Snagging Survey in EX6

The EX6 postcode covers a distinctive mix of rural villages where new housing developments have expanded significantly over recent years. Properties in this area range from contemporary timber-frame houses to high-end detached homes in developments such as Church Lane in Cheriton Bishop. Regardless of the property type or price point, all new builds contain defects that require identification by an experienced professional. The volume of new build activity in the wider Exeter corridor has increased dramatically, with developers responding to demand from commuters seeking rural lifestyles while maintaining city access.

Our inspectors typically discover between 100 and 200 individual snagging items in a typical new-build property. These range from minor cosmetic issues such as poorly finished plasterwork, paint defects, and ill-fitting door handles to more serious structural concerns including misaligned lintels, inadequate damp proof courses, and drainage problems that could lead to long-term damp issues. We classify every defect by severity, ensuring you know which items require immediate attention and which can be addressed over time. This systematic approach helps you prioritize remediation work with the developer.

The geology of the EX6 area presents specific considerations for new build properties. With varied clay and sandstone conditions across the region, our inspectors check for any signs of subsidence or movement that may affect recently constructed foundations. Properties near watercourses in the rural valleys require additional scrutiny for surface water drainage and flood resilience. We also examine the interaction between modern timber-frame construction, which is increasingly common in the area, and traditional building elements. This is particularly important in EX6 where many developments blend contemporary methods with the local architectural heritage.

The conservation areas in villages like Dunsford, Christow, and Kenn present unique challenges for developers, and our inspectors understand the standards required for properties in these sensitive locations. We pay attention to how new builds interact with their surroundings, checking that external finishes, boundary treatments, and landscaping meet both building regulations and any planning conditions that may apply. Our detailed reports help you ensure your new home meets all the standards you are entitled to expect.

• Incomplete sealant around windows and doors
• Poor masonry pointing and brickwork alignment
• Inadequate ventilation causing condensation
• Plumbing and drainage installation faults
• Electrical socket positioning and wiring issues
• External landscaping not to specification

Properties in the EX6 area present unique construction challenges that our inspectors understand thoroughly. The region features a mix of traditional Devon construction materials including local stone, cob, and brick in older properties, while newer developments increasingly utilize timber-frame methods with render or brick facades. This combination creates specific defect patterns that require experienced assessment. Our team has inspected properties across all the villages in this postcode, from Cheriton Bishop to Christow, giving us detailed knowledge of the construction issues specific to this area.

The most common issues our inspectors find in EX6 new builds include poor quality masonry pointing, particularly on properties where developers have rushed external works to meet completion deadlines. Windows and doors frequently exhibit alignment issues, with gaps around frames allowing drafts and water penetration. Inadequate ventilation is a persistent problem in modern energy-efficient homes, leading to condensation issues that manifest as black mold on cold walls and windows. We check all vulnerable areas systematically, ensuring we identify the full extent of any ventilation problems.

Plumbing and drainage faults represent another significant category of defects. Our inspectors test all water outlets, check for leaks under sinks, and verify that drainage falls correctly away from the property. Given the rural nature of many EX6 properties that rely on private water supplies or septic tanks, we pay particular attention to water pressure and drainage connections that may differ from standard mains-connected properties. This specialized knowledge is crucial for buyers in this area who may be purchasing their first rural property with private water or sewage systems.

The smaller regional developers who build most of the new homes in the EX6 area often have different quality control processes compared to the volume housebuilders active in Exeter itself. While we treat every property with the same professional attention, our inspectors are aware that some smaller builders may lack the extensive quality assurance systems of the major national companies. This experience allows us to identify the specific issues that tend to arise with different types of builders and developments in this region.

• Misaligned window and door frames
• Missing or incomplete damp proof courses
• Cracks in plasterwork (vertical, horizontal, and diagonal)
• Incomplete sealant around wet areas
• Poor quality paint finishes and decorations
• Inadequate loft insulation depth
• Electrical fixtures not properly secured
• Missing or incorrectly installed extractor fans