SURVEY REPORTS

We offer Homebuyer Reports and Full Structural survey reports, as well as valuation reports and RICS condition reports.

A home is the most expensive purchase most people ever make – and purchasing a home is not without risk – getting a Homebuyer survey report from an RICS member will help highlight any problems that could lead to expensive surprises later.

A survey should not be confused with a mortgage valuation report. The mortgage valuation will give your mortgage lender assurance for its loan. It will not give you an assessment of the condition of the property, or advice about repairs and maintenance.

According to a recent survey of home buyers, of the one in four who relied solely on a mortgage valuation report, 25% needed to undertake unplanned work in the first year, amounting to an average cost of over £1,100 (RICS/GfK NOP Business research).

Having survey reports conducted by an RICS member will give you:

  • Peace of mind that you know the property and the risks it may carry
  • Confidence that you can make an offer that reflects the true circumstances of the property (e.g. how an owner maintains its condition or how a vendor protects the sale)
  • Reassurance that your surveyor is delivering a high quality, reliable and cost-effective service based on RICS standards of practice
  • A clear understanding of your property thanks to a report written in plain English.

Although we hold a license to produce the RICS Homebuyer report, we find it can be a bit ‘tick-box-y’ – we have therefore developed our own Homebuyer + version, which goes into full written detail on the condition of the property, with an element description, and includes remedial costs.

Our detailed homebuyer report includes the following:

  • Describes the construction and condition of the property on the date of the inspection.
  • Aims to identify any problems that need urgent attention or are serious.
  • Aims to identify things that need to be investigated further to prevent serious damage.
  • Aims to tell you about problems that may be dangerous.
  • Aims to show up potential issues and defects, before any transaction takes place.
  • Aims to help you decide whether you need extra advice before committing to purchase.
  • Aims to enable you to budget for any repairs or restoration.
  • Aims to advise you on the amount of ongoing maintenance required in the future.
  • Provides a reinstatement cost to help you avoid under or over-insurance.
  • Aims to establish how the property is built, what materials are used and how these will perform in the future.
  • Aims to describe visible defects, plus exposing potential problems posed by hidden defects.
  • Aims to outline the repair options and give you a repair timeline, whilst explaining the consequences of not acting.
  • Provides an estimate of costs for identified repairs.

 

Different homes require different types of survey reports, and our fees vary depending on the property being purchased: please get in touch today for a competitive quote for a detailed and thorough report on your property.

We are in fact the only bit of the home buying process that can potentially save you money!

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