When buying a new-build, it is a mistake to assume the developer has delivered everything to a perfect standard. A snagging survey involves an independent inspector working through the property item by item, from cracked tiles and misaligned doors to faulty electrical sockets and poor paintwork, compiling a written snagging list that the buyer formally presents to the developer for rectification.
Developers are generally obliged under the build contract and any applicable structural warranty to remedy genuine defects reported within a set period after completion, though the exact scope and duration varies between contracts and warranty schemes. As a practical example, a buyer might commission a snagging company to inspect the flat the week before completion, receive a report of thirty defects, and require the developer to address them before the keys change hands.
Developers sometimes resist allowing independent inspectors on site before completion, though this right is worth negotiating at reservation stage. Inspections carried out in the first weeks after moving in are equally valid. Choosing an inspector who is experienced with the specific property type, whether a flat in a high-rise or a terraced new-build house, will produce the most thorough report.
Overseas investors who cannot visit the property in person are especially exposed to undetected defects, making an independent snagging survey a practical safeguard that protects both rental income and resale value from day one.