How much does a snagging survey cost?

Buying a new build? Snagging surveys can spot minor problems you might miss and major defects only an expert would spot. But how much do snagging surveys cost and how do they work? We take a look.

How much does a snagging survey cost?

A new build snagging survey costs from £300 but the price will depend on the property size and the type of snagging survey you want. Read on to find out more.

What is a snagging survey?

A professional snagging survey gives you a report with a list of any ‘snags’ that should be fixed by the developer when buying a new build home.

Most snags are cosmetic, such as scratched windows, paint splatters or new carpet snagging under doors. However, some snags can point to more serious underlying issues. A badly-fitted bathroom may also hide poor plumbing and electrics which might cause leaks and faults in the future.

Major cracks in walls or misaligned structural elements might suggest construction flaws that, if left unaddressed, could lead to serious safety concerns. In these cases, snagging acts as a vital safety check, helping to identify and address issues that could otherwise compromise the integrity and safety of the property.

Book your snagging survey today carried out by highly qualified, independent expert snagging inspectors at our partners NBI.

Types of snagging surveys and costs

The type of snagging survey you want to get depends on when you are able to book your snagging survey in and whether you want a second visit to inspect any corrected works.

1. Pre-completion inspections

Pre-completion inspections, or PCIs, take place before the legal completion of your new build purchase. They were introduced by the New Homes Quality Board in 2022.

A pre-completion inspection should involve an inspection of the property, room by room, and compile a comprehensive snagging list. This could include anything from cosmetic issues, such as paint touch-ups, to more significant structural defects, such as broken roof trusses.

The PCI report should then be shared with you, the buyer, to pass to the conveyancing solicitor dealing with your new build purchase and the builder who is responsible for rectifying the issues before the property is handed over at completion.

With our partners at New Build Inspections, a pre-completion inspection snagging survey includes 2 years’ aftercare in the cost.

Pre-completion snagging survey costs start at £320.

You can book your Pre-Completion Inspection today with our Snagging Experts at NBI. 

2. Standard snagging survey

A standard snagging survey is the most popular option. With our partners at New Build Inspections, as well as a detailed inspection of the property, this comprehensive snagging survey includes thermal imaging, 2 years’ aftercare and ensures your property complies with all relevant building regulations.

Your new build snagging report will be issued within 2 working says of the inspection with a copy going to you and a copy going directly to the developer.

Standard snagging survey costs start at £320.

Get a quote and arrange your snagging survey with independent snagging inspectors, NBI.

3. Standard Plus survey

Standard Plus surveys offered by New Build Inspections include two inspection visits, submission of reports on your behalf and aftercare and support for the first two years of your warranty period.

You’ll get the same services offered by the standard snagging survey, which means they will carry out a detailed inspection of the property, thermal imaging, ensure the property complies with all relevant building regulations.

But you’ll also get a re-inspection to ensure the work has been completed to the correct standard. They’ll liaise with site staff to book your preliminary inspection. They’ll give you back up and support before carrying out a follow up visit to make sure everything has been done to a satisfactory standard.

Standard Plus survey costs from £549.

Book your snagging plus survey today with our snagging inspection partners at NBI.

How much does a snagging survey cost by property type and size

What’s included in your new build snagging survey report

Your new build snagging survey report will inspect the interior and exterior of the home including:

• Doors
• Windows
• Kitchen
• Stairs
• Bathroom
• Insulation and heating
• Plumbing
• Electrics
• Roof
• Walls and fences
• Gates
• Pipes
• Driveway

When should I get a snagging survey?

When you should get a snagging survey depends on whether:

The property has already been built: In this case it’s advisable to do the snagging survey before you exchange contracts on your new build property so you can include specific clauses in your contract addressing snagging issues. These clauses might permit withholding a portion of the payment or delaying the completion until all necessary work is carried out to the right standard.

You’re buying off-plan: Contracts are often exchanged before the construction is complete or even started. In this case, the best time for a snagging inspection is when the builder issues the notice to complete. Not all developers allow you to carry out a pre-completion snagging inspection. But if the developer is signed up to the New Homes Quality Code, they are obliged to allow you to have a professional pre-completion snagging inspection of your home.

If you can’t get a pre-completion inspection, arrange for your snagging survey to take place as soon as possible after you move into your new build home.

Arrange your snagging survey with our independent snagging partners New Build Inspections today.

How common are snags in a new build home?

According to the Home Builders Federation National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey published in March 2024, a whopping 95% of new build buyers reported problems such as snags and defects to their builder since moving in and a third (33%) reported more than 15 snags.

Is a snagging survey worth it?

Snagging survey costs which start at £300 are a price well worth paying and a recommended step if you’re buying a new build home, in our opinion. It not only makes sure your home is finished to the highest standard but that it is structurally sound and compliant with building regulations.

A professional inspector undertaking a snagging survey is likely to spot more defects than a homeowner. As part of the service, they can liaise with your house builder on your behalf and push for the defects to be fixed. It also means you don’t have to get personally involved.

While most snags are minor or cosmetic, this doesn’t make them any less annoying and a real source of frustration when you’ve just spent a lot of money on a brand new home.

And it’s important to get these issues sorted within the new build snagging period. Most new build homes have a snagging period of 2 years for most defects under their new build home warranty. In years 3-10, you’ll usually only be covered for major defects such as structural or weatherproofing problems. Read more in our guide New build problems: How to fix them.

Getting a re-inspection before the snagging period ends

Whether you’re a homeowner who has already had an inspection and completed remedial work with a builder, or you’re approaching the end of your 2 year new build snagging period, our partners at New Build Inspections offers re-inspection snagging surveys to ensure the work has been done to the correct standard.

They can also do re-inspections on properties originally inspected by another snagging company. As well has having a detailed inspection of your property, a re-inspection will also include a thermal inspection.

A thermal inspection will help pinpoint common internal issues such as heat loss, moisture in the walls, floors or ceiling, plumbing leaks and electrical circuit overloads which may pose a fire risk.

Re-inspection snagging survey costs

Re-inspection snagging survey costs range from £290 to £350 for a flat and from £369 for a house.

Book your snagging plus survey today which includes a re-inspection with our partners at NBI.

What are the most common snagging defects

According to our partners at New Build Inspections, the most common snagging issues are:

1. Plasterwork requiring patching and redecoration.
2. Incomplete grouting in ceramic and bathroom tiling.
3. Skirting boards and architraves that need caulking.
4. External brickwork lacking weep vents and requiring an acid wash.
5. Inadequately pointed block work.
6. Loft insulation that is either incomplete or improperly installed.
7. Extractor fans incorrectly venting into roof or ceiling voids.
8. Uninsulated pipes in roof void areas.
9. Broken roof tiles.
10. Glazing that is defective or scratched.

Need a snagging survey? We can help

We’ve partnered with New Build Inspections; if you choose to have a snagging survey with us, our snagging surveys will:

• Give you a comprehensive evaluation of all interior and exterior spaces
• Highlight any issues in the property that fall short of the warranty standards
• Highlight any breaches of building regulations or any other statutory technical guidance
• Identify works which are outstanding
• Be carried out by highly qualified, independent expert snagging inspectors

Frequently Asked Questions