New build snagging surveys
Your new build, answered.
A professional defects list your builder can't argue with, before or after you get the keys. Compare quotes from RPSA and RICS checked inspectors.
Free for homeowners · No obligation · RPSA or RICS checked inspectors
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We verify the business and complete the checks required for that service before a snagging inspector can receive an enquiry.
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You choose how many matched professionals get in touch - and your details go only to those businesses.
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Your matches quote you directly. Compare price, what's included, availability and experience, then decide in your own time.
What is a snagging survey?
A snagging survey is a professional inspection of a new build home that documents every defect - from cosmetic paint runs and scratched glazing to missing insulation, poor brickwork and plumbing faults - in a report your builder can't argue with. New builds are covered by a warranty and the developer's own aftercare, but it's the snagging list that defines what gets fixed.
A good inspector checks hundreds of points inside and out: finishes, doors and windows, roofline, services, loft, garage and garden works, all against tolerances and warranty standards. The result is a photographed, itemised schedule you submit to the developer.
When should you book one?
Timing matters more with snagging than any other survey:
- Ideally before legal completion, so defects are fixed while the developer still wants your sign-off
- If the developer won't allow pre-completion access, book for the first weeks after you move in
- Before the end of your two-year builder warranty period - the last chance for a comprehensive claim
- After major remedial work, to check it was actually done properly
What does it cost?
A professional snagging survey typically costs £300 to £600, priced by the size of the home rather than its value - a two-bed flat sits near the bottom of the range, a large detached house near the top.
Against the price of a new build, it's the cheapest professional check you'll ever commission on the property, and developers fix visibly more when the list comes from a professional inspector.
Run your own numbers in our survey cost calculator, then compare real quotes against it.
How it works
A simpler way to find the right help.
1Tell us what you need
Answer a few quick questions about the service, property and postcode. It takes about 60 seconds.
2Get matched
We match you with Homeply Verified snagging inspectors who cover your area and are taking on work. You choose how many get in touch.
3Compare and choose
Your matches contact you directly with quotes. Compare price, what's included and credentials, then choose who feels right.
Your matched inspectors get in touch directly with quotes. There's no obligation to book any of them.
What Homeply Verified means for snagging surveys
We confirm RPSA or RICS membership with the issuing body, and check the business's identity against Companies House records. Status is re-checked annually, and immediately if a complaint gives us reason to. Members carry professional indemnity insurance under their body's rules.
The survey and the report come from the firm you instruct, not from Homeply, and your contract is with them. We do the checking; they do the surveying.
See the full standardKnow before you book
Plain-English guides and a cost calculator, so you can choose with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Is a snagging survey really necessary on a brand new home?
New does not mean defect-free - inspectors routinely record dozens, sometimes hundreds, of snags in newly built homes, from cosmetic finishes to missing insulation and plumbing faults. The developer fixes what's on the list, so the quality of the list decides the quality of the fixes.
When is the best time to book?
Before legal completion if your developer allows access, because leverage is highest while they want your sign-off. Otherwise as soon as possible after moving in, and always before your two-year builder warranty runs out.
Will the developer accept the report?
A professional, photographed, itemised report from an RPSA or RICS inspector is exactly the format developers and warranty providers deal with. It removes the 'that's within tolerance' argument by citing the tolerance.
How long does a snagging inspection take?
Usually three to six hours depending on the size of the home, with the report following within a few days. Most inspectors also offer a re-inspection visit to check the developer's fixes.
What if I've already been in the house a while?
You can still book one - the key deadline is the end of the two-year builder warranty, when your right to have general defects fixed narrows sharply. A pre-warranty-end inspection is one of the most valuable surveys a new build owner can commission.
Ready to hold your builder to the finish you paid for?
Compare snagging quotesFree for homeowners · No obligation · You choose how many professionals contact you