Purchased new in 2011 and snagged everything myself within the 2 year period, though did have a few issues which reoccured outside of this that were remedied. By all means I did not feel that the volume or issues themselves were a cause for concern or indicative of anything more sinister but YMMV depending on builder. (Creaky stair, tiling standard, decorative issues, CH balancing/valves etc)
Last weekend (8 years later) I noticed the soffit around my bay window hasn't been sealed, small job £6 and 10 minutes work but is something I expect a professional snagger would spot. And I did have my drive re-tarmac'd around 5 years in due a poor first lay. The builders did also tell me their was drainage within the side sloping toward the house, (I know it should slope away towards my neighbours
) of course there was not, so I had them install a proper drainage channel to feed in to the guttering downpipes
Even with a good eye for detail it's very easy to miss things being swept up in the joy (and stress) of a new home.
I think it is naive of people to think that even employing a local builder or well established & renowned housebuilder will rid you of the need to snag in its entirety but I can accept a higher level on inherent assurance of adherence and quality.
I'd probably knock on a few doors and ask for residents opinions that have already completed or been living there a while?
It is a small price to pay to save potentially a lot of aggravation. A colleagues recent build was missing significant insulation rendering them with a house that was almost uninhabitable, worsening their daughters asthma. Not to mention large gas bills to reclaim, the disruption from remedial works, inconvenience of having to be around to facilitate surveys (and waiting for the correct weather) and resenting the building itself. IMO even the upper end of your quote is worth avoiding all of that.
