Why Snagging is Important in the Dubai Real Estate Market

Purchasing property in Dubai is a serious investment, be it your ideal home or an intelligent addition to your investment portfolio. However, what many consumers do not know is that even newly constructed properties may have flaws, ranging from painting defects to misaligned tiles and faulty electrical sockets. That’s where a professional snagging company in Dubai such as Atom Inspections comes into the picture.

Snagging is the practice of closely inspecting a brand-new property for faults prior to handover from the developer. It provides you with an assurance that your property is of the expected quality and allows you to confidently move in, or hand over to tenants without unexpected problems.

What Is Snagging and Why Is It Important?

Snagging is the process of detection and recording of defects, incomplete work, or poor finishes in a newly built property. The defects can be anything from minor cosmetic flaws such as paint chips or lopsided grout lines to more substantial issues such as leaks in plumbing or faulty wiring.

In Dubai, where fast development is the norm and stringent construction timelines are the order of the day, snagging has gone beyond being a checklist, it’s a guarantee. A snagging inspection by a professional snagging company guarantees your investment is safe right from the start, saving you money and headaches in the long run. It also guarantees that the developer delivers on quality construction.

Why You Need a Snagging Company in Dubai

Employing a professional snagging firm is not only a wise choice,  it’s essential. Here’s why:

Peace of Mind: Builders might be pushing to complete homes on time, but you shouldn’t have to live with or pay for their oversights. Snagging means everything is completed to a standard.

Local Knowledge: Dubai will have certain building regulations and developer requirements. A locally based company knows these subtleties and recognizes what to search for.

Expertise & Equipment: Experienced inspectors have thermal cameras, laser levels, moisture detectors, and other tools to identify defects not visible to the naked eye.

Leverage: A snag report provides you with leverage when requesting the developer to address issues prior to finalizing the handover.

Time-Saving: You won’t spend your own time searching for and chasing up defects, we do that for you.

Types of Snagging We Offer

At Atom Inspections, a leading snagging company in Dubai, we customize our snagging services to cater to various kinds of buyers and property statuses:

Pre Handover Snagging: Carried out just prior to handover to prepare your property to be defect-free and ready.

Post Handover Snagging: Suitable if you have already completed possession but realized some issues later.

Warranty Period Snagging: Carried out during the warranty period (typically 12 months) to report faults while under cover.

Investor Snagging Reports: Particularly helpful for foreign investors who can’t be on-site. We give you a complete digital report.

This division enables clients to receive precisely what they require, according to their circumstances and position within the property ownership process.

What We Check: Our Detailed Snagging Checklist

We treat each property to the same amount of accuracy and attention to detail at Atom Inspections. Our checklist checks more than 500 inspection points, such as:

Structural & Exterior Elements

We check the external walls for cracks, bad plastering, painting faults, and water seepage. Roofs, balconies, and terraces are checked for waterproofing faults and drainage issues. We also examine for alignment faults, railing safety, and construction uniformity that can affect durability.

Interior Finishes

Our staff properly inspects walls and ceilings for cracks, peeling paint, uneven plastering, or mold. Flooring is knocked for loose tiles, level-checked, and skirting boards are inspected for alignment and finish quality.

Doors & Windows

We check all doors and windows for proper alignment, ease of movement, and functional closing. We examine door hinges, locks, handles, and seals. Windows are tested for scratches, smooth operation, and insulation efficiency to ensure safety and efficiency.

Electrical Systems

All of our inspectors check all sockets for voltage and position, test DB boards and circuit breakers, and inspect internal wiring quality. Our inspectors also inspect lighting fixtures and exhaust fans to ensure proper function and conformity with local safety standards.

Plumbing & Sanitary Installations

We test water pressure on all showers and taps, inspect under-sink pipes for leaks, and check drainage flow in all wet zones. Toilets are flushed-tested, and every bathroom fitting is inspected for faults, plumbness, and integrity of waterproofing.

Cooling systems are inspected for output temperature, condition of filters, and alignment of ducts. We test airflow and accuracy of the thermostat to determine whether the HVAC system operates optimally and evenly across the property.

Kitchens

Door operation, cabinet alignment, and handle installation are inspected. Countertops are examined for chips, accurate installation, and sealing. We also check built-in appliances, if there are any, to make sure they function properly and are installed safely.

Smart Home Features (If Applicable)

We test the functioning of any video doorbells, smart thermostats, lighting controls, and automation systems. We also verify network outlets and connectivity points for reliability and preparation.

Also, we don’t only visually check things out,  we utilize state-of-the-art equipment such as spirit levels, moisture meters, and thermal imaging cameras to confirm our inspections are thorough and precise.

What You’ll Receive In Our Snagging Report

After our inspection is done, we give you a concise, visual, and developer-friendly report consisting of:

• A categorized list of all the defects with high-resolution images
• Problem, severity, and location descriptions
• Suggested remedies with the assigned priority level (cosmetic, functional, or critical)

We also provide tips on how to go about approaching the developer and asking for repairs to accelerate the process of fixing the issues. Our reports usually take 24 hours to deliver, and this enables you to move quickly. Our team will also be at your disposal after the report, in case follow-up or clarification is necessary.

Who Should Engage a Snagging Company in Dubai?

