THE CONFUSION / NEW BUILD VS RESALE
Snagging survey
or home survey?
Two inspections, two kinds of property, two different questions. Getting this one wrong wastes your money on the wrong report entirely — here’s how to tell which one you actually need.
Buying an older property? Start here instead →THE ANSWER / READ THIS FIRST
Snagging checks delivery. A home survey checks condition.
A snagging survey checks a brand-new home against what the developer promised — finishing faults, fittings, minor defects, usually inspected around legal completion. A home survey checks a building’s visible condition against the RICS Home Survey Standard. They answer different questions; some new-build buyers choose one, while others commission both for distinct scopes.
01 / WHAT A SNAGGING LIST TYPICALLY COVERS
Finishing, fittings, and faults — not structure.
- 01Decorating and finishing defects — paintwork, plaster, sealant, tiling
- 02Doors, windows and ironmongery that don’t open, close or lock properly
- 03Fittings and fixtures not installed to spec or damaged in the build
- 04Drainage, guttering and external finishing around the new structure
- 05Anything promised in the sales specification that hasn’t been delivered
02 / THE WARRANTY GAP THIS FILLS
Warranty and snagging
are not the same protection.
New-build warranties commonly divide responsibility into different periods, with the developer handling some early defects and insurance protection applying differently later. Exact cover, exclusions and reporting deadlines depend on the provider and policy. A snagging report does not extend those rights; it gives you a dated, structured record to raise through the process that actually applies to your home.
03 / WHY THE SCOPES SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED
Different question,
different inspection.
A Level 2 or Level 3 Home Survey considers visible condition and risks under the agreed RICS scope. A snagging inspection is organised around workmanship, completion and the developer’s specification. One should not be sold as a substitute for the other. Decide which questions you need answered, then compare inspectors on the exact written scope.
04 / COST / COMPARE THE SCOPE
A cheap list can cost more
if the return visit is missing.
Snagging-survey cost varies because the product itself varies. Before comparing fees, check whether the inspector covers exterior areas, roofs viewed from ground level, services on a visual or functional basis, thermal imaging, photographs, developer-ready wording and a reinspection after the builder says the work is complete.
SurveyChoice does not sell snagging inspections, so there is no platform price to promote here. For a new build, obtain a written specialist scope. For a previously occupied home, compare the Level 2 and Level 3 services instead.
05 / IF YOU’RE BUYING EXISTING, NOT NEW
SurveyChoice covers Level 2 and Level 3 home surveys — not new-build snagging.
If the property you’re buying has been lived in before, a snagging list isn’t the right report — a home survey is. SurveyChoice matches you with a named, RICS-regulated practice for exactly that. Not sure which level you need? →
STRAIGHT ANSWERS
Before you ask.
01How much does a snagging survey cost?+
There is no single UK tariff. The fee varies with property size, inspection scope, location, reporting detail and whether a return visit is included. Compare the written checklist, inspector credentials, report format and reinspection terms—not only the headline price.
02What is a snagging survey?+
An inspection of a new-build home, carried out close to legal completion or shortly after moving in, that lists defects — 'snags' — against what the developer promised: finishing faults, fittings, minor damage, and things that don't yet work as they should. It checks workmanship on a brand-new building, not the condition of an older one.
03How is a snagging survey different from a Level 2 or Level 3 home survey?+
A home survey (Level 2 or Level 3) assesses the condition of an existing building — structure, damp, roof age, defects that accumulate over years — against the RICS Home Survey Standard. A snagging survey checks a new building against the developer's own specification and NHBC-style standards. Different property, different question, different standard.
04Do I need a snagging survey if I'm buying a new-build?+
A snagging inspection can be useful because it creates a documented list of workmanship and finishing defects while the purchase, developer handover and warranty processes are still active. Check the timescales and notification rules in your own reservation documents and warranty rather than relying on a universal deadline.
05Do I need a snagging survey if I'm buying an older or resale house?+
No — a snagging survey isn't the right tool for a resale property. What you need is a Level 2 or Level 3 home survey, which assesses the building's actual condition rather than checking new-build finishing against a spec sheet.
06Does SurveyChoice offer snagging surveys?+
No — practices booked through SurveyChoice deliver RICS Home Survey Standard Level 2 and Level 3 reports for existing, previously-occupied properties. If you're buying new-build and need a snagging inspection, look for a specialist new-build snagging inspector instead.