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Snagging Survey

Falmouth Snagging Survey

Independent defect reports for new-build homes in TR11

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Snagging for new-build homes in Falmouth

Falmouth buyers see plenty of finish issues in new-build homes, even when the plot looks tidy on handover day. homedata.co.uk records show a median sale price of £333,125 across 360 residential sales in the last 12 months, with just 2 new-build transactions making up 0.6% of the market. Our snagging inspectors walk the property, document every defect with photos, and send a report you can put straight in front of the developer.

That matters in TR11, where the housing mix leans towards older Cornish stock, harbour-side homes, and a very thin flow of new-build supply. Around Falmouth Harbour and the River Fal, a small site can hide a long snag list, from rushed paintwork to drainage falls that do not show up until the first wet spell. We write the report in plain English, room by room, so the builder gets a clear list to fix.

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Falmouth Property Snapshot

£333,125

Median sale price

£555,000

Detached

£335,000

Semi-detached

£310,000

Terraced

£242,000

Flat

360

Residential sales in last 12 months

New-build transactions

0.6%

New-build share

100-250

Typical snags on a new-build

Using listing data from home.co.uk and property data from homedata.co.uk

What a Snagging Inspection Catches

Our inspectors start with the things most buyers spot at first glance, then keep going. Paint runs, scuffed plaster, patchy mastic, and trim that has been rushed around sockets or architraves all make the list, even when the room looks fine from the doorway. In Falmouth, where homedata.co.uk shows only 2 new-build transactions in the last 12 months, buyers often discover that a small scheme can still produce a surprisingly long snag list.

Functional faults are just as common. Doors that do not latch, windows that do not seal, sockets that sit out of square, and kitchen units with poor fitting tolerances all show up on newer homes in TR11. A window beside the River Fal can look acceptable on a calm day and still fail when the wind picks up, and that is exactly the kind of defect a proper snagging inspection catches.

We also look for the construction and regulatory items that a buyer's solicitor will not pick up. Uneven floors, gaps in skirting, badly finished external thresholds, missing fire-stopping, undersized ventilation, and drainage that falls the wrong way all belong in the report. Those defects matter because they affect how the home works, how it dries out, and how the warranty provider views the issue later on.

Cosmetic defects
Functional defects
Construction defects
Regulatory defects

Typical Snags Found by Property Size

1-2 bed flat or house 118

3 bed house 147

4 bed house 182

5+ bed house 219

Based on Homemove's new-build inspection benchmark, with local market context from homedata.co.uk records for Falmouth.

Why You Need It Before Completion (Or Within 2 Years)

The first 2 years matter most. NHBC Buildmark, Premier Guarantee, and LABC New Home Warranty all keep the developer responsible for defects during the 2-year defects period, which is where snagging surveys do the heavy lifting. In Falmouth, where only 2 new-build transactions were recorded in the last 12 months, buyers often have little time to chase a small site team once the last plot is handed over.

A pre-completion snag gives you the strongest position. If the report lands before legal completion, the developer can agree repairs while the keys are still theirs, and the work can be tied to the handover process rather than a later complaint. After 2 years the warranty narrows to structural-only cover, so loose finishes, poor sealant, sticking doors, and other everyday snags become much harder to pursue.

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Why You Need It Before Completion (Or Within 2 Years)

Pre-completion, First-week, and End-of-2-year Snags

Timing	Best used for	What it catches
Pre-completion snag	Before legal completion	The best point to inspect. We document paint defects, plaster issues, door alignment, missing sealant, windows not sealing, and unfinished external work while the builder still controls the handover.
First-week snag	After completion, once you have keys	Useful if the home was handed over before a full inspection. It finds faults that show up once heating, plumbing, and daily use reveal them, such as sticking doors, leaks, socket problems, and uneven finishes.
End-of-2-year snag	Near the end of the defects period	Best for defects that were missed or left unresolved during the first 2 years, plus repeat issues with drainage, ventilation, movement, or finishes that keep failing.

How a Snagging Inspection Works

Quote

Tell us the property type, postcode, and where you are in the purchase. For Falmouth homes, that means TR11, and our prices start from £295 for 1-2 bed homes, with the same prices for pre-completion inspections.

Instruction

Once you book, we assign an independent inspector who knows new-build defects and the warranty process. We keep your file ready so the visit matches the stage of your purchase.

Coordinate access with the builder

We contact the sales or site team and agree access. On a smaller Falmouth site, handover slots can be tight, so this step matters.

Inspection

The visit usually takes 3-6 hours. We inspect rooms, loft spaces, externals, drainage, fixtures, fittings, and safety-related items, then photograph every defect.

