If you thought surveys could only benefit when selling a house, it is time to think again.
If you thought buying a new build house would mean the house builder will hand over a perfect house to you, think again.
If you ever wondered why would surveys be needed for new builds, it is to protect your investment.
The truth is, there are many things that could be not right about your new build house. In the trade, these are called ‘snags’ and are often (incorrectly) considered minor defects.
The reality is some of these so-called ‘minor defects’ or snags could hit you right in the pocket, or worse, in the very fabric of your lovely new house.
- Walls could be out of plumb, meaning not aligned vertically
- Radiators may be leaking or inefficient
- Work done by the house builder may be of substandard quality
- Cavity insulation may not have been checked
- Draughts or heat loss may not have been checked for
- Fire safety measures may not be of sufficient standard
- Roof and guttering may have unseen issues
- Plumbing could be leaking – especially in out of sight areas
The above are just a handful of snags that may be present in your new build, and who would notice them?
Would the house builder be conscientious enough to check every last detail, or do ‘just enough’ in their opinion to hand over?
The problem with new build houses
The harsh truth is that today, with the boom in property development, many house builders do not snag their properties sufficiently well before completion.
Often new home owners only notice issues when it’s too late – things have gone wrong, energy bills are too high, or else the house is unsafe.
Even worse, sometimes these defects only come to light once the house is outside of its warranty period or defects correction guarantee from the house builder.
Why you should undertake a snagging survey
This is why many experts, journalists and solicitors advise it’s prudent to undertake a snagging survey from a professional company such as HomeSnag before completion.
Although the cost is relatively small, by being proactive in conducting a snagging survey before completion of a new build house, the potential homeowner could save themselves far more money in the long run.
In the worst case, the cost of remedial works identified by a snagging survey could mean the homeowner decides not to complete the sale. In the best case, the house builder may rectify the faults at the their own cost and so your dream new home is even better than it would have been without a snagging survey.
If you’re careful enough to want the best standard of new build home, consider a snagging survey before completion and you can rest assured that your home is the best quality and standard it could be.
After all, which would you prefer – a dream home or a nightmare?