Frequently Asked Questions
See here our FAQ, but feel free to enquire with us if your question isnt answered here.
Do I need a professional snag list to buy a home?
Simply put, it is not absolutely necessary to employ the services of a professional snag inspector when purchasing your home, however it is highly recommended. An experienced snagging inspector has the knowledge to identify issues you may overlook and can confidently advise when it’s appropriate to stand firm and engage with builders, effectively saving you time and stress while you navigate the many other challenges of the home-buying process.
At what stage is a snag list carried out?
It is the final step before purchasing your property. The builder or estate agent will notify you when the house is ready for snagging. It is your opportunity to arrange an inspection to ensure clarity in the build quality.
How long does an inspection take?
Inspections vary in length, but for a typical 3-bed property it will take between 1-2 hours. Depending on the specifications of the build, this may increase or decrease. It is important that we do not rush our inspections so that we can confidently deliver on our promise to you - a thorough and methodical inspection
Do I have to be present during the inspection?
No, you do not have to be present during the inspection, although you are welcomed. As our client, it is up to you how you'd like the process to go. We can arrive to site independently and conduct the inspection ourselves or meet you there and walk the property simultaneously. In a situation where you'd like to be present, we simply ask you allow our inspector to conduct the inspection themselves, and they can then point out any items found upon completion, while also adding any issues you are concerned about or questions you have to the list. We ask this only for streamlining and efficiency purposes.
Do I need a Re-Inspection?
While entirely optional, we highly recommend booking a Re-Inspection after your snag list is completed by your builder. The Re-Inspection or "De-Snag" is an important part of the process that allows your inspector to assess the quality of any rectification works, to find any work that may still be incomplete or to make note of further damages that may have been caused during the builders completion of the snag list.
What is a snag list?
It is a list or record of deficient or poor quality workmanship or overlooked work in all parts of your new home. Emerald will send the snag list to you, our client, and to the builder (if requested) for them to address all the problems listed on it.
How does the process work?
Typically, this process begins after the construction team finishes their work but before the final inspection. During this phase, our inspector walks through the property to identify items that don’t meet the required standards or specifications. Common snags include incomplete work, damages, or unfinished elements such as painting or tiling.
Once the inspection is complete, we compile the snag list and issue an invoice to you, the client. Upon payment, you will receive your comprehensive snag documents and are free to share them with the builder. Once the initial list is compiled and sent to the builder, it is shared with the contractors responsible for rectifying the issues.
After the corrections are made, a follow-up inspection is usually conducted to verify that all items on the snag list have been addressed satisfactorily and that there are no new snags that have arisen during rectification works. Once you have signed off on your re-inspection, you are one step closer to your new home!
What is covered in the inspection?
We will inspect your entire property from boundary to boundary. We begin with a visual check of all external elevations & garden areas. Following that we perform a complete internal inspection, including working and moving elements such as heating, hot water, lighting, doors, windows etc. We will also use our knowledge of the current building regulations to inspect certain aspects of conformity, for example, clear labelling of fuseboards and heating systems. For extras, such as socket testing, please see our "Snag list prices" section of our website.
How do I book Emerald Snagging Services to snag my property?
Please use the contact information located at the bottom of every one of our pages, or click the button below. Alternatively, you can call us Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm or e-mail us any time. Cick "Book Now!" below to bring you to our contact page.
Address
Gorey, Co. Wexford
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
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Disclaimer
The snag inspection and pre-purchase survey are limited to a visual, non-invasive inspection of the readily accessible areas of the property and are carried out solely for the benefit of the prospective purchaser. No opening up, dismantling, lifting of finishes, or other intrusive or destructive investigations are undertaken.
The inspection does not constitute a full building survey, structural survey, or certification of compliance with the Building Regulations. No commissioning, or certification of electrical, mechanical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, fire safety, or other specialist systems is carried out. Such systems are assumed to have been installed, inspected, and certified by competent persons in accordance with the Building Regulations 1997–2023 and, where applicable, the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (BCAR). No liability is accepted for defects arising from or relating to these systems.
While reasonable skill, care, and professional judgement are exercised during the inspection, no liability is accepted for defects, inclusive of those that are latent, concealed, inaccessible, or otherwise impossible to inspect at the time of the survey. No liability is accepted for defects that may arise after the inspection date. We accept no liability for any defects not identified during the inspection.
The snag inspection does not replace or supersede any statutory certification, Assigned Certifier duties, Certificates of Compliance on Completion, or warranties. Responsibility and liability for design, construction, compliance with building regulations, certification, and workmanship remain solely with the builder, developer, design team, and/or relevant certifying parties.