If you do
not nag a new house before shifting into it, you are definitely in
for substantial troubles that can easily raise their heads, even years
after the builder has gone.
Publicly owned companies have increased in number over the years, which are accountable
to the share holders who want the profits to be kept up. Hence, the builders
give two hoots to quality, in their best possible efforts to keep the costs as
low as they can. The obvious outcome is poor quality work, which necessitates
corrective maintenance or, in the worst of cases, a rebuild of the nagging problem
area.
In their endeavor to keep the construction cost down, the builders
act merely as project managers, delegating almost all the components
of the building process.
What actually happens then is that the subcontractors, with little
or no actual project management, often resort to their own procedures
during the course of construction. Such a scenario has, over a period
of time, resulted in a common ‘work
to the lowest’ level tolerable, rather than to the utmost standards.
Obviously, the buyers who complain have the remedial works executed,
and those who don’t, just bear with the problems.
The low standards of work results from the fact that subcontractors
employ inexperienced workers, camouflaged as competent builders.
The mere thought – of great rates, no experience required – is
quite frightening and speaks volumes of the low quality work. In fact,
a house buyer should, without fail, carry out a complete and exhaustive
Snagging meeting with the site manager, before the completion of the
project.
Do not take this meeting to be the same as the one with the property
handover, in which the workings of the house – like boiler, heating
etc. – are explained. The Snagging meeting is specifically for
examining the property and identifying those parts of the property
that need corrective work before the owner moves in.
Site managers are more than proficient in passing on such a meeting
to the site offices. An alert buyer should be adamant that the
site manager is in attendance, competent enough to take notes and has
specified the time for properly carrying out the Snagging meeting.
During the course of the meeting, the builder will not offer you
any help in finding faults; he will merely follow along, typically
looking
dejected and taking notes.
To compile a Snagging report that the builder needs to give to
the tradesmen after the meeting, it is essential that the buyer
takes
comprehensive notes on all items that are offensive. Make use
of a digital camera
to record items of particular attention, so that the final
record is extremely precise and unquestionable.
Such a meeting can be awfully taxing, so you make certain that
good groundwork has been carried out. For best outcome and
future reference,
include things like - a Snagging list of items to scrutinize,
the proper tools for the meeting and an adequate means of
recording.
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