surveying Services

A valuation is NOT a survey! Inspection times are much reduced for valuations as it is essentially only a risk assessment for the bank. Increasingly, no surveyor even visits the property, as Automated Valuation Models and desktop appraisals grow in popularity. In short, the only way to confirm that a surveyor has had a proper look at the property is to commission a good quality condition survey.

Home surveys start from £450 but the cost will vary depending on the size and complexity of the property, contact us for a no obligation quote.

I look at the condition of the property inside and out, on an element by element basis, for example the chimney, the roof, the gutters and downpipes, the windows, the doors, the joinery etc. Internally I look at the roof structure (if accessible), the ceilings, the internal partitions, the floors, the fittings, the woodwork etc. I undertake a visual inspection of services onto and off of the site. I inspect garages and any substantial outbuildings, the grounds and boundaries, and observe the property from further vantage points such as public land whenever possible, and check for signs of rights of way, or shared access.

Pre inspection desktop searches for information on various aspects of the property and the local area takes place prior to the day of inspection. On site inspection typically lasts a minimum of 2-3 hours, going up to a full day or longer on larger more complex properties. Reports are returned by email within 2 working days.

The inspection will not include any invasive aspects such as lifting floorboards, drilling holes in walls, digging trial pits or unscrewing any fixtures and fittings. Access will be gained where possible, and safe to do so, to lofts, cellars, garages and other substantial outbuildings.

I do not provide a valuation service, as many clients are often buying with a mortgage and do not require this service, furthermore 'value' is a fairly subjective topic when buying a home. 

On the matter of costs; cost advice for works required is increasingly difficult to quantify accurately given the wide divergence in quotes from trades for seemingly the same service. This has been further complicated in recent years by supply shortages of various materials. Therefore, my advice is always to seek a number of quotes from reputable trades for any works you plan to undertake. Where works are urgent and/or likely to be costly we recommend obtaining quotes prior to committing to the purchase so all costs are known in advance.

Caveat emptor meaning 'let the buyer beware' refers to the fact that there is no requirement in law for the seller of a home to disclose any short comings with the property. Therefore, the buyer assumes the risk of possible defects in the property and the onus is on the buyer to confirm the condition of the structure before committing to the purchase.