New Build Snagging Surveys

New-Build Snagging Surveys – Accredited, Independent, Future-proof

Buying a brand-new home should feel exciting, not exhausting. Yet, the reality is that constructing a home is a complex process involving dozens of different trades, tight programmes, and last-minute design tweaks. This almost always leaves a trail of snags. A snag is anything unfinished, incorrectly fitted, damaged, or not working as expected, whether cosmetic or structural. Our job, as your new-build snagging survey specialists, is to find them all before they become your headache.

Unlike a traditional house survey, a new-build snagging survey is designed to pick up everything from minor cosmetic issues, such as a door not closing properly or untidy paint finishes, to more serious and even structural problems that do not meet expected quality or warranty standards. Your new home may appear pristine on the surface, but an Accredited Snagging Survey identifies both cosmetic and functional issues, allowing you to present a comprehensive list of faults to your developer while your home is still under warranty. We have yet to see a “snag-free” house, as no one examines every element with the care and attention that our accredited surveyors do.

Why Choose AMSurveys for Your New Build Snagging?

AMSurveys stands apart by delivering accredited, independent, and forward-thinking snagging inspections. Our approach is uniquely underpinned by key industry standards and leadership:

• NHQB-Compliant & Industry Standard Setters: Every AMSurveys inspection strictly follows the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) inspection and reporting standards. Andrew McColl, as Chairman of the RPSA, played a pivotal part in writing these very standards and continues to have regular meetings with the NHQB Steering Group. This ensures builders cannot dismiss our findings, as the New Homes Ombudsman (NHOS) formally recognises our report format and rigour.
• Level-3 Rigour, One Visit: Our new-build snagging surveys provide Level-3 rigour, meaning a full-house, hands-on inspection – not just a walk-round with a clipboard. This thoroughness translates into defect lists typically ranging from 70–120 items, ensuring you get one comprehensive hit, not drip-feed defects over time.
• Nationwide Coverage: Our network of highly trained snagging inspectors ensures we can be wherever your plot is located in the UK, providing consistent, high-quality service without regional limitations, whether before legal completion or during your warranty period.
• Next-Generation Training: Andrew McColl is currently designing the UK's first Level 3 Diploma in New-Build Snagging (an ABBE/Ofqual-listed qualification). This groundbreaking accreditation course sets the standard for our 2026 intakes and beyond, meaning AMSurveys clients benefit from cutting-edge methodology and evidence-based reporting.

Understanding Your Snagging Survey

Accreditation Matters: A survey is accredited when the individual surveyor is a registered member of RICS or RPSA, and is thus recognised by the NHQB/NHOS. We strongly recommend you ensure your new-build snagging survey is carried out by an accredited individual, as only an accredited report will be taken seriously by your builder.

Pre-Completion vs. Post-Completion Inspection: PCI gives formal Ombudsman protection; post-completion does not. We strongly recommend a Pre-Completion Inspection (PCI) because it gives you formal protection under the New Homes Ombudsman scheme. The PCI is officially recognised by the NHQB (www.nhqb.org.uk) as part of their New Homes Quality Code, requiring registered builders to permit snagging surveys prior to your completion date. While some suggest a post-completion inspection is better (based on the mistaken assumption that PCI is "restricted"), AMSurveys carries out both to the same professional standards, ensuring consistent quality.

What We Check & How We Report

Our Accredited Snagging Survey thoroughly checks your new home, both outside and inside. Our qualified surveyors follow a structured process to examine and operate everything meticulously:

• Are there any visible problems with critical parts of the building?
• Any damage?
• Has everything been installed or fitted correctly?
• Is anything missing? (often difficult to spot without an expert eye!)
• Is everything operating correctly? (electrics, plumbing, drainage, windows, doors, etc.)
• Is there anything that looks OK now, but could present a problem in the future?

Our surveyors typically take 2–3 hours on-site. We then email you a professional PDF report in <24 hours (approx. 60 pages, photo-rich, and colour-coded for urgency). Once you have reviewed, we can send it directly to the builder or warranty provider (with you copied), saving you the email chase. Our support, including follow-up assistance by phone or email, is always included, and we are happy to speak directly to builders about anything unclear in our reports.

Beyond the Obvious: What We Find

Most people expect a snagging survey to uncover minor issues like substandard finishes and cosmetic defects, and this is true. However, many are unaware that serious issues can also be found – problems that can pose a danger for new occupants, or critically affect living conditions over time, such as those related to damp or flooding. These are the hidden snags that new homes may conceal, from incorrectly installed fittings to uneven finishes or incomplete work that are not immediately apparent.

Building a house is a complicated process, and it's common for some things to go wrong or be overlooked. Your house is checked by your builder’s own team, but no one examines every element with the care and attention we do. We have not yet seen a “snag free” house! The typical number of snags found varies by home size:

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