Snagging is the essential process of inspecting a newly built property to identify defects, otherwise referred to as snags. Snags can range from minor cosmetic issues such as poor decorative paintwork finishing, to more serious issues such as leaks, and major structural issues such as ground subsidence.

Question 2

Why should I have a professional snagging inspection on my new home?

Accepted Answer

We are able to competently and comprehensively inspect your new home with our experienced, professional, and qualified team. Inspecting a new home requires a wealth of knowledge of the construction process, building regulations, and warranty providers' technical standards. Most homeowners do not possess the knowledge or time to competently and thoroughly inspect their new homes.

Our professional inspectors can utilise their knowledge and time to carry out the snag identification process for you. This gives you the peace of mind that your home has been thoroughly inspected by a professional, and frees up your time. Snags are less likely to not be identified and this can save you time in more swiftly reporting the snags to your developer and having them resolved. This can also save you money as you are less likely to have to resolve minor snags yourself beyond the initial defects insurance period of your warranty (typically the first 2 years of your 10-year warranty). Minor snags identified during that period are the homeowner's responsibility.

We will provide you with a comprehensive inspection report complete with high-quality photographs and supplementary technical information regarding non-compliance with technical standards and corresponding building regulations where necessary. You can then issue report this to your developer to resolve the snags.

Unlike normal property transactions for older properties, new build properties do not require a RICS level 1, 2, or 3 survey because the construction work is inspected by building inspectors working on behalf of warranty providers prior to completion. Just because your property has been inspected during construction, this doesn't guarantee that it is snag free. Some building inspectors don't follow their own company procedures and even carry out inspections remotely via FaceTime for instance, or not at all in some instances! This is obviously a major concern for new home buyers. The cost of our services are often cheaper than a RICS level 1, 2, or 3 survey, so the outlay of a professional snagging inspection is still typically more cost-effective in this regard when accounting for the costs of buying a new build property compared to an older property.

The benefits gained from booking a professional snagging inspection far outweigh the negative consequences of experiencing a stressful snagging process. The small expense of booking our services is an investment to obtain a high-quality new build home at only a small fraction of the cost of your home itself.

Benefits of a professional snagging inspection:

- Identifies defects you might miss
- Can uncover hidden issues
- Ensures your home meets industry standards
- Maximises your warranty
- Saves you money in the long run
- Gives you peace of mind

Question 3

Will Eagle Eye resolve the snagging work?

Accepted Answer

No, we are solely a professional snagging company and we do not carry out construction work. We also do not recommend contractors or any other third parties to our customers for the resolution of snagging work.

We will provide you with a comprehensive inspection report of your new home as per your booking, which you can then provide to your developer to have them resolve the snags identified within the report.

Question 4

Will Eagle Eye contact my developer about resolving the snags identified?

Accepted Answer

No, as it is not feasible to offer this service. Developers will need to arrange access with homeowners directly and often strictly prefer to liaise with homeowners only about their own properties. Developers do not often liaise directly with appointed third parties working on behalf of homeowners regarding quality control. We also cannot provide adequate quality control of construction work whilst off-site and operating remotely.

Question 5

Is snagging and Eagle Eye's services a condition report, a HomeBuyer report, or a Building Survey (Structural Survey)?

Accepted Answer

No, snagging is a specialist process of inspecting new build properties for defects, otherwise referred to as snags. Snags relate to poor cosmetic quality of workmanship and structural issues comparatively to technical standards set by new build warranty providers. These technical standards correspond with building regulations. Our services are not a condition report, a HomeBuyer report, or a Building Survey (Structural Survey). These property surveys for structural assessments are typically for older properties.

Question 6

What areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We operate in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Greater London (north of the River Thames), Hertfordshire, and Suffolk. You are still welcome to contact us if you live close to but are outside of our normal areas of operation.

Question 7

What is my new build warranty?

Accepted Answer

Most new build homes have a structural warranty, which is essentially an insurance policy. Developers cannot sell new build homes very easily without a warranty because mortgage lenders require a 10-year structural warranty in order to lend on such properties. Warranties are taken out by developers but are in place to protect home owners, occupants, and mortgage lenders. Warranties typically cover defects that are not identified or occur at the time of practical completion on new build properties.

There are various warranty providers in the UK, most notably including Buildsafe, Checkmate, Global, LABC, NHBC, Premier Guarantee, and Protek. The NHBC's Buildmark warranty covers 70-80% of the new build market.

Warranty providers require developers to sign up to a consumer code to protect consumers during the sales process and to resolve disputes when things go wrong with properties after practical completion. Notable consumer codes include the Consumer Code for Home Builders, the Consumer Code for New Homes, and the NHQC.

Most warranties are divided into two stages; the defects insurance period (typically the first 2 years), and the structural insurance period (the remaining period of the 10-year warranty). Developers are obligated by warranty providers to resolve all defects reported to them during the defects insurance period, and structural defects only during the structural insurance period.

In short, developers are obligated to resolve all snags reported to them within the first 2 years of your new home's warranty.

Question 8

What does practical completion mean?

Accepted Answer

Practical completion is the point at which your property's construction is complete except for any defects that can be resolved without undue interference or disturbance to occupants. It is also the point at which a property is considered habitable for occupants. This stage occurs prior to completion, and when you move into your new home.

Question 9

What is completion?

Accepted Answer

Completion is the legal process of transferring ownership of the property to the purchaser. The purchase price of the property is paid and the necessary documents are signed, dated, and transferred. It is also the point at which the purchaser can move into the property.

Question 10

What does pre-completion and post-completion mean?

Accepted Answer

Pre-completion is the period before you legally own your new home and have the keys.

Post-completion is the period once you legally own your new home and have the keys.

Question 11

What is the Customer Referral Reward Scheme?

Accepted Answer

Our Customer Referral Reward Scheme is a two-way positive exchange between Eagle Eye and our previous customers. We will reward you with either £50 cashback or a voucher of your choice to the same value for referring another customer to us.

The cashback or voucher reward is honoured to you, once the referred customer's inspection has been carried out and we have received payment in full from them.

There is no limit to how many times we will honour the reward to any single previous customer for referrals, except only until the entire expense of the referrer's payments for our services are fully refunded (either in cashback or voucher value accumulatively). E.g. £350 spent on our services from the referring customer = 7x referrals and rewards maximum (7 x £50 = £350).

The Customer Referral Reward Scheme is separate to our Neighbours' Discount Scheme because the referred customer's inspection takes place on a different date to your inspection. Customers who participate in our Neighbours' Discount Scheme can still participate in our Customer Referral Reward Scheme, but the reward will only be provided to the referrer, not the non-referring neighbour.

Terms and conditions apply.

Question 12

What is Eagle Eye's complaints procedure?

Accepted Answer

We're sorry that you are unsatisfied with our service and we sincerely hope to resolve any concerns that you may have.

Please email your complaint to: info@eagleeyesnagging.uk

We will respond within 3 business days and aim to resolve complaints within 14 business days.

info@eagleeyesnagging.uk

020 3370 4021

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are our FAQs. Please contact us if you have any unanswered questions.