Understanding the new build quality control process.
Snagging Explained
"Snagging" is the essential process of inspecting a newly built property to identify defects, otherwise referred to as snags. Snags can include minor cosmetic issues such as poor decorative paintwork finishing, more serious issues such as leaks, and major structural issues such as ground subsidence. Don't leave it to chance or error to miss identifying snags and suffering the consequences, when you can hire our professional snagging service to ease the process for you.
The Snagging Process
We understand that the snagging process can be daunting, stressful, and time consuming for new build homeowners to experience. If poorly managed, the snagging process can go on for months or even years.
Developers often deliberately set unrealistic timescales when asking customers for snag lists to minimise the number of snags that are reported to them. They often ask customers for a list within a matter of days of moving in and then do not permit the opportunity to report newly identified snags at a later date. Developers do not want large snag lists from their customers or want their customers to hire professionals to inspect their new homes on their behalf. Here at Eagle Eye, we think this is poor customer service because it requires experience and specialist equipment to thoroughly inspect a new build property.
Many new build homeowners unfortunately and unintentionally misinterpret the snagging process, and solely focus on minor cosmetic issues such as poor decorative paintwork finishing for example. Vital checks of more serious structural issues are often not considered or new build homeowners are simply unaware of what and how to look for more serious structural issues. We provide an independent professional snagging service to give you the peace of mind that your home will be thoroughly inspected for a wide array of cosmetic and structural issues.
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Our team of professional inspectors have the experience to competently inspect your new build home so that you can provide a comprehensive snag list to your developer to action.
Why We Provide Multiple Snagging Services
Most new build homes come with a 10-year warranty whereby developers are obligated to resolve all defects reported to them within the first 2 years of the warranty, and only structural defects throughout the remaining 8 years of the warranty. Notable warranty providers in the UK are Premier Guarantee, the LABC, and the NHBC. The NHBC Buildmark warranty covers 70-80% of the new build market. These warranty providers will inspect new homes at various build stages throughout the construction process in accordance with their technical standards and with building regulations. Just because your property has been inspected during construction does not mean it is defect free!
Here at Eagle Eye, we understand that new build homeowners are at various stages of owning their properties within their warranty period, and we provide multiple inspection services to assist with these different requirements.
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Inspections Offered
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Pre-completion Inspection (PCI)​ - PCIs were introduced by the Government in 2022 and are guided by the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) checklist. This inspection is carried out before you move into your new build home. You can appoint us to carry out this inspection on your behalf from five calendar days after notice has been served for completion and before completion. We can visit the development and the property to carry out the inspection without your presence. Timeframe: carried out typically 1-2 weeks before completion.
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Snagging Inspection​ - This is our flagship inspection service. This inspection includes a thorough inspection of your new build property externally and internally once you have completed. We check if your property complies with the technical standards and corresponding building regulations that it has been constructed in accordance with. Timeframe: carried out 0-9 months after completion.
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Re-inspection​ - You can book us to return to your property after your previous Snagging Inspection and we will check that the identified snags have been suitably resolved by your developer. We will issue a revised report showing the snags that have been completed, are incomplete, and any new snags that we've identified during the Re-inspection. Timeframe: carried out at an agreed date after your initial Snagging Inspection.
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Warranty Expiry Inspection - This inspection is a simplified version of our Snagging Inspection. We carry out less checks on your property and simply inspect the important elements of your new build home to ensure any serious structural defects are identified and addressed before the end of your initial 2-year warranty period. This inspection is beneficial for homeowners who have not previously consulted our other inspection services. Timeframe: carried out 10+ months after completion until your initial 2-year warranty period expires.
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Customer Information Guide
For a complete breakdown of the checks that we typically carry out on new build homes during our inspections and for more information, please download our Customer Information Guide.
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Tailor Our Service To Your Requirements
​In addition to our standard inspection services, we also provide optional add-ons that can be included when we carry out inspections. You can tailor our services to your requirements. These add-ons are generally applicable to all our inspection types, except where stated.
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Add-ons:
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Borescope cavity wall insulation check (excluding the Pre-Completion Inspection. Traditional brick and block FOG, coach houses, and houses only).
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Thermal imaging photography (external photos during winter time only. Internal photos year-round. FOG, coach houses, and houses only).
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Window measurements
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Bound hard copy of your inspection report posted to your address.
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You can choose between our suite of add-ons when booking.
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