Report

You get a full photo-illustrated report within 2-3 working days. It is written so the developer can see what needs fixing, where it is, and why it matters.

Tip: get the list agreed before completion

Do not take possession in Falmouth until the pre-completion list is agreed. Once the keys change hands, leverage drops sharply, and a missed bit of sealant or a sticking patio door can turn into a slower, more awkward conversation with the site team.

Local New-Build Considerations in Falmouth

TR11 is not a place with a huge pipeline of new-build sales. homedata.co.uk shows just 2 new-build transactions in the last 12 months, against 360 residential sales overall, so many buyers are looking at smaller plots or infill schemes rather than large estates. That low volume matters, because a one-off scheme off the main roads around Falmouth can still throw up the same snag patterns we see elsewhere, just with fewer local comparisons.

Small sites can feel finished before every trade has tidied up. We often see the same defect pattern on new homes in Cornwall, paint and plaster that need another pass, doors that do not latch cleanly, windows that need adjustment, kitchens with tight tolerances, and gardens left short of final levels. In a town with a strong maritime link and a university market, a rushed handover near the harbour can still leave a buyer with a long snag list.

Coastal exposure changes the checklist. Salt air around Falmouth Harbour, damp mornings near the River Fal, and exposed external fittings can all put extra pressure on sealant, ironmongery, drainage, and threshold details. Where a plot backs onto a slope, shared access, or retained landscaping, we also check that paths, boundaries, and surface water falls match the handover spec.

Small infill plots
Coastal salt air
Drainage and falls
Gardens and boundary treatments

Using Your Snag List With the Developer

We format the report so the developer can act on it without guesswork. Each room has its own defect list, every item has a photo, and the wording is plain enough for the site manager, customer care team, or clerk of works to pick up straight away.

If the developer drags its feet, the next step depends on the warranty provider. NHBC, Premier Guarantee, and LABC all have dispute or resolution routes, and a clear snag list gives you the paper trail you need to escalate it properly. In a Falmouth handover, that can matter more than people expect, because small schemes often have lean aftercare teams once the last plot is sold.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I book a snagging survey in Falmouth?

Before legal completion is the best time. If your TR11 home has already completed, book within the 2-year defects period so the builder is still contractually responsible for snags under the warranty. We still inspect homes around Falmouth Harbour, Penryn, and the wider Cornwall coast after move-in, but the pre-completion stage gives you the strongest position.

How much does a snagging survey cost in Falmouth?

Our Falmouth prices start from £295 for a 1-2 bed flat or house, £375 for a 3 bed house, £450 for a 4 bed house, and £550 for a 5+ bed house. Pre-completion inspections use the same prices. That keeps the cost clear before you commit to a home with a median sale price of £333,125 in the local market.

How long does the inspection take?

Most new-build inspections take 3-6 hours, depending on size and access. A compact flat near the harbour is quicker than a larger 4 or 5 bed home on the edge of TR11, but we still check the same areas, from internal finishes to external details and safety-related items.

What counts as a snaggable defect?

Snaggable items are faults that should have been right at handover, such as paint defects, doors that do not latch, windows that do not seal, missing sealant, uneven floors, or drainage that falls the wrong way. Wear and tear is different, because that comes from use after completion. On a brand-new Falmouth home, a mark from furniture delivery is not the same as a badly finished threshold.

What if the developer says a problem is just cosmetic?

Developers can question an item, but they should not brush off a valid defect. A cosmetic mark may not need the same treatment as missing fire-stopping or a failed seal, yet a badly aligned door, a leak, or ventilation that underperforms still needs proper review. If the builder does not respond, the warranty route through NHBC, Premier Guarantee, or LABC can help move it along.

Who pays for the snagging survey?

The buyer pays Homemove for the inspection. The developer is normally responsible for fixing valid defects during the 2-year defects period, but they do not pay for the survey itself. For a Falmouth buyer, that is a sensible spend when the local market includes a median sale price of £333,125 and only 2 new-build sales in the last 12 months.

What if I am buying under NHBC, Premier Guarantee, or LABC?

Those warranty schemes give you the 10-year structural cover, but the first 2 years are the defects period where snagging items belong. That is why our Falmouth inspections focus on getting the list in early, while the builder still has responsibility for the everyday defects that snaggers find.

What if I have already moved in?

We can still inspect. The earlier you book after completion, the easier it is to show that the defect was present at handover rather than caused later, and we still find missed issues on homes across TR11 within the first few weeks. A fresh report is still useful if the developer needs a clear list and photos to work from.