New build homes have pros and cons; they're a blank canvas which usually come with financial incentives, but it's no secret that they can be built quickly with a lack of care when it comes to quality.
The property development sector in the UK is booming, with the government aiming to deliver 300,000 new homes a year. However, unrealistic targets and timescales are putting pressure on developers and mistakes can sometimes be detrimental and expensive for homeowners.
John Cooper, 46, and Lee Challenger, 39, have vowed to make people more aware of what can be lying beneath their bricks and mortar. Both are carpenters and have been in the industry since they were 16.
READ MORE: Experts answer most asked property questions of 2022
Their company, New Home Quality Control, carries out comprehensive surveys of new build properties across England, Scotland and Wales, compiling detailed snag lists with photographic evidence for customers.
The average newly built property has between 50 and 150 defects, with a limited timescale for the developer to carry out repairs.
New Home Quality Control came about after a run in on a "leading developer's" site, when John and Lee were forced to "hide a serious issue" from a customer. John told the ECHO: "We couldn’t stop thinking about what we had done and we decided to set up a company to try and make a change in the industry.
"Three days later we quit our jobs, rectified the issue in question and focused on this company. The rest is history as they say."
The business has since caused a storm on social media, gaining more than one millon followers across channels including Instagram and TikTok. Their content includes reaction videos and clips exposing some shocking mistakes.
John said: "Our content is raw and done in such a way that, although informative, it’s humorous. Our whole business concept is to help others and I fully believe all our followers and customers love that fact."
New Home Quality Control has given the ECHO rundown of the most common snags that are usually missed by new build owners, including missing fire safety items, fake vents and walls that aren't straight.
Here are the top five:
1. Missing fire barriers
2. Walls out of plumb
3. Fake weep vents and air bricks
4. Hidden damages
5. Poorly constructed roofs
John told the ECHO the worst snag he's ever encountered was a whole property missing fire barriers, which could lead to a fire spreading five to ten times quicker. He urged anyone moving into a new build to seek professional advice.
"I would say it's hard without knowledge of construction but check the operation of things like windows and doors, the straightness of things like walls and reveals, and seek independent advice from companies like ours who are happy to help.
John said the response has been overwhelming: "It really does feel good knowing we are helping others and starting to make an impact on the way the industry works with quality."
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