Pre-Completion vs Post-Completion Snagging: When Should You Get a New Build Snagging Survey?
Should you snag a new build before or after completion? Compare pre-completion inspections and post-completion snagging, including the advantages of each and when buyers should book.
When should you have a new build professionally snagged: before legal completion or after you have moved in? For most buyers, the best answer is before completion if you have the opportunity, followed by your own checks after moving in.
A pre-completion inspection can identify visible defects while the property is empty and before you legally complete. A post-completion inspection can still be extremely useful, particularly because some problems only become apparent once you have actually started living in the home.
If budget allows, the strongest approach is therefore not necessarily choosing one or the other. It is to inspect before completion, then continue checking the property carefully after moving in.
What is a pre-completion snagging inspection?
A pre-completion inspection, often shortened to PCI, takes place once the new home is substantially complete but before legal completion and before you move in.
The purpose is to identify problems with the condition and finish of the home so they can be recorded before ownership formally passes to you.
Poor paintwork or plaster finishes.
Damaged doors, worktops or flooring.
Windows or doors that do not operate properly.
Missing or poorly finished sealant.
Poorly fitted kitchen units.
Damaged sanitaryware.
Incomplete external work.
Issues with sockets, switches and fittings.
Visible roofing or guttering problems.
Poorly finished brickwork.
Items that do not match the agreed specification.
The New Homes Quality Board's current Pre-Completion Inspection Checklist says the purpose of the inspection is to confirm that the standard of finish is acceptable and create a checklist of items requiring attention where problems are identified.
This is slightly different from simply walking around your home with the site manager on handover day. A professional snagging inspector should work through the property systematically and provide a written report, normally including photographs.
If you are considering professional snagging, see our guide to what a professional snagging survey checks.
Do buyers have a right to a pre-completion inspection?
For homes covered by the New Homes Quality Code, buyers should be given the opportunity to carry out a pre-completion inspection themselves or appoint a suitably qualified inspector.
The current Version 2 Code applies to qualifying homes reserved from registered developers from 2 March 2026 onwards. Not every new build purchase is necessarily covered by the New Homes Quality Code, so check which consumer code applies to your developer and reservation.
It is worth asking the developer early: can I arrange an independent pre-completion inspection, and what is your process for providing access? Asking this in advance is better than trying to organise an inspector at the last minute.
What is post-completion snagging?
Post-completion snagging takes place after legal completion, usually once you have received the keys and potentially already moved into the home.
The inspection can cover many of the same visible workmanship and finishing issues as a pre-completion inspection, but there is one important difference: you have now started using the property.
That can reveal problems that were difficult or impossible to notice while the house was sitting empty.
Radiators not heating correctly.
Poor hot-water performance.
Showers leaking during normal use.
Toilets not flushing correctly.
Doors beginning to catch.
Windows showing draughts.
Drainage problems after heavy rain.
Excessive condensation.
Unexpected noise transfer.
Appliances or fittings not functioning correctly.
Water leaks appearing after use.
Problems with external drainage.
Cracks appearing as the home settles.
That makes post-completion checks useful even if the property was inspected before you moved in.
So is pre-completion or post-completion snagging better?
Usually, pre-completion is the better first opportunity
If you can arrange a professional inspection before completing, there are several practical advantages. The home is usually empty, which makes walls, flooring, doors, windows and finishes easier to inspect.
There is also a clear record showing that the defects were present before you moved into the property. Where the New Homes Quality Code applies, the pre-completion inspection is also a formally recognised part of the buying process.
That does not mean every item on the snagging report must necessarily be repaired before you receive the keys. Minor remedial work may still take place afterwards. But identifying issues early gives both you and the developer a documented starting point.
Why not simply wait until after completion?
There are perfectly legitimate reasons why buyers end up snagging afterwards.
You did not know professional snagging existed until after moving in.
You were unable to secure pre-completion access.
You completed on a very short timescale.
You bought from a developer outside the NHQB scheme.
You decided to carry out the initial inspection yourself.
Problems only became apparent after you started using the home.
If you have already completed, you have not missed your opportunity to report defects simply because you did not commission a pre-completion inspection.
You should nevertheless report problems as soon as reasonably possible rather than deliberately waiting until the end of an aftercare period.
The biggest advantage of post-completion snagging
Some defects need the house to be used before they reveal themselves.
A shower can look properly installed when the home is empty, yet start leaking after repeated use. A radiator may appear fine until the heating is run for several hours. A garden can look acceptable in dry weather but hold standing water after heavy rain.
Living in the property can therefore expose issues that no single pre-completion visit could reliably predict. This is why snagging should not be treated as a one-off event that ends when an inspector leaves.
The best approach for most buyers
If possible, use a two-stage approach.
Stage 1: Pre-completion inspection
Arrange the inspection once the property is complete enough and the developer provides access.
