Shall I Go Ahead For A Pre Completion PCI Snagging Inspection?

A pre completion inspection is what home builders now try to push for. It may seem that this would be a better option because all the issues can be rectified prior to you moving in. Not the case I’m afraid. There will still be many issues needing resolving after you have moved in.

Unfortunately the real reason this inspection is preferred by homebuilders is because it is a very limited inspection, so therefore won’t show up many of the faults usually found in a post completion inspection.

With a pre completion inspection we are no longer an independent surveyor. We have to follow the inspection template set up by new homes quality board (NHQB), also called NHQB checklist. We are not allowed any tools for checking tolerances. Not allowed to test the plumbing fully. Not allowed to test the electrics or appliances. Not allowed to check loft area and much much more. 

More importantly we are not allowed to check your new home is compliant with building regulations or your warranty providers building specifications and tolerances. If we see something wrong we are not allowed to report it. Making sure your home is built to the regulations is usually the main reason for having your home inspected….. Is it not????

To complete this inspection usually most of the builders request to complete this inspection within 1 hour. 

Compare this to a post completion inspection where we have no limitations placed on us. A detailed snagging inspection takes place with no rush. We can fully test all items and use any measuring/inspection tools we see fit. If we see a issue we can investigate further. Any building regulation/tolerance failures or warranty failures are highlighted in our report. 

As you can tell we are not a fan of the new pre completion inspections and this is why we no longer offer this service. We would not be able to give you the piece of mind that your home has been fully inspected for faults. We would not be happy with handing over a partial report on your property, with a chance that you will still probably need to have a full report done afterwards to give you the satisfaction that your home has been built up to the current regulations and tolerances.