Snagging Survey in Bath

Snagging surveys in Bath start from £299 for smaller flats and range to £450 or more for larger detached properties. The cost reflects the property size and inspection time required. Adding thermal imaging - which can detect insulation gaps and moisture behind tiles - costs around £250 extra. Given Bath house prices average over £421,000, the survey cost represents less than 0.1% of your property value.

Yes, and we strongly recommend it. A pre-completion inspection (PCI) takes place before legal completion, giving you maximum leverage with your developer. Developers are obligated to fix defects before handing over the keys, so defects identified at this stage are almost always rectified quickly. If your developer won't allow pre-completion access, you can book immediately after moving in - you have two years under NHBC Buildmark to report defects.

A standard snagging survey of a 3-4 bedroom Bath new build typically takes 2.5 to 4 hours on site. Smaller flats may take 1.5-2 hours. Larger detached homes with garages and substantial gardens can take up to 5 hours. Our inspectors do not rush - we work methodically through every room and every external element. Your report is typically ready within 48 hours of the inspection.

Our snagging inspectors cover all of Bath and the surrounding BA postcode area - including Combe Down (where Mulberry Park is located), Twerton, Oldfield Park, Lambridge, Weston, Larkhall, and Bathampton. We also cover developments further out in Bath and North East Somerset including Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, and Radstock at no extra travel charge. If your development is in a rural part of BANES, contact us to confirm coverage before booking.

Our inspectors check over 200 items across every part of the property. This includes external brickwork, pointing, window frames, doors, fascias, and guttering; internal plastering, paintwork, and floor finishes; tiling in kitchens and bathrooms; plumbing pressure and drainage; electrical sockets, consumer units, and RCD testing; and loft insulation depth and access. We photograph every defect we find and present it in a numbered report with precise descriptions for your developer.

Yes. Developer self-inspection has a fundamental conflict of interest - the inspector is employed by the company whose homes they are assessing. Building control inspectors check regulatory compliance, not quality of finish. The Home Builders Federation's own 2025 satisfaction survey found 93.7% of buyers still reported defects after moving in, despite these internal checks. Curo, Bath's dominant developer, has a good reputation - but even well-run schemes produce snags. Independent inspection is the only way to get an unbiased assessment.

Industry data suggests 50-150 defects in an average new build, though this varies enormously by developer and site management quality. The majority of snags are cosmetic - scratched windows, paint holidays, grouting gaps, ill-fitting cupboard doors - but some can be more serious, such as missing insulation, poor drainage falls, or incorrectly fitted seals around windows. Our inspectors in Bath routinely find a mix of minor and significant defects in developments from Combe Down to Twerton.

You send the numbered defect list to your developer's customer care team and request a remediation timeline. Developers with NHBC registration are obligated to address legitimate defects within a reasonable period. If your developer is slow to respond, you can escalate via the Consumer Code for Home Builders or NHBC directly. Our report format is specifically designed to make this escalation process straightforward - each defect has a reference number, photograph, and clear description.