SNAG AWARENESS

There is no denying that if you’re going to spend a lot of money on something then you want it to be perfect. You wouldn’t purchase an expensive car with a dent in the side of it or some designer shoes that are scuffed, so why would you accept a new build property that isn’t exactly as it should be?

This way of thinking is set in stone for new build owners and they are more clued-up than ever before. Whereas in previous years, any problems with a property may have resulted in a letter of complaint or a cross phone call, these days the property simply won’t be accepted until it is perfect. It goes without saying that this is putting an awful lot of pressure on property developers to get things right, and fast.

Not only do new build purchasers execute their right to complain but they also now understand exactly what they can legally do to ensure that their property is perfect. These purchasers are now aware of snag inspections and snag surveys, and they will be sure to use this information to their advantage. You can trust that if anything is even the slightest bit ‘snagged’ then it will be brought to your attention and expected to be put right, without delay.

Of course, as a property developer, you will be well aware that it is your responsibility to check and fix any snags before you complete on the sale but it is unlikely that you will be able to pick up on everything. For this reason, it is more important than ever for property developers to be completing pre-occupation surveys to identify anything that has been missed or overlooked. You really should also consider a de-snag survey to check that the necessary works have been carried out to rectify any snags identified.

Quality control has never been so important and we can assure you that there is no money to be saved by skipping these crucial latter stages of quality control. It will always cost you more in the long run, not just in terms of physical money either, your reputation can be on the line too. As well as utilising their right to complain, you can guarantee that if this complaint isn’t handled in the right way then they will use their freedom of speech too and the world will know about it. Whether your purchasers take to social media or just use word of mouth you know that it will impact negatively on your company.

You should also remember that defects may still arise after purchase and if you’re purchasers understand what a snag is then they will definitely know what a defect is too. To be clear about the definitions used in the industry, snags are things that exist up to the point a property is purchased and should not exist thereafter and, defects are issues that arise after the purchaser took occupation and, if legitimate and reported in time, are the developer’s responsibility to remedy.

Your purchasers are smarter and more aware of terminology like this in this day and age and as property prices rise so does the expectation of purchasers that are handing over their hard-earned money. There is nowhere to hide and as a property developer, you should be thinking of ways you can ensure that your properties are snag-free and any defects are handled promptly. One of the easiest ways to do this is to work alongside an experienced company that can offer you services such as pre-occupation surveys, purchaser demonstrations and aftercare.

Thankfully, this is something that After Build specialise in and any developers that find themselves in a sticky situation searching for a company who manage snags and can also assist with defect management too then look no further. Simply working with a company like After Build will take a huge amount of pressure off your shoulders and allow you to relax knowing that your properties and your purchasers are in safe hands.