Taking the plunge buying a house is probably the most expensive- and exciting!- purchase a person will make in their lifetime. When you purchase a house there are certain surveys you should pay to have carried out. Mortgage lenders issue a Mortgage Valuation Survey on your prospective property to check it is worth the fee you are paying, or worthy of the amount they're lending, before they say 'yes' to your mortgage. Mortgage valuations are for this purpose and this alone.
As a result of this being the sole purpose of Mortgage Valuations, these checks don't highlight any structural issues or repairs that you will have to fork out for to fix later down the line. Due to this, it is better to commission Homebuyer Surveys from a PCA (Property Care Association) accredited contractor, such as Bray Remedial Services, alongside your Mortgage Valuation, to provide a more accurate and in-depth account of any structural problems related to your desired property, to flag up estimated costs for fixing these issues and what the solutions would be. These estimated repair costs given in Homebuyer Surveys should be used in the purchase or sale of a property and negotiations regarding price!
We offer a range of different type of surveys, including Damp Surveys, Timber Surveys, Combined Damp and Timber Surveys and Cavity Wall Tie Inspections. To find out more about what these surveys consist of click here.
Buying a home is a big step so you want to make sure all aspects of advice you get are from sound sources. Your surveyor should be a member of an official governing, body such as the Property Care Association (PCA), Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). By being a member of these organisations, it is a testament to their knowledge, skill and trustworthiness for your peace of mind. Checking on the websites of these governing bodies for an accredited surveyor is always a good start.
Alternatively, you could ask friends or family to recommend a dependable surveyor. Asking your solicitor or estate agent are other options but bear in mind, they may receive commission for pointing you in the direction of a particular surveyor they have a connection with. This means it could increase the cost to you so don't feel pressured use the surveyor they advise you to use.
You are free to accompany the surveyor as they check and inspect the property. It is potentially your future home, where you will want to feel comfortable, safe and happy in as you return home after a long working day so you have a right to know what problems it has and how to fix them. If there's anything you don't understand throughout the survey or you have any questions, you should feel at ease to put them to the surveyor. The surveyor will (hopefully!) have expert knowledge and experience to be able to accurately provide you with the answers you need.
Unfortunately surveys, whether they are damp surveys or timber inspections, nearly always uncover some problems. This is especially the case in older homes. The problems most frequently flagged up include issues surrounding the central heating system, electrical installations, damp and timber problems, trouble with the roof and complications that require a structural engineer's expertise.
When any of these problems are highlighted you should investigate if any of the issues- for example a poor damp-proof course- are still covered by a guarantee. You should then request that the surveyor provide you with an estimate of how much it would cost to resolve any of the issues that were flagged up.
Where the solution lies in big scale works, you should ask a professional and qualified builder to supply you with an accurate quote to fix the problem. You then have the choice of politely asking the seller of your desired property to fix the issues the survey highlighted before you finalise the sale or utilise the estimated costs of fixing any structural problems the surveyor/builder has given you to attempt to renegotiate the price of the property.
It's important to remember that fixing structural problems isn't just about the financial demand and fees but the amount of disruption that ensues from construction work, even when it is promised to be kept to a minimum. If all the repairs needed on your desired property outlined in the Homebuyer Surveys seem too overwhelming, you can always walk away. Never feel pressured to say 'yes' to a house you're not committed to.
If you require a survey on your desired property contact our friendly and knowledgeable surveyors today on 01848 911 191 to arrange a property check or to discuss your requirements.
