You've just bought a brand-new home in Nottinghamshire. The carpets are perfect. The kitchen gleams. Everything looks immaculate. So why on earth would you need a snagging survey?
Here's the honest answer: because new builds are rarely as perfect as they look on handover day. Developers are under intense pressure to complete homes on time and to budget. Snags — defects, poor finishes, incomplete works, and even structural issues — are virtually guaranteed. The question isn't whether there are snags. It's how many.
In my experience surveying new-build homes across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, the average number of snags on a three-bedroom new build is between 50 and 150. I've found over 200 on a large detached. Every single one of those is your developer's responsibility to fix — but only if you identify them and formally notify the developer within the right timeframe.
What Is a New Build Snagging Survey?
A snagging survey is a thorough, systematic inspection of a new-build home, carried out before (ideally) or shortly after legal completion. Our surveyor goes through every room, every external elevation, the roof, drainage, and all fixtures and fittings — documenting every defect, incomplete item, and poor-quality finish.
The result is a numbered, photographic snagging list that you hand to your developer. They are legally obligated to rectify all genuine defects within a reasonable timeframe. Without a professional snagging survey, many of these issues are easy to miss — and once you've moved in and the developer's team is off-site, getting them fixed becomes significantly harder.
What a Snagging Survey Typically Finds
Here are the most common categories of snags we find on Nottinghamshire new builds:
- Poor paint finishes: Runs, missed patches, scuffs, and uneven coverage — almost universal
- Poorly fitted doors: Doors that bind, don't close properly, or have visible gaps at the frame
- Sealant issues: Missing or badly applied silicone seals around baths, showers, and kitchen worktops
- Tiling defects: Uneven tiles, insufficient grout joints, cracked tiles
- Inadequate drainage: Landscaping that drains toward rather than away from the property
- Structural cracks: Settlement cracks in plaster or masonry (some are normal, some are not)
- Incomplete external works: Missing or incomplete pointing, fascia boards, or soffit ventilation
- Heating and plumbing issues: Cold radiators, poor pressure, or undersized hot water systems
When Should You Get a Snagging Survey?
Ideally, before legal completion. This gives you the maximum leverage — if serious defects are found, you can refuse to complete until they're rectified. In practice, many developers won't allow access before completion, so the survey is carried out in the first days or weeks after you receive the keys.
Don't Wait Too Long
Most new-build homes come with a 2-year defects warranty from the developer and a 10-year structural warranty (e.g. NHBC Buildmark). The sooner you identify and formally notify defects, the stronger your position. Getting a snagging survey within the first month of completion is strongly recommended.
Can I Do My Own Snagging?
Yes — but it won't be as thorough. Most homeowners miss the majority of snags because they don't know what to look for or don't have the right equipment. Roof spaces, drainage gradients, structural settlement cracks, and defective seals all require either specialist knowledge or specific tools to assess properly. A professional snagging surveyor will typically find three to four times as many snags as a homeowner inspection.
Does a Snagging Survey Cover the Same Ground as a Home Survey?
No. A snagging survey is specifically designed for new-build homes. It focuses on build quality, finish, and compliance with the developer's specifications. It doesn't cover structural analysis, damp, or historical defects in the way a Level 2 or Level 3 home survey does. The two serve entirely different purposes.
It depends on the developer. Some actively encourage it; others resist. You have a legal right to appoint a surveyor to inspect the property before completion in most circumstances, but the developer may try to limit access to accompanied visits. Contact us and we can advise on the best approach for your specific development.
If the developer fails to fix genuine defects within a reasonable time, you have several routes available: formal complaint to the New Homes Ombudsman, a claim through your NHBC warranty, or (in serious cases) legal action. A professional snagging report is invaluable evidence in all of these processes.
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