Snagging

We found our professional snagger to be useful as he spotted things we may have missed. However, reality has to be grasped at some stage of the idealistic snag list which is produced (Norman will love this). We reviewed our list and decided which of the snags we could fix ourselves; which would probably be made worse during attepts to fix (Interlaken employ four odd-jobbers to snag the 527 apartments) and abandoned those; asked MLH to procure a pot of terrace paint and various bits and pieces so we could remedy more snags. We were left with three or four items which needed 'tradesmen' to fix and hope to get these done on our next visit.  Whether or not MLH get together the bits and pieces we have requested remains to be seen but I think this is the realistic way to conclude the snag list - like it or not.

Even though i'm in the building trade i used a pro snagger for the reasons below:

1 He will make a full list of all defects prior to you agreeing on a completion date. And to be honest you need to be checking for major items at this point, prior to you even agreeing to complete..  

2 He will give this list of defects to MLH & IL in Spanish and English so the workmen on site can actually understand the snag sheet. You will of course get the list in your own laguage!  You inform them in writing you will not complete untill all the snags are done. This is most important!

3 He will push MLH/IL to get the work done before you go out to inspect or complete. They will inform him it's done, he goes and has a quick look, tells them its not done and gives them another few days, etc, etc. After two or three attempts they more or less get it done but it needs this input from the snagman, hes there you're not.

4 We all know they will try to only do the major items anyway, which leaves you to stand over them or even get stuck in with them to get it the small items done when you are there.

This process will save you a couple of airfares because if you decide to go over when they say your apts ready, we all know it wont be! You will find you will only get all the bits done if you are there in their face but if your snagman is prepared to do his followup inspection with the knowledge of whats happened to previous purchasers, (which he should agree to or dont use him) then you will save on air fares and have a thorough list to check through yourself. I used this method and when i finally arrived to check it myself 90% of the snags had been done (they had three attempts) and what was left got done during one day whilst i was there.

You can actually use the fact that the snagging isnt done to delay completion. Some guys managed to delay up to 6 months but the apt was spot on when they finally had to sign. As long as you keep informing them in writing that the snagging is not complete you can defer on the completion process and its a genuine reason.

Ian

This message was last edited by Ianmack on 4/18/2007.

Ian

That wasn't the case for our apartment. Having paid the snaggers they simply weren't interested in chasing up or pursuing any rectification of work, and advised us that one follow up inspection was included in the price, any further ones would require further payments. Maybe we were naive but based on other peoples recommendation we believed that the sangger had a good relationship with Interlaken and would be able to assist in getting the work done on our behalf. We were extremely disappointed with the total lack of support they provided, hence my posting, and from talking to others on site I do not feel I am the only person who feels this way. 

In addition our solicitor advised us that we could not delay on completion simply because the snagging was not complete, unless this was for serious material defects  ie holes in the walls etc, as we queried this on several occasions given all the other postings already on the site

 

Who was this person?

He needs a special mention here to deter people from using him.

One of the main attributes the snagger has is that he's over there and as such is vital to oversea the work is done. To simply take the money and run is not good enough. That is not providing a service.