New Build Mortgage Guide

Snagging cost estimator

Turn your snag list into an indicative remediation-value range — useful when you're pushing a developer to complete the list before completion, or asking for compensation for what's left outstanding. It's a negotiation aid, not a bill: the developer is generally obliged to fix genuine snags under your warranty at no cost to you.

This is an information tool, not advice: figures are rough, indicative estimates, not quotes from a builder or surveyor.

Worked example: 3-bed house, 12 snags, mixed severity

A 3-bedroom new-build house with 12 items on the snag list — mostly cosmetic-to-moderate defects, not structural.

Indicative remediation value: £1,800 to £7,200 — worked out from a per-snag range of £150 to £600, nudged up slightly for a 3-bed house over the 2-bed baseline.

Change the inputs below to model your own numbers.

A smaller flat with fewer, more significant snags

A 2-bedroom new-build flat with 6 snags rated significant — things like a poorly-fitted door frame or a leaking pipe joint, not just cosmetic marks.

Even with a third of the snag count, the higher severity band gives a materially larger range: £3,000 to £9,000. Severity, not snag count, is usually what drives the total up.

Change the inputs below to model your own numbers.

Count every item on your snagging list, however small.

FAQ

Do I have to pay for these repairs myself?

No — genuine snags reported within your warranty's defects period (typically the first 2 years) are the developer's responsibility to fix at no cost to you. This estimate is a negotiation aid to show the scale of what's outstanding, not a bill you're expected to pay.

How is the estimate actually calculated?

We use rough industry-ballpark per-snag ranges by severity (cosmetic, mixed, significant), scaled up slightly for larger houses with more bedrooms, then multiplied by your snag count and rounded to the nearest £50. It's deliberately conservative and generic — real costs depend heavily on the specific trade and region.

We use cookies to understand how visitors use this site so we can improve it. Analytics cookies are only set if you accept. See our privacy policy.