What Is Snagging? Why Is It Important?

What Is Snagging? Why Is It Important?

Construction and property investment are major industries in the UK, as government quotas for new builds drive property development throughout the country. This year, the government announced intentions to build 1,000,000 new homes by the end of the current parliament, sparking a surge in construction as apartments and homes spring up to meet the insatiable demand for housing. Whilst this rush for rapid development offers a lucrative opportunity for investors and home buyers, it does present a unique set of problems. As quality controls slip, snagging is an issue that’s been brought into the spotlight within the industry.

What is Snagging?

Snagging is a slang term, used to define the process of identifying and addressing faults in new properties. These faults could be due to shoddy workmanship, or due to natural causes, such as cracks caused by the settling of foundations. Fail to identify such issues, and you could be left with headaches later down the line as a property owner. For this reason, snagging is becoming a fast-growing industry, with inspections now carried out on an estimated 40% of new builds. These snagging checks can be conducted during the build, or when buying a new property, to ensure that investors and owners aren’t left with an expensive maintenance bill on their hands.

Why is it Important?

Whether you’re looking at properties to invest in or you’ve recently bought a new house, it’s crucial to take a critical eye when assessing the condition of your property. Minor faults now can create more serious problems in the future that are expensive and time-consuming to address, from poorly fitted roofing to air leakage spots in your walls, ceilings and floors.

Snagging is growing in importance, as the fast-paced nature of the UK construction industry means that many new buildings are assembled without proper care and attention to detail. The media may be awash with cowboy builders, but amateurs without the skills and experience to deliver long-lasting results can be just as catastrophic; it’s crucial to choose your contractors wisely to avoid disappointment.

Whilst major defects are unlikely to get past Building Control, poorly completed tasks such as joinery and kitchen installations can easily be overlooked during the build. This makes snagging an essential task for anyone investing in a new property – ideally before you commit to buying or signing off your project. That way, you can ensure that you’re not left with the task of rectifying any problems that arise.

Snagging is an important stage in property development that should be high up your priority list when buying or developing new builds. Enabling you to identify and fix any problems with the property as early as possible, snagging ensures that your investment is as safe as… well, houses!

Looking for reliable contractors to bring your property up to scratch? Or want to get your new build right first time? Contact Brighter FM to discuss your requirements.