A professional, independent snagging survey carried out before the expiry of your developer's defect liability period can help ensure that shortcomings are identified, properly documented and rectified whilst responsibility remains with the builder. Early identification of defects may also assist should warranty claims need to be pursued in the future.
Walls (external and internal), openings, floors and ceilings are assessed for condition and compliance issues in line with warranty provider and/or industry standards. In addition to spirit levels, a laser level is used if necessary to record surfaces which are not plumb or level.
Doors and windows are assessed for damage and operation. Typical issues include catching, jamming, excessive gaps, door 'rattle', latching issues and sealant defects.
Smoke testing is used to check the operation of extractor fans. Loft space inspection records whether the fan ducting is correctly corrected to roof vents. Other potential issues include excessive noise and incorrect overrun times.
Waste pipes and overflows of baths, wash basins and sinks are checked for leaks.
All surveys include a thermal imaging assessment of radiators and/or underfloor heating.
Bath water temperature will be checked for compliance with the Building Regulations.
Plug-in socket testers are used to verify that electrical sockets are wired correctly.
A soil probe is used if there are concerns about the depth or quality of topsoil.
Inspection chambers are checked for debris/blockage and presence of sealing rings.
Images showing these various checks can be seen in the image gallery at the bottom of this page.

Tony is an MRICS chartered building surveyor with professional indemnity and public liability insurance. With a background in design, specification and site monitoring, more recently specialising in defect diagnosis and residential expert witness work, he is well-placed to identify snags and more serious issues.

Equipment such as thermal imaging, cavity borescope, telescopic camera pole, moisture meter and laser level are used to identify less obvious or hidden defects, such as missing cavity wall insulation, poorly fitted insulation, thermal bridging, water ingress and malfunctioning radiators.

We have no affiliation to either the developer/builder or the homeowner beyond the instruction to carry out the survey. Issues are assessed impartially according to the warranty provider's standards and Building Regulations. These standards will be referenced in the report.

Roofs are inspected using a combination of assessment from ground level (aided by a long-zoom camera) and a remote-operated camera attached to a telescopic pole to ensure all areas are assessed.

Issues are recorded on a room-by-room basis, with any recurring issues grouped together for ease of reference by the homeowner and builder.

Our impartial assessments consider potential issues in relation to your warranty provider's standards and standard industry practice.
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