FAQ Why have a Survey? If you're buying a property, you should have a survey done before you enter into a contract.
A survey can actually save you money.
If there are serious structural problems, you can often re-negotiate the purchase price of the property to reflect the cost of necessary repairs - or you may even decide you don't want to buy it at all.
We will report on all the parts of the property we can easily reach. normally inspect under carpets or furniture, test the water supply or wiring - though we will comment on their general condition and, if requested, carry out a full inspection of the electrical system.
The best way to reach an informed decision on such an important investment as a home is to have a professional survey and valuation of the property which interests you. Before you decide to go ahead and commit yourself legally, you can minimise the risks by asking a qualified surveyor to answer these questions for you:
But I am paying for a Mortgage Valuation report? You are probably seeking a mortgage � and may be paying for a Mortgage Valuation report � it is still advisable and prudent to arrange a survey by your own surveyor. Refer to the Consumers� Association Which? Magazine and the Council of Mortgage Lenders who both give this advice
The Mortgage Valuation report is prepared for the Mortgage company � not for you. It answers only the lender�s questions concerning the appropriate security for your loan. You cannot rely on it to answer the questions which concern your personal interests.
What choice of surveys do I have for my home? There are essentially 2 different types of survey:
Homesurvey Buildings survey (formerly known as a structural survey) (please refer to which survey page for full explanation) Why choose you? I have been surveying houses and commercial properties since 1979 when I qualified as a Chartered Surveyor. This business, however, is not about qualifications or accreditations (although I have quite a few of them) but about experience of which I have over 40 years.
Are you competitive? I am probably not the cheapest and certainly not the most expensive but I am qualified and over 30 years of experience should ensure value for money.
Do you carry out valuations? As a mortgage company normally insists on using their own valuers for domestic property, I see no point in charging for something I do not consider necessary. In the case of commercial valuation work is a specialist discipline and should only be carried out by a valuation surveyor who deals exclusively with this work.
What other services can you provide? Please go to the home page and click on the various links
I am not buying or selling but I think there may be something wrong with my property I can for a fee carry out inspections on your property identify problems or defects and if required carry out a small specification of work so that you can have you builders or tradesmen quote on an equal basis. Remember I am impartial. It is in the interest of a builder to exaggerate the extent of the work.
My Builder can tell me how much the job costs for free Think about it. Why would a builder give a quotation of several thousand pounds based on a verbal description of work unless he is sure that he wont lose out. He has to inflate the price to cover the additional risk.
A better way is to get more than one quote from a builder but to do that they all need to be pricing the same work in writing. Reputable builders have no problem doing this as it saves so much hassle later.
We can provide a specification of work required and advise on contingencies for unknown problems. This will enable competitive quotes and reduce the dangers of budgets spiraling out of control.
Incredibly we have had experience with building work of tens of thousands of pounds being carried out with nothing but a letter. No specification no drawings no plan and the later we get involved the more expensive it is going to be.
I�m not happy with my builder�s standards of workmanship Remember the council only check the work is in accordance with their regulations. The standards are not important to them.
We have the experience and expertise to inspect the work, give an opinion and list out defective or poor workmanship.
