Snagging: Big Business

[SingBlueSilver]

I just recently found this site as my husband and I are looking to buy our first home this year and we've toyed with the idea of a new build. We're not completely keen on it as new builds just don't have a whole lot of individuality, but for a first home we thought it would be worth a shot - we also benefit from knowing many an architect and structural engineer to check the place out.

Now, I've only just heard about this 'snagging', and done a search and read here, and it seems to me 'dear me, there's a growing business right there.' Job security for days raising constant defects here and there and everywhere. Maybe it's just me, but it certainly seems like finding defects in a house are big business, and they'll certainly raise everything they can for £300 a pop.

I admit I'm even more confused and concerned than I was before, as not only do houses seem to be built in a rather slipshod manner, but it seems as if it was big business for homes NOT to be built to a decent standard. Are snagging companies and snagging lists really as important as people say they are? Isn't it just better not to buy one of these homes and look for something else, as you're pretty much cursed if you raise defects, and cursed if you don't? It just seems like a lot of time, effort and money to buy something you're going to spend repairing for two years afterwards (and really, building a house as fast as these homes are built, I can't imagine anyone would really expect them to be without faults - they're just done too quickly and too cheaply) may as well get something that has been about a while and at least it won't be such a surprise.

I guess the other thing I'm faintly boggled at is, if these homes are so uniformly bad and everyone hates them, why do we buy them at all? Surely they're not worth the trouble and the cost. I'm rather thinking we may nix the entire idea - but then we're probably trading one bit of problems for another, as no home you buy is ever going to be perfect and never have anything break or need improving, new or old.

Thoughts in 500 characters or less, and if there's anyone out there who has actually had a GOOD experience, I'd like to hear about them, as they seem rare. Granted this site is here to be a sort of buyer's beware, but I have a hard time believing everyone who ever bought a new build home hates them.

[Tony]

Great post, you have raised some really good points.

'Snagging' is a dirty word in the industry and your are lucky that you came to hear of the term. You certainly won't read about it in the marketing literature. You are lucky because you can make an informed choice before you exchange contracts.

This is the normal scenario:

1. Buyer hooked on some sales gimmick - lifestyle changing sales literature, part-ex offer, cash back, free car... and reserves plot.
2. Massive pressure is then brought to bear to get the buyer to exchange contracts within 28 days and close the deal. They cannot now choose to back out without breaking the contract and being sued.
3. After months of delays and years later the plot becomes a home (no compensation for this of course) and the buyer, if they are lucky, may realise that their new dream home MAY be riddled with defects, so they ask a friend in the trade or they instruct a surveyor to snag it for them. They may get a specialist snagging inspector to do this and if they are lucky there may be only a small number of defects that are dealt with before they move in.

It is not all bad, but you need to be an 'intelligent' customer and equip yourself with the necessary information.

If you have a choice go for a house that has been 'run in' and the price is realistic - see
Negative Equity.

This is an interesting article about the state of the industry - Regulation of New House Building - applicable to rest of UK too

Tony