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To put it simply, a snagging list defines a set of problems that the developer must resolve in the new home after they believe that they have completed all of the building work. This means that the developer or contractor is still liable for any defects that occur after completion. There are some fairly common ones that we report on, and they tend to occur with new builds in Notting Hill and the surrounding areas:
In Notting Hill, property investment can often spell family ties to the sort of commitment that generally lasts much of a lifetime. However, a recent survey indicated that over half of new homes are defective. A new-build property could have as many as 150 defects, ranging from poor paint finishes and sloping floors to faulty wiring.
It’s essential, then, to make the developer work through the snagging list before you hand over your cash savings. Otherwise, you’re gambling. Once the developer has been paid, especially when you have moved in, it could be exceptionally hard to be reimbursed. Gaining a list of issues with the property before you claim it as home could save you a lot of trouble.
Be alert for developers who take their time; don’t allow your builders to slack off – push them to resolve any outstanding issues before your completion date. Why rely on a developer to discover potential problems when you can enlist the services of an Independent Chartered Surveyor? These professionals work for you, not for the developer. They assess the quality of the build and are far more likely to accurately report on any issues than staff from the company that built your home. After all, we want our families to be safe and comfortable in our houses.
The most significant financial investment most people will make in their lives is in a property, so it is worth understanding both the rights you have as a homeowner and the limited protections available to you as a consumer. It is unfortunate that under British law, property owners receive far less protection than consumers of goods. While the Sale and Supply of Goods Act provides useful consumer protections, it does not apply to property. So, what tools do you as a new buyer have to defend yourself? Luckily, your developer is responsible for identifying and fixing all the defects in your new home before you move in. Unfortunately, that is where the good news ends, because building defects are commonplace in new housing.
A chartered surveyor under CIOB, RPSA or RICS could look over your new build property and itemize a list of issues that could cost you a substantial amount to rectify. They could also give you professional support to ensure that your contractor meets their legal obligations. Our panel of chartered surveyors can certainly do the same. They could look over your property and give you a very detailed rundown of all the problems found for your developer or contractor to rectify, especially for new build.
The most standard condition report for a home is the RICS HomeBuyer Report (Level 2), which runs approximately from about £700 to £1,300. It provides a general assessment of the property’s condition and points out anything that could potentially affect its value. The RICS HomeBuyer Report does not focus on the minute details, as it is not a snagging survey; rather, it gives an overall picture of the problems. To accomplish this, the report employs a traffic light rating system that indicates the severity of the property’s defects and safety issues.
For larger buildings, a “RICS Level 3 Building Survey” might run you between £800 and £1,500, with some rare instances pushing the cost even higher. Because this survey offers a detailed breakdown of any defects, it is not your least expensive option. If, for instance, your building is at the top of a hill with a steep, sloping yard, or the property is large, expensive, old or even newly built, then a Level 3 RICS building survey is definitely the right call and will let you know if there’s been any movement in the foundation.
Surveys that are more in-depth and of better quality do cost more, but they could ultimately save you certain amounts of cash if they allow you to avoid potential costly issues in the future. If you have your eyes on a property in Notting Hill, a homebuyer’s or full building survey would be a good investment.
Our panel is composed of expert and local RICS surveyors in Notting Hill, who are experienced in conducting residential property surveys.
The surveyors provide several types of services, including a HomeBuyer Survey and Valuation. This inspection is more thorough than the average home inspection and tends to focus more on the potential impact (positive or negative) that certain property conditions might have on the property’s value.
Accreditation/qualification: The Notting Hill Surveyors panel consists of qualified, experienced chartered building surveyors accredited by RICS, CIOB or RPSA. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is a global professional body of over 200,000 members, the preeminent authority on professional land, real estate, construction, and environmental issues. Other members of our panel of surveyors belong to accreditation bodies that are similarly influential and issue similar accreditations. All of these accreditations and memberships can be seen as marks of the highest possible standards of expertise and integrity in the valuation, management, and development of professional land, real estate, construction, and environmental issues.
