Our aim is to provide comprehensive, easy to read survey reports highlighting potential areas of concern with fully annotated photographs.
Most importantly, we will take the time to give you advice for all of the above, so if you have any concerns about any part of the report we will gladly talk you through our recommendations helping you to make the right decision with confidence.
Why do I need a survey?
Although property experts, solicitors, and mortgage companies recommend it, only around 40% of home buyers decide to get a private survey.
This can be a costly mistake as you potentially face unexpected repair costs for defects you weren’t aware of.
A survey costs a fraction of the price of a property. For this small initial cost, you will be able to confirm if the property is worth investing in, protecting the future of your investment.
Looking After Your Biggest Investment
Buying a property is the biggest purchase most of us will ever make.
Making sure there are no hidden surprises by instructing a survey can potentially save you thousands of pounds should the property you are buying have any defects.
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Having a survey carried out will highlight any potential problems with a property and advise you of specific risks before you commit to buying.
If the survey does reveal any problems, it puts you in a position to ask the seller to fix them or gives you the chance to renegotiate the price, before you proceed with the purchase.
In other words, a survey is like a health check on your future home.
But isn’t the mortgage valuation a survey?
If you are using a mortgage to buy your property, the lender will normally have a valuation carried out and many people wrongly mistake this for a survey.
It’s important to remember that your lender valuation report is not a survey.
It simply tells the lender whether the property is suitable security for the loan and confirms that it is sold for the right price.
The mortgage valuation does not look for specific defects and does not give you, the buyer, full information on the condition of the property.
It may not even require the valuer to physically visit the property. The lender may ask for a desktop valuation (also known as a drive-by valuation) or simply use an Automated Valuation Tool (AVT) which uses a computer algorithm to calculate the value based on previous sales.
So I definitely need a survey, but what does this involve?
A RICS qualified surveyor will visit the property and inspect every aspect of the building from the roof to the floor.
This includes examining the property inside & out, with a comprehensive report created detailing the condition of each individual element.
Where the surveyor comes across restrictions or limitations, these will be highlighted as areas that could not be inspected.
What type of survey should I have?
Level 1 Surveys
New Build Surveys
This is only ideally suitable for new homes as it gives a very basic overview of the property.
Level 2 Surveys
Home Buyer Surveys
The level 2 survey is suitable for most modern properties. It provides a full and thorough investigation of the property and will identify any defects that are evident on the day of the inspection.
Level 3 Surveys
Building Surveys
The level 3 survey is suitable for older, listed, very large, or unusual properties. It provides a full and thorough investigation of the property with detailed advice on any defects that are identified, including the required repair.
