A Building Survey is the most thorough and detailed report that you can commission on the condition of a property. When commissioning a Chartered Surveyor to carry out a survey, you should be able to feel confident that the results will be appropriate for your needs.
A Home Purchaser’s Survey Includes (our own intermediate survey – perhaps more suitable for newer properties):
- Services
- Gardens & surrounding areas
- Matters to discuss with your solicitor
- Health and safety concerns
- Risks
- Surveyor’s Declaration
- The inspection
- Main defects found
- Information
- Externally
- Internally
- Damp report
A Full Building Inspection Survey Report Includes:
- Conservation area
- Flood risk map
- Other site-wide factors to consider
- Alteration aspects (planning)
- Alteration aspects (building control)
- Executive summary
- Main areas of concern and repair
- Main construction elements
- Further development potential
- Further development potential (loft)
- Era of construction
- Accommodation
- Structural movement (main house)
- Continuity of chimney stack
- Potential for ground slip
- Timber defects
- Floors
- Dampness/condensation
- Insulation
- Fire protection
- Roof structure and coverings
- External joinery
- External decorations
- Roof spaces
- Ceilings
- Internal walls
- Asbestos risk
- Fireplaces and chimney breasts
- Boiler flue
- Internal joinery and decorations
- Services
- Foul drainage & manholes
- Sanitary ware
- Recommended further investigations
- Items for solicitor to consider
- Other potential costs
Objective of a Building Survey
The objective for Building Surveys is to identify any particular problems that may exist with a property before you finalise an agreement to purchase. Experienced Building Surveyors like ourselves, will be able to cast an expert’s eye over the building with the possibility that we may pick up things that you could have missed. Please note that a Building Survey does not normally include a valuation.
Building Surveys are sometimes referred to as Full Structural Surveys as they provide a detailed report on the property’s construction and condition. In general terms a Building Survey is recommended for older houses or houses that may have problems however they can be applied to any age of property and are particularly helpful for dilapidated properties and those that have been extensively altered. Building Surveys are also useful if you plan to renovate or convert the property.
Different Types of Survey
Your building society or finance provider may commission a valuation report. This slimmed down report can be very useful, but it should be noted that it is produced more for the lender rather than the purchaser and may not necessarily contain the details that you require.
