Snag And Be Happy
To not snag a new house before moving in is a receipe for considerable problems that could manifest themselves after the builder has long gone.
These days the house building industry is populated by mainly publicly owned companies who have share holders breathing down their necks to keep profits up. The net effect of this is the builder will do anything to keep costs down. The net result is poor quality work requiring remedial maintenance or worse a total rebuild of the offending problem.
Builders will use subcontractors and not directly employ staff to reduce costs.
This means that the actual day to day responsibility for an individual working on a house is often remote with work routinely being unchecked.
Over the years this has resulted in a general "work to the lowest" level acceptable rather than to the highest standards. On the basis that those customers that complain will have the remedial works carried out those that do not just live with the problems.
This low standard of work has resulted in subcontractors recruiting many untrained workers masquerading as qualified builders. The Author noted a large sign on a new building site in southern England " Wanted Bricklayers. Great rates no experience required" one shudders at the brickwork that resulted.
The one action a house buyer must take before completion is to carry out a full and in-depth Snagging meeting with the site manager.
This meeting should not be confused with the property handover where the workings of the house are explained, boiler, heating etc. The Snagging meeting should just be to inspect the property and identify any part of the property that requires remedial work prior to the owner moving in.
Site managers are quite adept at delegating this meeting to site (sales) offices. Purchasers should ensure that the site manager is available for the Snagging meeting and does not disappear to some other pressing meeting half way through the process.
The builder cannot be expected to assist you in you quest to identify all the faults with your new home. It is after all a reflection of his work that you are picking holes in.
It is important that the purchaser takes detailed notes on all items that are unacceptable to compile a Snagging report that the builder will give to the various tradesmen following the meeting. If you have a digital camera this can be useful to record points of particular interest or major concern.
The meeting can be very stressful unless you ensure good preperation has been undertaken. This would include a Snagging list of items to inspect, the correct tools for the meeting and a method of recording the meeting for future reference.
Overall the purchaser must make sure they conduct a full and detailed inspection of all parts of the building to ensue that the Snagging list is compiled. This list should then be copied and enough copies given to the builder for them to give to the various tradesmen to carry out the remedial work.
About the Author
John Mills is an Estate Agent director and has had many house buying experience's. John advises all his clients to inspect their new homes in detail and to take copious notes. The builder is not your friend. http://www.snagging-guide.co.uk
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here