Hiring a professional snagging business isn’t an indulgence,  it’s an astute choice for anyone who finds themselves in the property ownership process in Dubai. Whether you’re new to homeownership, a veteran investor, or property manager,hiring a snagging company in Dubai ensures a smooth and confident handover. Snagging inspections are an important part of how you can be certain that what you receive handed over is indeed what was signed up for, right down to the little things.

Homeowners Preparing to Move In

If you’re getting ready to move into your new home, it’s easy to assume everything will be flawless, after all, it’s brand new. However, defects are common even in recently completed properties, ranging from cosmetic issues like chipped tiles or patchy paint to more serious concerns like plumbing leaks or improperly installed electrical outlets. A snagging survey guarantees that you are not left with any surprises, and you can move in with confidence, knowing that the quality and safety of your new home have been professionally confirmed.

Overseas and Local Property Investors

Investment in Dubai real estate can be extremely profitable, provided the property is completed as per agreement. For buyers, particularly foreign buyers, undertaking a thorough snagging inspection offers transparency, confidence, and control. We assist you in getting your property market-ready for leasing or resale purposes, preventing the inconvenience of untimely detection of defects that could reduce rental yields or invoke renovation expenses.

Landlords Prepared to Rent Out Their Units

As a landlord, delivering a defect-free unit is instrumental in drawing and holding quality tenants. A snag-free property saves you from early maintenance complaints, tenant complaints, and minimizes wear-and-tear conflicts. We assist you in presenting your unit in its best condition, which not only boosts your reputation but also your return on investment.

Real Estate Agents and Property Managers

Property managers and real estate agents usually act as the middleman between developers and end-users. A proper snagging report not only simplifies the process of handover but also assures your clients about your commitment to providing full value and their interests, making you a reliable partner in their real estate transaction.

Tenants in Rent-to-Own Agreements

Tenants signing rent-to-own agreements can eventually own the property legally. That is why it is all the more necessary to make everything installed and working right from the very start. Extensive snagging checks by a snagging company in Dubai make these tenants confident about their long-term investment, with a solid platform to look forward to the future ownership.

Why Atom Inspections?

It’s easy to be confused with so many snagging companies in Dubai. Atom Inspections is the best snagging company in Dubai, and is used by hundreds of clients for one good reason:

Experienced Inspectors: Our inspectors have years of collective experience and specialized local knowledge of Dubai’s real estate market.

Advanced Technology: From laser levels to moisture meters, we apply the finest equipment to provide an exhaustive inspection.

Quick Turnaround: We’ll get your report to you within 24 hours so you can take action promptly.

Transparent Pricing: No surprises here. We have simple packages depending on your property size and type.

Outstanding Support: We’re always on hand to respond to your questions, even after the report is received.

Positive Track Record: We’ve worked on properties across Dubai, from Marina to Tilal Al Ghaf, and our clients consistently rate us highly.

The Risks of Skipping a Snagging Inspection

• Some buyers skip snagging, thinking a new property should be flawless. But this can lead to:
• Unexpected repair costs after moving in
• Disputes with developers without a documented report
• Delays in moving or renting the property due to unresolved defects
• Safety risks if electrical or structural defects are not detected
• A professional snagging report is your protection against these risks.
• Hiring a snagging company in Dubai isn’t Optional, it’s Essential

Snagging isn’t being fussy; it’s looking after your investment. What might be a minor problem now can turn into a costly repair later. When you’re purchasing an apartment in a high-end development or a gated community villa, getting a defect-free new home is something you shouldn’t ever forego.

When you work with Atom Inspections, you’re not simply hiring a service, you’re gaining a partner that has your best interest at heart.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let lurking flaws make your dream home a renovation project. Select a trusted, skilled, and committed snagging company in Dubai, select Atom Inspections. Book your inspection now and leave your concerns to us.

On 9 August 2016, HMRC released a consultation document to flag some potential tax impacts that a forthcoming change in lease accounting may have on the funding of plant and machinery. From 2019, lessees using IFRS (including FRS 101), as opposed to FRS 102 (UK GAAP), will no longer have to distinguish between finance and operating leases. All leases (except some small value leases or very short leases) will be capitalized on the lessee’s balance sheet at the NPV of the future payments from the day the lease starts. This accounting change will not affect lessors. At the moment, the tax treatment typically depends on whether a lease is a ‘long funding lease’ or not. If it is, then it is the lessee who gets capital allowances (CAs). However, much anti-avoidance legislation is focused on the concept of finance leases and the IFRS change will interfere with that. In its consultation, HMRC has floated four options for addressing the issue. The first is broadly the status quo, with some tinkering. The others contain the more radical suggestion to move towards an accounts-based regime for taxing leases, using a system of debits and credits somewhat akin to the loan relationship regime and which would similarly eliminate the capital/revenue divide. ith such a proposal, including:

HMRC has identified several issues which should be addressed in conjunction with such a proposal, including:

1. Can HMRC trust companies to use ‘sensible’ depreciation policies or will there need to be legislation for it?

2. In order to avoid distorting the ‘lease or buy’ decision, the government may be willing to offer an enhanced deduction to lessees that would otherwise have qualified for the AIA.

3. Could HMRC combine an accounts-based regime with giving the lessee an option to claim CAs on the ‘right of use’ asset?

Inevitably, there is a long way to go on these issues. But the eventual outcome is potentially quite far-reaching for UK corporates – for example if HMRC can become comfortable on the issue of ‘sensible’ depreciation policies without a lot of new anti-avoidance legislation.

If you have any questions on the tax implications of lease accounting please contact David Porter.