Snagging Survey Great Coates - New Build Property Inspections

Our snagging survey provides a detailed inspection of your new build property, identifying both cosmetic and structural defects that developers should rectify before completion. The inspection covers all accessible areas including walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, plumbing, electrical installations, and external areas such as roofing, gutters, and damp proof courses. Our inspectors work systematically through a comprehensive checklist, documenting every issue regardless of size. We examine the property from top to bottom, including loft spaces, under-floor areas where accessible, and all built-in fixtures and fittings.

For properties in Great Coates, we pay particular attention to issues common in the region, including those arising from local construction methods and materials. The area's predominantly red brick Victorian and Edwardian housing stock influences building practices, and our inspectors understand how newer developments may differ in construction. We examine the quality of workmanship, looking for poorly finished plasterwork with visible blemishes and uneven surfaces, ill-fitting doors and windows with damaged seals, incomplete sealant around wet areas, and issues with drainage that are particularly relevant given the local flood risk from the Humber Estuary and River Freshney. The 2007 flooding that impacted homes in Great Coates underscores the importance of thorough damp proofing and drainage inspections.

The survey also includes a thorough assessment of exterior elements, including roof tile alignment, cavity tray installations, damp proof course continuity, and the standard of external rendering and brickwork. Given that many new developments in the Great Coates area utilise traditional masonry construction, our inspectors check for structural integrity and compliance with building regulations. We photograph and document all defects, providing you with a comprehensive report to present to your developer or warranty provider. For properties in flood-risk areas like Great Coates, we pay special attention to ground level ventilation, damp proof courses, and the gradient of external paving to ensure proper water runoff.

Our inspection extends to all community areas and shared spaces if you are purchasing a flat or a property with communal access. We check parking areas, boundary treatments, landscaping, and drainage systems that may be the responsibility of the management company. For developments like Cambridge Green and Wigmore Park, we also verify that all NHBC or other warranty provider requirements have been met, ensuring your coverage remains valid.

• Internal walls and ceilings
• Windows and doors
• Kitchen and bathroom fixtures
• Plumbing and electrical systems
• Roof and loft space
• Damp proof course
• External brickwork and rendering
• Gutters and drainage

Great Coates is identified as an area with significant tidal flood risk, particularly given its proximity to the Humber Estuary. The village has experienced flooding events in the past, with the 2007 floods impacting homes in the area and surrounding regions. Additionally, fluvial flooding from the River Freshney and New Cut Drain presents ongoing risks during periods of heavy rainfall. Surface water flooding can also occur, particularly in low-lying areas and properties with inadequate drainage systems. These environmental factors make it essential for new build properties to have robust damp proofing, drainage, and waterproofing measures in place.

Our inspectors pay particular attention to damp proof courses, ground level ventilation, and drainage around the property perimeter when surveying homes in Great Coates. We check that damp proof membranes are correctly installed and continuous, that air bricks are unobstructed, and that external ground levels slope away from the property to prevent water ingress. For properties in flood-risk areas, we also examine the specification of any waterproofing systems, the height of internal floors relative to external ground levels, and the presence of adequate sub-floor ventilation. These checks are particularly important for properties built on the clay soils common in this part of Lincolnshire, which can experience significant volume changes with variations in moisture content.

When we identify concerns related to flood risk or drainage, we flag these prominently in our report and provide detailed recommendations for remedial action. This may include improvements to drainage systems, installation of additional damp proofing measures, or recommendations for flood resilience upgrades. Our detailed documentation supports you in negotiating with developers to ensure appropriate measures are implemented before you take ownership of the property. Should structural engineering input be required, we can recommend appropriate specialists familiar with local ground conditions and flood risk assessments.

Research indicates that 93.7% of new build buyers report problems or snags to their builder, with a third experiencing more than 15 separate issues. While many defects are cosmetic, some can be serious structural problems that require immediate attention. Our inspectors typically find between 100 and 200 individual snags in a typical new build property, ranging from minor paint defects to significant construction issues. This high defect rate underscores the importance of a professional snagging survey before you complete your purchase.

In the Great Coates area, where developments include properties from both national housebuilders like Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes and regional developers like The John Collis Group and T Dixon & Son Ltd, we commonly encounter issues including poorly finished plasterwork with visible blemishes and uneven surfaces, doors and windows that do not close properly or have damaged seals, incomplete sealant around bathrooms and kitchens leading to potential water ingress, and drainage issues particularly important given the local flood risk. Properties on developments like Cambridge Green and Wigmore Park frequently show similar patterns of defects across multiple plots, suggesting systematic issues in construction quality control.

Structural items we frequently identify include hairline cracks in walls potentially indicating settlement issues or lintel problems, inadequate damp proof courses, roof tile misalignment, and missing or poorly installed cavity trays. External defects often include unfinished landscaping, drives and paths not completed to specification, and boundary treatments that do not match the original plans. For properties in new developments like Cambridge Green and Wigmore Park, we also check that all NHBC or other warranty provider requirements have been met. We pay particular attention to the interface between different construction elements, such as where window frames meet brickwork, as these junction points are common failure locations.

Electrical and plumbing defects represent a significant category of findings in new build properties. We regularly identify issues such as loose electrical connections, incorrectly wired sockets, plumbing leaks at pipe joints, inadequate water pressure, and poorly installed sanitaryware. These defects can pose safety risks and may not become apparent until you move in and start using the systems. Our thorough inspection covers all accessible electrical and plumbing installations, ensuring that minor issues are identified before they become major problems.

• Paint and plaster defects
• Door and window issues
• Missing or damaged sealant
• Plumbing leaks and poor connections
• Electrical safety concerns
• Roof tile problems
• Damp and condensation
• Drainage and gutter issues