Click here to request a quote for a Survey
| BUYING A HOUSE is
one of the most important transactions ever undertaken by a private
individual and when contracts are finally exchanged the commitment
to this major expenditure is absolute.
LET THE BUYER BEWARE! This legal phrase is designed to demonstrate where responsibility lies for ensuring that the commodity being purchased is in sound condition. |
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REMEMBER, the vendor of a house is under no obligation to reveal any defects and is in no way liable if faults are discovered later on!
A MORTGAGE VALUATION IS NOT A SURVEY! All Building Societies and Banks lay great stress on this fact and urge applicants not to rely on comments made in the copy of the report they receive. The report the Building Society/Bank undertakes covers only the lender's interests and is in no way a true reflection of the condition of the property. All Building Societies & Banks actively encourage applicants to seek an independent survey report.
WHERE DOES LIABILITY REST? When you instruct a Chartered Surveyor to survey a property on your behalf, he is fully liable for his findings and you have the security of knowing that you may rely on this in the period after purchase!
WHAT DOES A PRIVATE SURVEY COVER? The intention of a private survey is to cover all aspects of the property both internally and externally and listed below are the main headings under which the property is inspected:-
EXTERNALLY
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1. ROOFS - ground
level inspection of ridges, gables, valleys, flat roofs, and
condition of slate / tile coverings.
2. GUTTERINGS AND DOWNPIPES - a full check on the condition and watertight qualities of the full system of rainwater goods. 3. BRICKWORK - a detailed check on pointing, settlement, damp proof coursing, underfloor ventilation and general structural stability. |
| 4. CHIMNEYS -
pointing, flashings and chimney pots are checked from ground level.
5. WOODWORK - checks on fascias, cladding, window frames & doors for all forms of rot and infestation. 6. DECOR - check for flaking and peeling paintwork and assessment of lifespan of existing decor. 7. GULLIES & MANHOLES - visual check of all gullies & manholes for obstruction and to ensure free flow throughout system. 8. PATHS & FENCES - a report on the condition of all fencing & pathways with recommendations for repair or renewal. 9. GARDENS - all aspects of the site including effects of tree roots, poor drainage and locational problems. |
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INTERNALLY
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10. ROOF VOIDS -
examination of roof spaces to ensure watertight cladding, check for
woodworm, wet & dry rot, and comments on insulation and
ventilation.
11. CEILINGS AND PLASTERWORK - check on materials used and condition of plasterwork and need for repairs or renewal. |
12. WOODWORK - checks for rot and infestation, poorly finished joinery, ill fitting doors and windows.
| 13. FLOORS - checks
for problems of solid concrete floors, presence of damp in old solid
floors, rot and woodworm in timber floors.
14. DAMP - full tests using electrical instrumentation to detect presence of damp, particularly rising damp, throughout the property. 15. FIXTURES & FITTINGS - general comments on condition and durability of all fixtures and fittings. 16. DECOR - a report on the general condition and quality of all internal decorations. |
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17. SERVICES - separate reports on gas, electricity, plumbing and central heating with recommendations for renewal or repair.
18. CONCLUSIONS - a resume of all our findings and main recommendations.
19. VALUATION - the key to the whole report is the valuation of the property in relation to its condition, this being the most important consideration when buying a property.
THE COST
In a page of general information such as this, specific quotations cannot be made. However, we do give each client a specific costing for each survey before final instructions are given, and would be happy to deal with your enquiry on this level.
Click here to request a quote for a Survey
Costs are appropriate to the size, age and valuation of the property and a comprehensive survey need not be prohibitively expensive and if you would like to telephone us with your own special requirements we would be pleased to quote for a survey on your proposed purchase.
REMEMBER!
THE COST OF PUTTING RIGHT AN UNDETECTED FAULT AFTER YOU HAVE PURCHASED YOUR NEW HOME COULD FAR EXCEED THE COST OF A SURVEY AT THE OUTSET.
Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors
