Checking out a new apartment or villa for purchase is similar to walking into a car showroom to buy a new car. 

“When you walk into the car showroom, you expect the car to be shiny, with brand new tires and spotless interiors, with no scratches, dents or marks anywhere. It's the same when you buy an apartment. If you're going to pick up the keys, it's a big deal, and it's very exciting. And you really don't want anything to be amiss,” says Matthew Young, manager for snagging and handover management, Land Sterling. 

Through its snagging service, Land Sterling seeks to ensure that customers experience the “wow factor” when they buy an apartment or villa.

“A buyer has to have the wow factor when they walk into their brand new apartment and see it in perfect condition. So it's our job to assist developers in making sure they hand over properties in as near perfect condition as they can,” says Matthew.

A visual inspection

Snagging is the visual inspection of a property before the handover process to ensure it looks perfect for a potential buyer.

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the term 'snag' refers to a problem or difficulty, especially a small hidden or unexpected one. Hence, a snag list is a list of small defects in a recently-completed property.

"Snagging is a service provided by a chartered surveyor or a building surveyor during the handover stage," says Hamza Betraoui, managing director, Land Sterling.

“We offer snagging services to both developers and private clients. We carry out snagging services for a developer before the property is handed over by the contractor. We also work for private clients, who just purchased an apartment or a villa from a developer.”

“Developers may sometimes deliver properties of substandard quality. So it is our job as a building surveyor to make sure problems with the property are highlighted and brought to the attention of the developer before the contractor leaves the site,” says Hamza.

A snag in time saves nine

When carrying out work for a developer, Hamza and Matthew recommend carrying out the snagging process before the contractor exits the site. 

“When we're working for a developer, one of the problems we have noticed is that it's a bit of an inconvenience for a contractor to come back and fix what they believe has already been handed-over. Oftentimes, we find ourselves getting caught in the middle of the conversation. When the process is conducted before the contractor leaves the site, there's less to deal with and it's a much easier process.”

Also, the chances of causing more snags are greater when the contractor is called back to the site. “Sometimes when the contractors go back to fix the original snag, they cause more blemishes,” Matthew explains.

To snag or not to snag

One of the prime challenges of snagging is the absence of rules on what constitutes a snag. “There's always an argument about what level of quality is deemed a snag,” Matthew says. 

For Land Sterling, the solution to the issue is to keep things simple and think in the best interest of the developer or the buyer. “If it's a blemish of any kind, it goes on the list. Even though they may seem small and insignificant, we still have to find them and report them. That’s our job. What the client does with the list is up to them.”

Some of the common defects have to do with fitted furniture, light fittings, and flooring.  “Sometimes, drawers and cupboards don't open properly. With fitted cabinets or doors, we might find scratches that occur during installation or transportation. Oftentimes, light fittings or socket outlets don't work properly or are not fitted straight. Other times, the slope of the floor may be put in incorrectly, like in bathrooms, where it can cause issues with water not draining away properly. Ceilings may not have a smooth finish and can undulate. It's the same with walls. A patchy paint job is another common issue,” Matthew explains.

Teams carrying out the inspections are fully equipped with the necessary equipment. "Our surveyors are fully equipped with PPE kits, thermal cameras and electrical testing tools and ladders."

“However, what we're doing is a visual inspection,” Matthew reminds. “So the best tool we have is our eyes, and while it’s impossible to find a property without defects, if it's handed over in good condition, with maybe 10 or 15 snags that are very easily rectifiable, then any buyer would be happy.” 

But he recounts hearing worst-case scenarios. "I've heard stories where people go into their new property and they find 100 or 150 snags. Such a situation causes anxiety and disappointment for the buyer because they've paid a lot of money for the property and are bound to feel that they're not getting what they paid for,” he warns.