"One thing we must all be mindful of is that no matter what property you buy there are often snaggs and dissapointments. Near me some very expensive executive town homes were built by a high profile, high end builder. The local papers had many stories documenting all sorts of snaggs, from leaking skylights, cracks to mould."

I, expect these things to happen whether you are buying a flat in a block or an individual property, but within reasons. A Spanish company who were building in Saidia had built a block of flats in Marbella, where the ceiling were so badly plastered that it had waves in it. Despite all the efforts by the owners the developers never fixed it.

I expect the developers to at least aesthetically finish the property to a high standard first and than any other issues are finished efficiently and promptly without the buyers becoming a long distance works manager. These kind of builders will have repeat business.