New Build Snagging Inspection — Catch Defects While They're Still Cheap
Every new build carries defects — the only question is who pays to fix them. Independent snagging on a newly constructed property puts the bill where it belongs: with the developer or contractor who built it.
New Doesn't Mean Defect-Free — It Means Defects Haven't Surfaced Yet
A newly built property has never been lived in, which means its systems have never been stress-tested. Snagging is that first stress test — done by engineers, with instruments, before problems become your maintenance bill.
Construction in the UAE runs on tight programmes. Trades overlap, finishing crews follow wet works too closely, and quality control gets compressed near completion dates. The result appears months later: tiles debonding, paint failures over damp plaster, AC ducts leaking conditioned air, sealant shrinking away from joints.
Our new build inspections examine the property system by system — sounding every tile, scanning every wet area with thermal imaging, testing every circuit and outlet, and running water and drainage under real load. New villas, apartments, townhouses, and commercial shells all follow tailored checklists.
Whether you're the end buyer, an investor taking delivery, or a contractor wanting third-party QC before client handover, the output is the same: an evidence-backed defect register the responsible party can rectify while access, budget, and obligation still align.
Why Buyers Snag New Builds Immediately
First Stress Test
We run every system under load for the first time — before daily living reveals the failures at your expense.
Construction-Stage Defects
Debonding tiles, shrinkage cracks, and damp plaster are construction defects with construction-stage remedies. Early documentation keeps them claimable.
Instrument-Led Findings
Thermal cameras, moisture meters, and laser levels find what a visual walkthrough never will — especially behind brand-new finishes.
Tailored Checklists
Villas, apartments, and commercial units each follow their own checkpoint methodology — nothing generic, nothing skipped.
Clear Responsibility
Defects documented at delivery are indisputably the builder's. Wait six months and "construction defect" becomes "owner damage" arguments.
6-Hour Reporting
Same-day Spectora reports keep your rectification demands moving as fast as your handover timeline.
What a New Build Inspection Covers
Hundreds of checkpoints adapted to your property type — this is the core scope common to every new build.
Structure & Envelope
- Cracks, honeycombing & plaster defects
- Tile hollowness, lippage & debonding
- Waterproofing in all wet areas
- Roof, terrace & balcony membranes
- Window & door installation quality
- External finishes & seals
Systems Under Load
- AC performance room by room
- Full electrical & earthing tests
- Water pressure, heaters & fixtures
- Drainage flow, traps & venting
- Exhaust & ventilation function
- Smart systems where installed
Finishing Quality
- Paint coverage, drips & patching
- Joinery, cabinetry & hardware
- Sanitaryware & sealant lines
- Glass, mirrors & surface damage
- Grout, silicone & edge details
- Snag-prone junctions & corners
From Booking to Defect Register in 4 Steps
Send Property Details
Type, size, and location — you receive a fixed quote and the earliest available inspection slot.
Access & Utilities Check
We confirm access with the developer or contractor and verify utilities are live for full system testing.
Systematic Inspection
Certified engineers work through the property trade by trade with the complete instrument set.
Report in 6 Hours
A trade-organised defect register with photos and severity ratings, ready for the builder's rectification team.
A Defect Register Builders Take Seriously
Contractors dismiss vague complaints and act on documented evidence. Every defect in your report carries a photo, an exact location, and a severity rating — the format rectification teams process without argument.
Download a real sample below to see how a professional new build report is structured.
Every Report Includes
- Photo & video evidence for every defect
- Exact location tagging, room by room
- Civil, MEP & finishing sections
- Severity rating — critical issues first
- Delivered digitally within 6 hours
New Build Snagging Questions, Answered
What is new build snagging?
It's an independent inspection of a newly constructed property to identify construction and finishing defects before (or immediately after) delivery — so the developer or contractor rectifies them at their cost, not yours.
When should a new build be inspected?
Ideally before handover acceptance. If you've already taken delivery, inspect as early as possible — early documentation keeps defects clearly attributable to construction rather than occupation.
Is new build snagging different from pre-handover snagging?
They overlap heavily. Pre-handover snagging is timed specifically before your acceptance appointment; new build snagging covers any newly constructed property, including units already delivered, contractor QC checks, and whole-building inspections.
Do you inspect new commercial units too?
Yes — shell-and-core and fitted commercial spaces, offices, and retail units follow their own checklist covering structure, MEP capacity, and finishing.
What equipment is used?
Thermal imaging cameras, moisture meters, laser levels, socket and RCD testers, and operational load tests on water, drainage, and AC — included on every inspection.
How fast is the report?
Within 6 hours of completing the inspection, delivered digitally in developer-ready Spectora format.
Test It Before You Live It
Send your new property's details for a fixed quote — and let the builder fix their own defects before they quietly become yours.
Request Your Quotation