new build - to snag or not to snag

[Woodsview]

Hi
We are close to moving into a new build. Exchange sorted but we have a few weeks before completion. We aren't sure whether to get a professional snag report done before we move in

We are buying from a small developer. He prides himself on his quality build and when we mentioned a snagging report he was quite shocked and said most people just moved in and told him if there were any minor things.

We arent sure what to do. He is nearly finished on the site. He will probably be there til autumn time so would be around. Does anyone have any experience of snagging. I appreciate if you buy from a larger developer it tends to be the norm. We are not bothered about cost of snagging its just not ideal if we upset the developer and then spot something at a later date and he is a bit put out

Any feedback on smaller development experiences would be appreciated🙂

Pfft. You know hes playing a game, right?

"Im a high quality developer, its not my fault if your house falls down, you mustve slammed the door too hard"

Go with the charm, the genteel handshake, but dont let him away with it. Maybe your Dads cousins neighbour has "sone sort" of business that "does these things".

Thanks, I get what you mean, it does seem a bit convenient that ‘everyone’ has just let him know. being a bit thick but I don’t quite get your last line. Do you mean get someone we know in?

Snag 100%. A friend of mine had loads issue. Including one really serious structural issue that took months to correct.

We bought from a small developer once. I would 100% get a professional in. We didn’t, we made our own snagging lists and notifications, not all of them got resolved, and one issue we ended up having to go through NHBC to force them to rectify.

You shouldn’t pay the developer for snagging, they should come and do it foc.

Definitely snag! We bought a new build from a local builder and they told us that the average snag list they get from their clients is between 1-5 snags… we called bull* and got a snagged in and they found about 100 snags (mostly very minor cosmetic ones but there were 3 fairly serious ones we wouldn’t have picked up ourselves). This developer isn’t your mate so don’t worry about offending them…

Hi All
thanks so much for your responses and shared experiences I think we need to do the snagging, better to be safe than sorry. Really grateful it has helped a lot.

My mil bought a new build executive type home and their snagging list was four pages! They sold it a few years later and there were plenty that hadn't been fixed. They didn't get anyone in they could see for themselves and started using things - but they weren't pushovers by any means, but developers can be extremely slow at making things tight.

Our developer tried that with us too. We got it done the day we moved in, they wrote us a report of 60 things (genuinely wouldn't have noticed any of them!) we handed it over to the developer and they got them all actioned, thank god I was WFH but was all sorted within a couple of weeks. Tbh it was great for piece of mind, the snagger said it was one of the best new builds he had seen (no ties to the developer!) we were very anxious with all the best press but it was all very easy and I'm pleased we did. Still happy in our home years later.

Sorry when I say "we got it done" I mean we commissioned a "professional" snagger. Best £400 or so we spent!

I used to work showing new builds. Its hard for the main contractor to get sub-contractors back for small jobs. However, even though the development was fairly posh, it still required snagging. Dont let faux-angst put you off.

Problems are usual & can be sorted, surprises are difficult & awkward after you've moved in.

Thank you. I think after reading your messages we would be daft not to snag. We will now be getting a professional in. So glad i posted😄

Well done, we fell for Developer i am an honourable man and will fix snags after you move in.

Make sure you get the snags written into the sale contract too.
Is your Warranty NHBC? If not try to make sure you get written into the contract that any defects you find due to poor workmanship or materials in the first two years will be resolved by the Developer.
The small cheap warranty companies only cover you if your house falls down.

Yes snagging is in the contract and the warranty is NHBC but that’s good to know thank you. I researched and got a good solicitor, very switched on, it’s just us who are a bit ‘green’ we haven’t moved for a long time and probably a bit too trusting, hence the post.