Ask Allyson Snape anything about plumbing, central heating, power showers, damp problems or roof repairs and she'll probably have the answer. Her know-how comes not from evening classes, but a three-year saga that she and her husband John have faced since they bought a "luxury", four-bedroom David Wilson home in the Peak District, writes Christopher Browne

For an increasing number of people, second-hand homes are no longer the way to go. Buyers are instead opting for a house in a brand new development.

Snagging - the very name is enough to put you off. No one likes having to deal with problems or hitches. But for anyone who buys a newly built or converted property, the S-word can be crucial. Do it right and you could save yourself thousands of pounds. Do it wrong and you could end up with a problem property.

When Simon and Lisa Ellis bought a £450,000 executive home on an award-winning Barratt estate near Leicester, they could hardly contain their excitement as the move approached - the smart six-bedroom property was twice the size of their previous one, with an extensive children's play area.