buying

New build snagging checklist: what to check before you complete

New build snagging checklist for buyers: what to inspect inside and outside, when to report faults and how the builder warranty works.

4 min read
Last reviewed 4 November 2026
By Your Property Check team

Part 1 of 6

What snagging is and when to do it

General information, not advice. Snagging is a room-by-room inspection of a new home for faults, unfinished work and damage, which you list and give to the builder. NHBC's new home checklist recommends that you personally inspect all areas of your new home before and just after you move in, because its own inspectors concentrate on the most significant points of construction. NHBC says the checklist does not form part of its Standards or Buildmark policies, so treat it as a practical aid. We read the NHBC pages named below on 4 November 2026.

Ask your solicitor when you may inspect and what happens if you find problems before completion. Our property checks before buying article lists the wider checks, and a professional snagging inspection is an option if you want a second pair of eyes. A survey decoder helps you read any report you commission.

Part 2 of 6

The checklist

Area	What to check	Who to tell
Brickwork and mortar	Clean, free from major chips and mortar splashes, evenly finished and consistent in colour	Builder
External paintwork	Top coat on all painted surfaces, window sills finished including undersides	Builder
Roof, gutters and drains	Cracked or loose tiles; secure downpipes and gutters; visible leaks or blockages; manhole covers level and fitting	Builder
Drives, paths, garage	Complete and even surfaces; garage doors open and shut; rubbish removed	Builder
Garden, walls, fences, gates	Debris removed; landscaping done where specified; boundary walls complete; fences secure; gates working	Builder
Ceilings, walls, tiles	Even plasterwork without rough patches, neat finish around pipes, switches and sockets, no surface cracking, tidy grouting	Builder
Windows	Paintwork finished, frames and glazing undamaged, open and shut properly, keys for locks	Builder
Doors and frames	Locks and bolts engage, doors open and shut, paintwork complete, even gaps	Builder
Stairs and floors	Banisters secure, treads even, flooring complete and flat, skirting undamaged	Builder
Kitchen and bathroom	Fittings clean and undamaged, toilet flushes and refills, units and worktops undamaged, doors and drawers work, no leaks under the sink	Builder
Pipes and radiators	Pipes secure, radiators fixed and leak-free	Builder
Appliances	Undamaged, instructions and warranty paperwork provided, extractor fans working	Builder
Loft	Insulated, water pipes and tanks insulated, gangway boarding fixed	Builder

The prompts are taken from NHBC's checklist. Add your own for heating, electrics and anything in your reservation paperwork. Our EPC finder lets you see whether the energy certificate has been lodged for the address.

Part 3 of 6

How to record faults

Photograph each fault with a date, write the room and item, and send one clear list to the builder in writing. NHBC says you should keep a record of what you raised, who you contacted and when, and it provides a template letter for notifying the builder of issues. Do not rely on phone calls alone.

Part 4 of 6

What the warranty covers

For NHBC homes, the Buildmark page says the policy is a 10-year warranty and insurance cover in three sections. Section 1 applies from exchange to completion and covers loss of deposit or extra costs to finish the build if the builder becomes insolvent. Section 2 is the builder warranty, covering the first two years from legal completion, where the builder must fix defects reported to them and NHBC stands behind the builder's obligations. Section 3 is insurance for years 3 to 10, for damage caused by defects in specific parts of the home listed in the policy.

NHBC's first two years page says the warranty period is usually two years from the policy start date shown on your certificate. Contact the builder as early as you reasonably can and always within the warranty period. If you disagree with the builder's final decision, or get no reply within 30 days, NHBC says its resolution service may help, but only after you have notified the builder, given reasonable time and access, and completed the builder's full complaints process. We read only NHBC's terms. If your home has a different warranty provider, read your own policy, because periods and procedures may differ.

Part 5 of 6

Ask which code and warranty apply

Before you reserve, ask the builder in writing which warranty provider and which consumer code or complaints scheme apply to your home, and keep the answer with your paperwork. That tells you where to go if a fault is not fixed. Read the policy itself for the exact periods.

Part 6 of 6

Common mistakes

Waiting until after completion to inspect.
Telling the builder verbally and keeping no record.
Missing the warranty window for reporting.
Assuming cosmetic issues are covered by structural insurance, which in NHBC's case starts in year three.

This page is general information, not advice.

Our take

Snag in writing, and snag before you complete

Snagging is easiest to win before completion, while the builder still wants the sale to finish. For NHBC homes the builder fixes defects reported in the first two years, so report faults in writing and keep records. We think a dated list with photos is your best protection.

Snagging covers the house, not the surroundings. Before you offer, our OfferCheck gives a plain-English risk report on any UK address covering crime, flood, planning, tenure and more, with every figure sourced. There is a free snapshot, and the full OfferCheck Report starts at £4.99.

Get OfferCheck

Our opinion, drawn from the facts on this page: not advice and not a forecast. We earn from OfferCheck reports and from introducing sellers to cash buyers, so weigh it with that in mind (see our disclosure). We are not authorised or regulated by the FCA.

Questions, answered

Frequently asked questions

What is snagging?

Inspecting a new home for faults and unfinished work and listing them for the builder to fix. NHBC recommends you inspect all areas personally before and just after you move in.

When should you snag a new build?

Before you complete, if your solicitor and the builder allow it, and again soon after you move in. Report faults to the builder in writing and within the warranty period.

What does the new build warranty cover?

For NHBC Buildmark, the builder warranty covers the first two years from legal completion, with NHBC standing behind the builder's obligations, then insurance covers years 3 to 10 for defects in specific parts of the home listed in the policy.

What if the builder does not fix the snags?

NHBC says its resolution service may help if you disagree with the builder's final decision or get no reply within 30 days, once you have completed the builder's full complaints process. Check your own provider's terms.

Is a snagging checklist part of the warranty?

NHBC says its new home checklist does not form part of the NHBC Standards or Buildmark policies. It is a practical aid for your own inspection.

Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed 4 November 2026 by the Your Property Check team. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For your own situation, speak to a conveyancing solicitor or another qualified professional.