Post-Completion Inspection
When to Book: 0 to 2 Years After Moving In
If you skipped a snagging survey when you first got your keys, you haven't missed your chance. Homeowners under the NHBC or similar structural warranties have a two-year builder liability period.
This means that for the first 24 months of occupying your home, the developer is still legally obligated to fix defects. A Post-Completion Inspection is best booked anytime within this window if you are noticing issues starting to develop.
Why a Post-Completion Inspection is Essential
As a new house goes through its first cycle of seasons, it begins to "settle." Central heating dries out the timbers, the foundations settle into the ground, and materials expand and contract. While minor hairline cracks can be normal, more serious underlying issues often begin to rear their heads after a few months.
If you have noticed things changing since moving day, you aren't imagining it, and you shouldn't have to live with it.
Catch Settlement vs. Defect Issues: It takes a professional eye to know the difference between standard seasonal drying out and a serious structural or installation defect.
The Power of Professional Proof: Telling a developer "my floors squeak" often gets dismissed. Handing them an independent, professional report citing exact building standards forces them to take action.
Catch Small Issues Before They Grow: A small plumbing weep or a poorly supported floor joist will turn into a massive, expensive headache once your two-year builder warranty expires.
What This Inspection Uncovers
I thoroughly reassess the property as a lived-in home, specifically looking for defects that have manifested or worsened over time:
Structural & Settlement Movements: Inspecting significant cracking in plasterwork, shifting brickwork, or gaps opening up around door frames and skirting boards.
Floor & Joinery Issues: Assessing newly developed floor creaks, bouncing floorboards, unlevel surfaces, or doors that have dropped and are now sticking or failing to latch.
Hidden Leaks & Moisture: I check for slow-developing plumbing leaks under floors, behind boxing, or around shower trays that have broken their seals as the house settled.
External Wear: Checking how the external render, mortar, drainage, and roofing are holding up against the elements after several months of weathering.
Your Professional Evidence Portfolio
Within 24 hours of the inspection, you will receive a comprehensive digital PDF report. Every defect found will be documented with clear photographic evidence, a precise location in your home, and an explanation of why it needs to be rectified. This report acts as your official ammunition when dealing with the developer's customer care team.
Let’s Get the Builders Back to Fix It
Don't accept a sub-standard finish just because you've already moved in. Get in touch today to book your Post-Completion Inspection and hold your builder accountable.