You have collected the keys, completed the legal paperwork and started moving boxes into your new-build home. That does not mean the developer’s work is beyond challenge. A post completion inspection process provides an independent, evidence-led assessment of the property once you can access it fully, helping you identify defects while the builder remains responsible for putting them right.
For many buyers, this is the first opportunity to inspect the home properly. Furniture, lighting and daily use often reveal issues that were not visible during a viewing or handover. Poorly fitted doors, damaged finishes, uneven floors, incomplete sealant, faulty extract ventilation and roof concerns can all become clearer once the property is occupied.
What is a post-completion inspection?
A post-completion inspection is a detailed survey carried out after legal completion. It is commonly booked in the first days or weeks of ownership, although it can still be valuable later in the developer’s initial defects period. The inspection focuses on workmanship, visible defects, functional concerns and signs that elements of the build may not meet expected standards.
It is not simply a list of cosmetic snags. A competent inspection considers the condition and performance of accessible parts of the home, including internal finishes, external construction, drainage, roof areas where safely visible, doors, windows, ventilation and service-related observations. Findings are recorded clearly so that the developer has a practical schedule of remedial work to address.
The scope depends on the property, access and the inspection service selected. A surveyor cannot dismantle finishes or test every concealed component, but a structured visual inspection can reveal patterns that deserve further investigation. This is particularly useful where a small finishing issue points to a wider workmanship or installation problem.
Why inspect after you have completed?
A pre-completion inspection is often preferable because it gives the builder an opportunity to resolve issues before you move in. In practice, not every buyer can arrange one. Build dates move, access may be restricted, and completion can proceed before an independent inspection is possible.
The post completion inspection process gives you a clear alternative. You can inspect the home with unrestricted access, operate doors and windows, examine rooms in normal light and identify defects that only appear after the heating, plumbing and ventilation systems have been used.
It also changes the conversation with the developer. Instead of reporting concerns one at a time through a customer-care portal, you can present a dated report supported by photographs, descriptions and locations. That makes it harder for individual issues to be overlooked, disputed or lost among routine correspondence.
There is a trade-off. You may be living around remedial appointments, and some work may create temporary disruption. However, reporting defects early usually gives you the strongest position to seek repairs before the developer’s responsibilities become harder to enforce.
The post completion inspection process step by step
1. Book at the right point
Book as soon as you have completed and have access to the home. For most buyers, the first two to eight weeks is a sensible window. This allows enough time to use the property normally without leaving obvious defects unreported for months.
If you are already well into the first year, an inspection can still be worthwhile. The report can identify unresolved snags, developing movement cracks, water ingress indicators and performance concerns before the two-year builder warranty period expires. Timing matters, but it should not stop you investigating a genuine concern.
Before the appointment, gather any handover paperwork, warranty information, previous snagging lists, emails with the developer and photographs taken on moving day. These documents help establish what has already been raised and whether repairs have been attempted.
2. Make the property accessible
The inspection is more effective when rooms, windows, utility areas and external boundaries can be reached safely. You do not need an empty house, but remove items blocking access to walls, doors, electrical points and loft hatches where possible.
Ensure the heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation can be operated. If a room is packed with boxes or a garden gate is locked, it may not be possible to assess that area fully. Any limitations should be recorded in the report rather than assumed away.
Where roof coverings, upper elevations or inaccessible gutters require closer observation, specialist drone imaging may be appropriate. This can provide high-quality visual evidence without unsafe access arrangements, although weather conditions and airspace restrictions can affect whether a drone survey is possible on the day.
3. Inspect workmanship, condition and function
A methodical survey works through the home rather than concentrating only on the most obvious defects. Internally, the inspection may consider plaster and paint finishes, floor levels, tiling, joinery, kitchen installation, sanitaryware, sealants, glazing, doors, stairs and ventilation provisions.
Externally, the surveyor looks for visible concerns with brickwork, render, roofing, rainwater goods, drainage, paths, boundaries and external joinery. Particular attention is paid to signs of poor finishing, incomplete work, damage, gaps, cracking, ineffective seals or workmanship that may lead to water penetration and premature deterioration.
The assessment should be standards-aware rather than based on personal preference. New homes are not expected to be flawless under a magnifying glass, and some minor variation is inherent in construction. The key question is whether the issue is an acceptable tolerance, a snag requiring attention, or a defect with implications for durability, safety, weather resistance or performance.
4. Record evidence properly
A useful report does more than state that something is wrong. Each finding should identify its location, describe the issue in plain language and include supporting photographs where appropriate. Clear evidence saves time when the developer’s customer-care team needs to allocate work to the right trade.
Findings are commonly prioritised by seriousness. Safety-related concerns, water ingress risks, insecure elements and faults affecting essential services should be raised promptly. Other defects may be grouped into a planned programme of remedial work. This approach prevents a long list of minor finishes from obscuring items that require urgent attention.
Keep the original report and photographs unchanged. When you communicate with the developer, use the report references and ask for written confirmation of the proposed action. A phone call may be helpful, but a written trail is far easier to rely on if appointments are missed or a defect remains unresolved.
5. Submit the report and agree remedies
Send the inspection report to the developer’s customer-care contact and request a response within a reasonable timescale. Be specific: ask them to confirm which items they accept, what work will be undertaken and when each visit is planned.
Developers may accept the findings quickly, request clarification or argue that an item falls within tolerance. This is where independent, standards-based reporting carries weight. If a finding is disputed, ask the developer to explain its position in writing and identify the standard, specification or tolerance it relies upon.
Avoid authorising your own contractor to repair defects that remain the developer’s responsibility without first considering the warranty and evidence position. Emergency action may be necessary where there is an immediate risk, such as active water ingress or a safety issue, but document the condition and notify the developer as soon as possible.
6. Check the repairs, not just the promises
A closed customer-care ticket does not always mean the underlying issue has been corrected. Repairs can introduce new cosmetic damage, and repeated adjustments to doors, sealant or finishes may not resolve the cause of the problem.
Once remedial works are complete, inspect the affected areas again. For substantial or numerous items, a back snagging inspection provides an independent check that the developer’s work has been completed to an acceptable standard. It is especially valuable where previous repairs have been poor, delayed or repeatedly marked as complete without a lasting result.
Common issues found after completion
Post-completion inspections frequently identify a mixture of visible snags and more significant concerns. Common examples include poorly aligned doors and windows, cracked or incomplete sealant, damaged kitchen units, loose fittings, uneven tile work, inadequate ventilation, staining around roofline components and poorly finished external brickwork or render.
Not every issue will justify a major dispute. A tiny paint touch-up may be straightforward, while repeated condensation, water staining or cracking that worsens over time needs closer attention. The value of an independent inspection lies in separating ordinary settling and minor finishing work from defects that should not be ignored.
For homeowners approaching the end of the two-year builder warranty period, the same disciplined process becomes more urgent. An inspection can identify defects that have emerged through normal occupation, giving you documented evidence to submit before the initial developer liability period closes.
Protect the evidence and your investment
Your new home should not become a cycle of informal promises and unrecorded repairs. A professionally managed post completion inspection process gives you a defensible record of the property’s condition, a practical basis for remedial action and greater confidence when dealing with the developer.
If something does not look right, document it early, communicate in writing and have the repair checked before you accept that the matter is resolved. That measured approach protects both your home and your position as the owner.