Latest News

new build warranty home snagging

What to Consider When Moving into a New Build

Welcome to Your New Build Home

The Excitement of a Blank Canvas

Moving into a new build home is an exhilarating experience that presents a unique blend of opportunities and challenges. At Home Snagging UK, we understand the appeal of starting fresh in a space that’s entirely your own—a blank canvas awaiting your personal touch. The prospect of being the first to live in a freshly constructed property brings with it not just the thrill of new beginnings but also the chance to shape a living space that perfectly matches your vision and lifestyle.

Modern Living at Its Finest

A new build home offers modern amenities, energy efficiency, and the latest in home design trends. It’s a chance to inhabit a place that has been crafted to meet contemporary standards, offering you a level of comfort and convenience that can be hard to find in older properties. The thought of decorating your home without the constraints of previous occupants’ choices or dealing with the quirks and fixes that come with older houses can be incredibly appealing.

Your Partner in Perfecting Your New Home

At Home Snagging UK, we specialise in ensuring that your transition into a new build is as smooth and joyous as possible. We’re here to guide you through every step, from the initial excitement of picking your new home to addressing any snags or issues that might arise. Our goal is to make sure that your new build lives up to its full potential, transforming it from a house into a cherished home.

Before You Move In

Ensuring Your New Home Is Perfect: The Snagging Survey

Why It’s Crucial: Before you set foot into your new home, Home Snagging UK cannot emphasise enough the importance of a professional snagging survey. This critical step ensures any construction errors or omissions are identified before you become legally bound to the property. Ideally conducted before completion, a snagging survey gives you leverage to have issues rectified by the developer at no additional cost to you​ 

How Home Snagging UK Can Help: As experts in the field, Home Snagging UK offers comprehensive snagging surveys that cover every inch of your new home, from structural integrity to the smallest finish detail. Our objective is to ensure that your home is in perfect condition, providing peace of mind as you make this significant transition.

The Handover: A Critical Walkthrough with Your Builder

A Personal Introduction to Your Home: Prior to moving day, we recommend arranging a handover or new home demonstration with your builder. This is your opportunity to learn how everything in your home operates — from the central heating system to the kitchen appliances​ 

Why It Matters: Understanding the functionality of your home’s features and any maintenance requirements upfront can save time and prevent issues down the line. It’s also the perfect time to identify and document any last-minute snags that could be addressed before you move in.

Setting Up Utilities and Internet: Start Early

Avoiding Unnecessary Delays: One of the first tasks on your checklist should be to set up essential services, including your broadband connection. Given that it can take weeks to get an engineer to your home, starting this process early is crucial to ensuring you have access to these essential services from day one​ 

On Moving Day

Conducting a Thorough Inspection: Your New Home Checklist

Why It’s Essential: Moving day is filled with excitement and a bit of chaos, but it’s crucial to take a moment for a detailed inspection of your new home. Home Snagging UK advises a thorough walkthrough to check for any damages, snags, or issues that need immediate attention​ . This inspection ensures that any problems are identified and documented before you fully settle in, allowing for smoother resolutions with the developers.

Areas to Focus On:

  • Check walls, floors, and ceilings for any signs of damage or unfinished work.
  • Test all fixtures, fittings, doors, and windows to ensure they operate correctly.
  • Confirm that all utilities are correctly set up and functioning as expected.

The Importance of Metre Readings: Starting on the Right Foot

Avoid Future Billing Problems: An often overlooked but critical step on moving day is recording the metre readings for your utilities—gas, electricity, and water. This simple task can save you from potential billing disputes in the future​ 

Home Snagging UK’s Recommendation:

  • Take a digital photo of each metre reading as a record.
  • Inform your utility providers of these initial readings to ensure your billing starts accurately from the day you move in.

After Moving In

Addressing Snags Quickly: The Importance of a Prompt Snagging List

Taking Action Early: Once you’ve settled into your new build, compiling and addressing a snagging list should be a top priority. Home Snagging UK recommends taking advantage of the builders’ presence on-site for faster resolution of any issues​ It’s easier to get builders to rectify problems while they are still actively working in the area than after they’ve moved on to new projects.

How Home Snagging UK Can Assist: If you’re unsure about what to look for, our experts can help compile a comprehensive snagging list, ensuring nothing gets overlooked. From major structural issues to minor cosmetic flaws, our team is trained to spot them all, ensuring your home meets your expectations in every detail.

Adjusting to Your New Home: Understanding the Settling Process

Normal Changes: It’s natural for a new build home to “settle” during the first few months. This process might cause minor issues like condensation and small cracks due to shrinkage​ Home Snagging UK advises homeowners not to panic as these are common and typically not indicative of deeper problems. Managing ventilation and temperature can mitigate many of these minor issues as your home adjusts to being lived in.

Key Considerations and Potential Downsides

Financial Implications of New Builds

Understanding the Costs: While new builds offer modern living and efficiency, they often come with a premium price tag. The cost of basic fixtures and fittings, not typically included, can add up, so it’s important to budget for these additional expenses​ 

The Reality of Living Conditions During Ongoing Development

Preparing for Construction Life: In many cases, moving into a new build means living amidst ongoing construction as the development is completed. This can involve noise, dust, and general disruption, which Home Snagging UK suggests considering, especially if you have young children or pets​

Navigating Legal and Financial Nuances

Complex Conveyancing and Leasehold Considerations: The process of buying a new build can involve complex legal work, particularly with leasehold properties. Be prepared for additional costs like service charges and ground rent, which can add to the financial burden over time​  Choosing an independent conveyancer experienced in new build purchases can provide an extra layer of protection and ensure that your interests are safeguarded.

Conclusion: Embrace the Journey to Your Perfect Home with Home Snagging UK

Moving into a new build home is a journey filled with anticipation, discovery, and, admittedly, a few challenges along the way. From the moment you decide on your new build, through to moving day and beyond, there’s a lot to consider to ensure your new home lives up to every expectation. That’s where Home Snagging UK comes in. Our commitment is to guide you through each step, ensuring your move is as seamless and satisfying as possible. With expertise in identifying and addressing snags, we’re your partners in turning your new house into a dream home.

Reach Out to Us

Whether you’re on the cusp of moving into your new build, or have recently unpacked and are settling in, it’s never too late to ensure your home is just as it should be: perfect in every detail.

Home Snagging UK is dedicated to providing you with peace of mind and a defect-free home. Utilising the latest technology and a meticulous approach, our team of experts is at your disposal, ready to assist with professional snagging inspection services tailored to your unique needs. Protect your investment and enjoy your new home to its fullest by reaching out today:

 

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions about the snagging process or to schedule your professional inspection. Home Snagging UK is here to ensure that your transition into your new home is everything you hoped for and more. Reach out today to safeguard your investment and to take the first step towards a hassle-free, joyous life in your newly built home.

We provide Home Snagging Inspections in…

Barnsley

Beverley

Birmingham

Chester

Chesterfield

Coventry

Derby

Dewsbury

Doncaster

Grantham

Grimsby

Huddersfield

Hull

Huntingdon

Leeds

Leicester 

Lincoln

Manchester

Mansfield

Newcastle

Nottingham

Peterborough

Rotherham

Scunthorpe

Sheffield

Shrewsbury

Stoke

Telford

Wakefield

Warwick

Wolverhampton

Worksop

York

We’re home snagging specialists with over 20 years of experience snagging new build homes. We identify construction defects, big or small, that your developer may have missed. We are fully qualified surveyors who work with our customers to make sure they get the perfect home.