Specialty: the group of surveyors provides clear and direct opinions on property conditions and values. They are unfailingly familiar with the unique aspects of Notting Hill property. Their work is of the highest quality and involves an incredible amount of detail. The inspection is visual and takes place in all accessible parts of the building. Any potential problems are clearly noted, from serious issues like subsidence or dampness to much less worrisome problems like missing caulk in shower stalls. To avoid trouble after purchasing a property, buy a detailed report to know of any serious or potentially expensive problems that exist before the sale goes through.
Clarity: the inspection yields a report that is easy to read, free of jargon, and clear in its comprehensiveness. If defects are found, the report details them and provides professional advice on repairs and maintenance. These features make the report a useful, potent tool during any negotiations concerning the price of a property.
Post survey support and advice: your surveyor should not merely hand you a report at the end and then take their leave. They ought to offer as part of their service, a post-survey consultation. In this, you can go through the report together, discuss its content and potential ramifications, and receive some handy advice as to what it all might mean for you in the near future.
Value for Money: getting a HomeBuyer Report is an extra cost, but it can actually help save you money in the long term. If any problems show up in the report, you now have the opportunity to either negotiate for the seller to fix the problem or get a price reduction. Both choices help counteract the home’s cost issues.
To ensure you can select your new home wisely, engage well-respected surveyors to conduct the HomeBuyers Survey! The Notting Hill property market is among the most diverse, and it’s one of the fastest paced of the price bracket in the whole UK. Thus, it is essential to have a professional take you—from the outside appearance of the home down to its structural bones.
The Notting Hill property market is complex. Thus, before any decisions are made, it is always good practice to gain valuable insight. A Home Buyer’s Report, supplied by your qualified chartered surveyor, will do just this, giving you an authoritative, accurate, and up-to-date perspective on the property to assist you in making the correct decision for your family and your future.
For a mere £700, you can secure the services of a CIOB, RPSA or RICS HomeBuyer Report, granting you peace of mind regarding the financial future of your property and the comfort and safety of your family. This survey can also potentially save you thousands of pounds off the price of your property. The team of surveyors currently provides two distinct options for residential property survey reports. The RICS HomeBuyer Report is the most basic offering, and we also provide the very comprehensive Level 3 Survey and Roof Surveys. You are welcome to contact us for a propitious quotation on any survey you may choose from this suite of services.
RICS’s industry guidelines suggest building surveys for properties that are large, very old, in some disrepair, or have unusual features. Building surveys are also recommended if you plan to do any significant renovations or extensions.
If you’re purchasing a relatively modern home that’s in decent shape and built to ordinary standards, then a Home Buyer Survey is an acceptable choice. If you want the assurance of an inspection and report that are pretty much guaranteed to turn up any issues that might be hidden or just hard to see, then you should go for a Full Building Survey instead.
The Full Building Survey is more detailed; it is more specifically tailored to the property your surveyor would be inspecting. It also comes with more advice on the visible defects found and on the potential hidden defects that they suspect may be present. Your surveyor will illustrate reports with photographs so that you can clearly see what has been discovered. Both the Home Buyer and Full Building Surveys describe the repairs needed, the order in which the repairs should be done, and the kind of “maintenance measures” that will be required to keep the property in good condition.
A HomeBuyer Report does include a market valuation as well as reinstatement costs. However, a Full Building Survey does not. The main reason for the differences in what is and isn’t included in the two types of reports is how focused the reports are on the condition of the property. The Full Building Survey is the most in-depth and comprehensive survey of a property that you can have done.
The survey can return one of two general results. It can say that all is well or it can return a list of defects, allowing you an opportunity to still walk away from the purchase, negotiate a lower figure, or have the seller carry out the necessary repairs.
If any major issues turn out to be part of the defects list (and major issues can mean something as serious as no basement waterproofing), then the surveyor should advise on what to do. Major issues can also mean a serious impact on the structural integrity of the building, and the conversation with the surveyor can help the potential buyer gauge how much it’s going to hit them in the pocketbook to fix it.
Looking for a Chartered Surveyor? If you are buying a property, contact us for a building survey. Our panel of CIOB, RPSA and RICS surveyors will help you with the Level 2 or Level 3 property survey you need in Notting Hill. We can also assist you in Red Book Valuations, Party Wall Awards and other services. Reach out to us today for building surveyors, valuers and party wall surveyors in London!