Identify visible workmanship, finish and functionality issues.
Create a clear photographic record.
Send the report to the developer and retain your own copy.
Stage 2: Post-completion monitoring
Continue checking the property while you actually use it.
Pay particular attention to heating, hot water, plumbing, showers and baths.
Check windows, doors, ventilation and drainage.
Watch for garden drainage, guttering, condensation, cracking and unexpected noise transfer.
Report newly discovered problems promptly.
For a broader checklist, see our guide to the most common new build snags.
Do you need to pay for two professional snagging surveys?
Not necessarily. For many buyers, a sensible approach is a professional inspection before completion, followed by homeowner checks after moving in, with a second professional inspection only if needed.
You do not automatically need to pay a snagging company to inspect the entire property twice.
A second professional visit may become more worthwhile if significant new problems emerge, the original defects have not been repaired correctly, you suspect something more serious, you want repairs independently rechecked, or you are approaching the end of an important developer aftercare period.
If you are deciding whether the initial inspection is worthwhile at all, read is a snagging survey worth it?.
What if your developer says you can only snag after completion?
First establish which consumer code covers the development. If your purchase falls within the New Homes Quality Code, ask the developer to explain its pre-completion inspection process in writing.
Do not confuse a developer's own home demonstration or handover inspection with your independent pre-completion inspection. They serve different purposes.
Can you do the pre-completion inspection yourself?
Buyers can carry out their own checks, and the NHQB publishes pre-completion inspection checklists for consumers. However, a professional inspector brings experience of common new-build defects and a more systematic process.
That does not mean every buyer needs to pay for professional snagging. It means you should understand the difference between checking what looks wrong to you and having somebody experienced in new-build inspection systematically assess the property.
What happens to the defects found before completion?
Send the snagging report to the developer through its recognised process and keep evidence of when it was submitted.
Ask which defects will be corrected before completion, shortly after completion or as part of scheduled remedial visits. Do not rely entirely on verbal assurances.
Keep the original snagging report.
Keep photographs and videos.
Save emails and repair appointments.
Retain developer responses.
Take photographs after repairs are completed.
This creates a useful timeline if something is not resolved.
How quickly should developers fix snags?
There is not one universal deadline applying to every defect and every new build. Timescales can depend on the problem, developer, warranty and consumer code.
For homes covered by the New Homes Quality Code, the developer's obligations and complaints process can provide a clearer framework for dealing with unresolved issues.
Read our dedicated guide to how long a developer has to fix snags for a fuller explanation.
What if defects are not being fixed?
Start with the developer's after-sales and complaints process. Keep communication in writing and clearly identify the defect, when you first reported it, any previous repair attempts, what remains unresolved and what outcome you are asking for.
If the issue remains unresolved, the next route may depend on the consumer code, warranty provider and nature of the defect.
See what happens if a developer won't fix snags for the next steps.
Is post-completion snagging too late?
No. If you are reading this after moving in, do not assume you have lost the opportunity to have the house professionally inspected.
Post-completion snagging remains useful because the home is now being lived in and defects that were not visible before completion may start to appear.
The priority should be identifying and reporting issues rather than regretting that you did not inspect earlier.
You can find inspectors through the New Build Rankings snagging company directory.
Pre-completion vs post-completion snagging: quick comparison
Pre-completion: the property is usually empty and visible finishes are easier to inspect.
Pre-completion: it creates evidence that visible defects existed before occupation.
Pre-completion: where applicable, it fits within the recognised New Homes Quality Code process.
Post-completion: heating, plumbing and appliances have had more real-world use.
Post-completion: rain and changing weather may expose drainage, roof or guttering problems.
Post-completion: settlement-related cracks and other issues may have had time to appear.
Post-completion: it is still worthwhile even if you have already moved in.
So when should you book a snagging survey?
If you have not completed yet, try to arrange a pre-completion inspection.
If you have already completed, do not wait because you think you have missed your chance. Arrange post-completion snagging if you want the property independently checked.
If you can afford the most comprehensive approach, have a professional pre-completion inspection, then continue monitoring the house after you move in and arrange further professional investigation if significant new issues appear.
The bottom line
For most buyers, pre-completion snagging is typically the better first choice. It allows visible problems to be identified while the home is empty and creates a record before occupation.
But post-completion snagging has an advantage that no pre-completion inspection can completely replicate: you have actually lived in the house. Heating has been running, showers have been used, rain has fallen, doors have been opened repeatedly, the garden has had to drain and the home has begun to settle.
So do not think of it simply as pre-completion or post-completion. The strongest practical approach is to inspect before you complete, keep checking after you move in and report new problems quickly.
And remember that even a professional snagging inspection cannot guarantee that every hidden or future defect will be found. It is one part of a wider process that includes researching the developer, understanding your new build warranty and keeping good records of defects and repairs after completion.