We’ll update soon and let you all know how were getting on.

They have spotted several fairly small cosmetic items that need sorting. However, they also spotted items such as the en-suite loo not working. In my opinion it was worth every penny.

The report has also gone to site. We’ll have to wait and see if they actually bother to read it.

In the short time that i was in the house I raised 20+ items with the site manger. Most were fairly trivial and simply down to a lack of attention to detail. A few examples are:

1 – A power point in the washing machine space that will be 75% covered by the machine when its on place – they agreed to move it…

2 – Our rear garden slopes towards the house. The patio has no means of drainage and was already filling with water – They agreed to put a drain in.

3 – Garage power not working.

4 – A hole in the soffit was covered over with an extractor vent. They agreed this was a bodge job and that the soffit would be replaced.

The site manager was a reasonable guy and took all of the points on board. He was actually picking up points that I’d missed. He promised to try and get all of the items sorted for our completion date. I have issued a list to the site to make sure everything is down in black and white.

After various heated calls to the sales manger and eventually the sales director DWH finally caved in but only if I instructed a third party. I honestly believe that they were hoping that I was only prepared to snag it myself and wouldn’t be willing to pay someone else to do it. I immediately instructed Newbuild Inspections. DWH will only allow them in to snag after the 27th, therefore not leaving much time before we move in on the 30th.

Lessons learned from my experience so far:

1 – Do not trust the sales office if they say that snagging is possible. Get it confirmed in writing from a ‘Grown Up’ at your house builder’s head office.

2 – Do not instruct a solicitor that is recommended by the builder. Mine was absolutely spineless on this issue and clearly did not want to rock the boat due to a conflict of interest. He would not so much as even speak to DWH on my behalf to try and apply some pressure.

3 – Start worrying if builders say no. I did…….

4 – Phone Newbuild Inspections – It was only after taking there advice and pushing certain people that I managed to get the snagging agreed – (Many thanks guys for your help).

We have been popping over to the site quite frequently and to be honest they appear to have done a reasonable job from the outside. It’s quite strange actually as I keep spotting minor issues with other houses on the development but the only thing that I can spot on our house is the missing outside tap and a couple of holes that need sorting under the soffits.

We have very bravely decided to snag the property ourselves. I’m an engineer by trade and tend to be bit of a fussy git at the best of times. Coupled with a reasonable grasp of the trades and a couple of refurbs under our belt I’m hoping that I should pick up a majority of the problems.

Hopefully I’ll be back with a fairly short snagging list and a moving date in a few days………