Our Accredited Snagging Survey ensures your new build home meets warranty and workmanship standards. We identify structural and cosmetic defects and deliver a comprehensive report with red/amber/green priority ratings within 24 hours.

ACCREDITED SNAGGING SURVEYS

Use our professional snagging report to get full and timely remedies from your builder.

Our Accredited Snagging Survey provides everything you need for a full and thorough survey - no add-ons or different packages to worry about:


  • Comprehensive inspection of the structure and grounds – including roofs, walls, lofts, garages and gardens – without damaging any part of your property.

  • Full functionality checks for electrical systems, plumbing, heating and ventilation to ensure everything works as intended.

  • Clear Red-Amber-Green ratings so you can prioritise remedial works.

  • Cosmetic and safety‑critical defects are both included.

  • Professional PDF report delivered within 24 hours.


  • Thermal imaging of heating system elements to confirm correct performance included.


  • Thermal imaging to detect insulation gaps and hidden heat loss is available as a separate service - we recommend this is conducted only if symptoms indicate it would be beneficial, please contact us to discuss.
Sample Report

For frequently asked questions, please scroll down.


For additional information about your survey and report, please go to

www.knottbrothers.com/additional-information

Need Help? 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is snagging?

    A “snag” is an imperfection or fault in a new home which does not meet the expected quality or finish as set out by building regulations, warranty standards, or generally accepted standards of workmanship. A snag is something which is unfinished, incorrectly finished, damaged, broken, not fitted or not working properly.


    “Snagging” is the identification and professional reporting of snags during a survey by a surveyor. We strongly recommend that you use an accredited surveyor – please see below.


  • What is an Accredited Snagging Survey?

    Not all snagging surveys or surveyors are accredited. A survey is accredited when the individual surveyor is a registered member of RICS or RPSA. Whoever you use, we strongly recommend that you ensure your survey will be carried out by an accredited individual. Only an accredited snagging report will be taken seriously by your builder.

  • What is the difference between a pre-completion inspection and a post-completion inspection?

    We strongly recommend a pre-completion inspection (PCI) because it is the only type of snagging survey that gives you formal protection under the Property Ombudsman scheme. The PCI is officially recognised by the New Homes Quality Board (www.nhqb.org.uk) as part of their New Homes Quality Code. Registered builders are required to permit snagging surveys to be conducted prior to your completion date. A pre-completion inspection can only be carried out by an accredited surveyor (see above).


    Many snagging companies suggest that a post-completion inspection is better than a pre-completion inspection, based on the mistaken assumption that the PCI is a "restricted" survey. At Knott Brothers we disagree - our Accredited Snagging Surveys are carried out by the same qualified surveyors to the same professional standards, whether we conduct the survey before or after your completion date.


    Please feel free to ask us about this if you would like to know more.

  • How does a snagging survey work?

    Our Accredited Snagging Survey thoroughly checks your new home outside and inside. Our qualified surveyors follow a structured process to examine and operate everything:


    • Are there any visible problems with critical parts of the building?
    • Has anything been damaged?
    • Has everything been installed or fitted correctly?
    • Is there anything missing? (often difficult to spot without an expert eye!)
    • Is everything operating correctly? (electrics, plumbing, drainage, windows, doors, etc)
    • Is there anything that looks OK now, but could present a problem in future?

    We normally take 2-3 hours on-site to conduct the survey, then email you a professional pdf report within 24 hours. Once you have reviewed the report, we are happy to send it to the builder on your behalf (with you copied to the email).

  • What happens after the builder receives my snagging report?

    Our accredited snagging reports tend to be received well by builders due to our professional nature and clear pictures with concise notes. Most clients find their builder will present an agreeable schedule for remedial works. Our support is included in the price should you need any follow-up assistance by phone or email. Additionally we are always happy to speak directly to builders about anything that may be unclear in our reports.

  • What are the most common snags?

    Most people expect minor issues like substandard finishes and cosmetic defects to be common snags, and this is true, however many people are unaware that serious issues can also be found during a snagging survey – issues that can pose a danger for the new occupants, or issues that can seriously affect the living conditions over time, such as those related to damp or flooding.

  • Do I really need a snagging survey?

    Building a house is a complicated process involving dozens of different trades and people, so it's common for some things to go wrong or be overlooked. Your house is checked by your builder’s own team, but no-one examines every element with the care and attention we do. We have not yet seen a “snag free” house!