New home snag list in Exeter
Professional new home snag list services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£160
Typical Duration
2-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
We're a general handyman service that turns its hand to things. We're not specialist installers.
Most of what people call out a handyman for is time and a decent pair of hands. That is what you are booking: a handyman for the hours you choose, working through your list.
£60 an hour including VAT, two hour minimum. How booking works
Bookable by the hour
- Repairs, adjustments and replacements on what is already there
- Fitting, hanging, mounting and assembling
- Small jobs batched into one visit
Take this to a specialist
- Work that needs a certificate or sign-off
- Structural work, and anything notifiable under building regulations
- Manufacturer-warranty installs that only an approved installer can carry out
Not sure which yours is? Describe the job and we will tell you
Detailed room-by-room inspection of your new property, documenting every defect and poor finish. You get a comprehensive written list with photos - perfect leverage for getting builders or sellers to fix issues.
The House Looked Perfect... Until You Moved In
First viewing: "This place is amazing!"
Moving day: "Wait, is that door frame wonky?"
Week one: "There's paint on all the skirting boards... that tile's cracked... this cupboard door doesn't close..."
Here's the problem: When you're viewing a property, you're looking at the big picture. The small stuff only becomes obvious when you're living there.
💡 Pro tip: New build developers work to deadlines, not perfection. A professional snag list typically finds 30-50 issues even in "finished" homes. Better to catch them now than discover them after your warranty expires.
What Gets Inspected
🏠 Structure & Fabric
| Area Checked | What I Look For |
|---|---|
| Walls & ceilings | Cracks, poor plastering, paint issues |
| Floors | Uneven areas, squeaks, poor finish |
| Windows | Operation, seals, locks, finish |
| Doors | Alignment, catches, handles, gaps |
🔧 Fittings & Fixtures
- Kitchen units (alignment, doors, drawers, worktops)
- Bathroom fittings (grouting, sealant, fixtures)
- Skirting and architrave (gaps, poor mitres, damage)
- Built-in wardrobes and storage
- Light switches and sockets (loose, wonky, damaged)
🎨 Finishes
- Paintwork quality and coverage
- Tiling (cracks, poor cutting, alignment)
- Silicone and mastic (quality, mould)
- External finishes (render, pointing, flashings)
📐 Functionality
- Heating system operation
- Plumbing (leaks, pressure, hot water)
- Ventilation and extraction
- Drainage and guttering
What You Get
📸 Detailed Report
Each issue documented with:
- Clear description of the problem
- Photograph showing the defect
- Location reference (room, position)
- Severity rating (critical/important/minor)
📋 Summary Sheet
Organised by:
- Room-by-room breakdown
- Priority order (fix now vs fix soon)
- Estimated effort (quick fix vs major work)
Pricing Guide
| Property Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Flat/apartment | 2 hrs | £110 |
| 3-bed house | 2.5 hrs | £135 |
| 4-bed+ house | 3 hrs | £160 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Larger properties or new builds with multiple issues take longer.
Why This Matters
| ✅ Get It Snagged Early | ❌ Ignore It |
|---|---|
| Builder fixes for free | You pay to fix after moving in |
| Leverage before completion | No comeback once you've signed |
| Issues documented with photos | "He said, she said" arguments |
| Warranty claim evidence | Can't prove when damage occurred |
Perfect For...
✅ New build purchases - developers WILL have cut corners
✅ Renovated properties - check the builder actually finished properly
✅ Part-exchange/show homes - lots of viewers means lots of damage
✅ Any property purchase - know what you're getting into
Why Choose Us for New home snag list in Exeter?
Every room inspected systematically
Comprehensive written list with photos
Know exactly what to chase builders/sellers about
Catch issues while they're easy to fix
What to Expect
Step 1: Systematic Inspection
Room by room, I check every surface, fitting, and finish. I'm looking for the stuff you'd miss in the excitement of moving - the details that become irritating once you're living there.
Step 2: Documentation
Every issue gets photographed and noted. I use a tablet to record everything systematically - means nothing gets forgotten when I write up the report.
Step 3: Written Report
Usually within 24 hours you get the full list, organised by priority and location. Take this straight to your builder, developer, or solicitor as evidence of what needs fixing.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to do your own basic snag inspection? Here's how:
🔦 Tools you'll need
- Spirit level (check things are actually straight)
- Torch (shine along surfaces to show imperfections)
- Notepad and camera phone
- Tape measure
- Stepladder
🔍 Room-by-room checks
Every room:
- Run your hand along all skirting and architrave - gaps? Poor joints?
- Open and close every door and window - smooth operation?
- Check every socket and switch - flush to wall? Working?
- Look up at ceiling - cracks? Poor finish? Light fixtures straight?
- Floor check - walk around feeling for squeaks and uneven areas
Kitchen specific:
- Open every cupboard door and drawer
- Check worktop joints and seals
- Run taps and check underneath for leaks
- Test all appliances if included
Bathroom specific:
- Check all grouting and silicone
- Test taps and shower thoroughly
- Check for water pressure and hot water
- Look for signs of leaks under sinks
⚠️ Common issues to watch for
- Paint splashes on skirting, windows, floors
- Poorly fitted door handles and hinges
- Cracked or badly cut tiles
- Gaps between skirting and floor
- Wonky light switches and sockets
- Doors that don't close properly
- Windows that don't lock or seal well
💡 Pro trick: Use a piece of paper to test door and window seals. Close it in the frame - if you can pull it out easily, the seal isn't right. This is how heat escapes in winter.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏗️ New builds in Devon? I've snagged dozens of new build estates around Exeter. Same issues come up repeatedly - rushed finishing is the norm. Developers will fix things, but only if you document them properly.
Best timing? For new builds, before legal completion if possible. For existing properties, during the survey period or immediately after getting keys.
What happens with the list? That's up to you. New builds: give it to the site manager and insist on fixes before completion. Existing properties: negotiate with the seller or factor repair costs into your offer.
Combining with other services? If you want issues fixed rather than just listed, I can provide quotes for the repairs once we know what we're dealing with. Often saves time doing both together.
Estate agents will tell you: "Oh, that's just normal settlement." Sometimes it is. Often it's poor workmanship that'll get worse. A professional eye knows the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between this and a survey?
A survey is structural - checking foundations, roof condition, major defects. My snag list is about finish quality - wonky doors, poorly fitted skirting, dodgy paintwork, missing handles, that sort of thing. It's the stuff you notice once you start living there.
Is this just for new builds?
Not at all. New builds definitely need it (developers rush to hit deadlines), but even older properties benefit. Renovation just finished? House been empty a while? Previous owner's DIY looking suspect? A snag list shows you what needs sorting before you commit.
Can you fix the issues you find?
Often yes, but that's separate. The snag list is about identifying everything first. Then you decide - chase the builder to fix it, ask the seller to sort it before completion, or get me to quote for repairs. Knowledge is power.
How detailed does it get?
Very. I check every room, every door, every window, all the finishes. You get photos of each issue and a written description. Paint splashes on skirting, doors that don't close properly, cracked tiles - it all goes on the list.
When's the best time to book this?
Before completion if possible, especially for new builds - gives you leverage to get things fixed. If you've already moved in, sooner the better. Issues get worse with time and harder to prove they were there from day one.
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Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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