The demand for snagging services is on the rise in Dubai as more real estate projects are nearing completion, though in phases.

Snagging is a pre-handing over inspection of property by a qualified chartered surveyor commissioned by the buyer to ascertain if the property is finished to the specified standard by the developer.

However, in a real estate market that is already suffering from the hangover of the economic crisis, downward pricing pressure and few buyers, more units on the market will mean a situation of oversupply.

Land Sterling, a property valuation and survey firm, has seen a 20 per cent growth in the number of its clients (commercial and residential property owners) in Dubai in the second quarter, who seek snagging services, the regional head of the firm said.

“There has been an increase during the second quarter compared to the first quarter in Dubai in terms of the number of clients asking for snagging services,” Youcef Betraoui, Managing Director, Land Sterling (Mena), Dubai, told Emirates 24|7.

However, he said, the demand for snagging services depends on the number of projects and the time they are handed over to owners.

A pre-handover inspection is required to prepare a snagging report, otherwise known as a ‘property condition report,’ which highlights to the developer the faults that need to be rectified to ensure the property is finished to the specified standard.

Snagging is performed by qualified engineers who are also members of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

“Both commercial and residential property owners are looking for accurate snagging inspections carried out by qualified surveyors. Our clients have purchased properties with a pre-agreed quality finish, and our job is to ensure that the end product meets their expectations,” Betraoui said.

Asked what could be the reasons behind this rise in demand for snagging services as there are not many buyers, he said the clients are basically those who bought in 2005-06 and are expecting their property to be completed soon.

“There are many projects that are completing this quarter and the beginning of 2011. So we’re dealing with owners who bought the property a few years ago and are about to get its delivery,” he said.