1. Moved in and it’s going well
Few or no snags, and your builder sorted them promptly? Great — say so.
- 1.Do a snagging walk-through anyway (use our checklist) and report anything within your warranty period.
- 2.Keep all your handover, warranty and building-control documents safe.
- 3.Leave a positive review on Snag Scout — praise a builder who got it right and help the next buyer.
- 4.Your review covers the whole journey — the buying, the handover, and the years since.
2. Problems from the start
Lots of snags, or a builder who’s gone quiet? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to accept it.
- 1.Document every defect with dated photos (our checklist helps).
- 2.Report them to your builder in writing — dated, never just a phone call.
- 3.Share your review on Snag Scout: a verified, public record — and the builder gets a free right of reply.
- 4.If they respond and put it right, their reply sits alongside your review; if they stay silent, that becomes part of the record too. After 56 days you can escalate to the New Homes Ombudsman.
- 5.Your dated review is useful supporting context if you escalate via the route that covers your home.
3. It was fine — but issues have appeared since
Latent defects — damp, cracks, settlement — often surface after a winter or two (6–24 months+). That doesn’t make it your fault.
- 1.Don’t assume “lack of maintenance” — check our “Is this the builder’s responsibility?” guide.
- 2.Consider a professional snagging survey or a chartered surveyor to document it properly.
- 3.Report it to your builder or warranty provider in writing, within your cover period.
- 4.Not left a review yet? Your review covers the whole journey — so later-appearing issues and their evidence belong in it too.
- 5.Escalate via your warranty provider or the New Homes Ombudsman if needed.
Remember: your review covers the whole journey — the buying, the handover, and the years since. Wherever you are in that story, that’s what makes Snag Scout an honest, rounded picture of how a builder really performs.
This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice, and does not override your warranty terms or contract. If in doubt, take professional advice.