Snagging: The promise of a sound investment

Every buyer marvels at the prospect of purchasing their dream home. It is quite an exciting journey that unravels the promise of a blissful future. While the home buying process is often carried out with precision, quite often buyers tend to overlook the finer details that might pose a threat in the long run. Here is where the process of snagging has garnered a considerable amount of attention in the Real Estate world. Especially in today’s world, where properties are emerging at record levels, snagging has become more vital now than ever before. The mounting pressure on builders to complete every house quickly as well as the shortage of skilled labourers has enhanced the chances of blunders and oversights in the construction process. Thus, raising a cause for concern for every prospective buyer.??

While you may assume that a pre-handover inspection or snagging is not necessary for newly built homes. After all, it is supposedly brand new. No one has ever lived there, and no time has passed for anything to break or go wrong. Always remember that a building is constructed by hand. It will never be perfect and involves many processes and wet trades.

Thus, snagging has become an inescapable part of every home buying process before any prospective buyer undertakes physical possession of any new property. It allows them to get an in-depth look at the built condition of the property they have just purchased before making any final payment and taking the handover.?

What is snagging?

An informal term in the construction industry, snagging, or a snagging survey, is a final inspection to check flaws, omissions, or shoddy workmanship, called snags, before the final sign-off of a newly built home, especially off-plan properties. As a last-step inspection to ensure your home is flawless, it is done to flag defective, broken, or unfinished items to the developer for rectification.

What is the ideal time to conduct a snagging inspection?

Undertaking a snagging survey before you complete the sale and hand over any money gives you more leverage in eliminating the defects. If you aren’t able to complete it before signing the contract, you can also order a snagging report as soon as you receive the keys to your house.?

You might also be asked for a detailed list of things you aren’t pleased with; within your home by your builder. So prepping well in advance gives you all the leverage to shape things your way.??

What to look for during snagging?

Snags can be related to air-conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems of the property or any civil or structural defect. They can range from minor and cosmetic to significant and structural issues. Flaked or uneven painting and ill-fitting doors and windows to defective appliances and fixtures are just some examples.

Is snagging necessary?

Your new home is an investment, one you should be proud of instead of the one you end up regretting. Snagging is well worth the investment, and it is crucial to place it up on your priority list. Regardless of whether you are searching for potential investment properties or purchasing your dream home, evaluating your desired property through a critical lens has become the need of the hour. Even the minutest of blunders left unaddressed in the beginning might potentially shape into major catastrophes that will leave a dent in your pocket.?

Some snags are easy to spot, others are inconspicuous. This is especially true for homeowners who are not planning on occupying the property right away. This is because some issues only surface after the move-in day. By which point developers may no longer accept rectifications. As a result, new homeowners are left with no choice but to shoulder the expense themselves.?

So before signing off, the onus is on you to cast a critical eye and ensure that your home is not only well built as per the agreed standards but safe and structurally sound as well.?

What to include in your snagging list?

Knowing as much as you can about what to inspect can make the process easier and more efficient. This is where a snagging list comes in handy to ensure you are not forgetting key items and areas to check methodically. Below are the essential items that should be a part of your snagging list.

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components

• Air-conditioning
• Lighting systems including all the sockets and switches
• Taps, pumps, and water heaters

Carpentry

• Doors and windows
• Cabinets
• Locks and hinges

Civil and structural

• Painting
• Tiling
• Sloping in bathrooms
• External and internal walls

Appliances (if applicable)

• White goods including the refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, etc.

While you may have the ability to conduct a snagging survey yourself, many homeowners do not have the experience or are not fully qualified to carry it out on their own. A comprehensive inspection requires a trained eye and a wide range of hi-tech tools and equipment to cover all areas of the property.

Therefore, it is advisable to hire seasoned and professional licensed home inspector to check your new home and ensure you are getting what you paid for. Thus, snagging gives every potential buyer the promise of a sound investment that revokes the possibilities for future setbacks.