Independent New Home Snagging Surveys
Is your new home really ready for handover?
Block & Beam provides independent new-build snagging inspections and support across Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire.
Not sure what survey you need? No problem, get in touch and our friendly team will guide you to the right service.
Pre-Completion Inspection (NHQB PCI)
Our Pre-Completion Inspection gives you an independent, professional assessment of your new home before legal completion.
We carry out a methodical inspection of the accessible property, looking for visible defects, incomplete work, poor workmanship and functional issues before you receive the keys.
Where permitted, the inspection also includes drone photography to help assess difficult-to-view external areas such as roof coverings, rainwater goods and high-level finishes.
Following the inspection, you will receive:
A detailed photographic report
Clear descriptions of the defects identified
The location of each issue to help the developer find it
Drone images where permitted
Delivery of your report within 24 hours
Reasonable post-report support to explain the findings and answer questions about the report
Where the New Homes Quality Code applies, the inspection follows the official NHQB Pre-Completion Inspection Checklist.
Block & Beam holds both professional indemnity and public liability insurance, giving you the reassurance that your inspection is being carried out by an appropriately insured independent professional.
The completed report provides a clear, evidence-based record that you can submit to your developer before handover, helping you approach completion with a better understanding of the condition of your new home.
Post-Completion Snagging Survey
Our Post-Completion Snagging Survey gives you an independent, professional assessment of your new home after you have completed the purchase and received the keys.
We carry out a methodical inspection of the accessible property, looking for visible defects, incomplete work, poor workmanship, damage and functional issues that may not have been apparent during handover.
Because the inspection takes place after completion, it can provide a broader assessment of the home than a Pre-Completion Inspection, including accessible internal and external areas, fixtures, fittings and the visible operation of building services.
Where permitted, the inspection also includes drone photography to help assess difficult-to-view external areas such as roof coverings, rainwater goods and high-level finishes.
Following the inspection, you will receive:
A detailed photographic report
Clear descriptions of the defects identified
The location of each issue to help the developer find it
Drone images where permitted;
Delivery of your report within 24 hours
Reasonable post-report support to explain the findings and answer questions about the report
Block & Beam holds both professional indemnity and public liability insurance, giving you the reassurance that your inspection is being carried out by an appropriately insured independent professional.
The completed report provides a clear, evidence-based record that you can submit to your developer’s customer-care team, helping you report defects promptly and understand the condition of your new home.
Which survey do I need?
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A Pre-Completion Inspection, often shortened to PCI, is carried out after the home is finished but before legal completion.
It gives you an opportunity to have the property independently checked while it is still under the developer’s control. The inspection looks for visible defects, incomplete work and issues with the standard of construction or finish.
Where the developer is registered with the New Homes Quality Board, the inspection must follow the official NHQB Pre-Completion Inspection Checklist. This means the scope is more tightly defined than a full post-completion snagging survey.
The developer will normally provide a short inspection window before completion. Once instructed, Block & Beam will liaise with you regarding access, inspect the property and provide a clear photographic report that can be submitted to the developer.
This is usually the right option if:
your developer has invited you to arrange a pre-completion inspection;
you have exchanged contracts but have not yet received the keys;
the home is substantially complete and a completion date has been proposed.
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A Post-Completion Snagging Survey is carried out once the property legally belongs to you.
Because you have possession of the home, the inspection is not restricted to the NHQB pre-completion checklist. It can therefore provide a broader assessment of the accessible property, including workmanship, finishes, fixtures, fittings and the operation of visible building services.
You do not need to wait for problems to appear. An early inspection allows defects to be recorded while the property is still new and gives you a structured report to submit to the developer.
Block & Beam will inspect the accessible areas of the home, photograph identified defects and explain each issue clearly. The report separates minor finishing defects from matters that may require more urgent investigation or repair.
This is usually the right option if:
you have recently moved into a new-build home;
you were not permitted or able to arrange an inspection before completion;
defects have started to become apparent;
you want an independent record before reporting issues to the developer.
Not sure which type of inspection is right for your property? Select a service below to learn what it covers, when it should be carried out and whether it suits your circumstances.