SOLD
subject to survey
COMMENT
breakdown of a property’s condition, advice on the urgency of any repairs needed and helpful information for the conveyancer. It also indicates whether the house price is realistic. The inspection is carried out by a
chartered surveyor who is working for the buyer and is responsible to them for the report and its contents. The surveyor will carry out a thorough inspection of those areas of the house it is reasonable to get to. That includes the roof space and lifting manhole covers as well as all the other elements of the house. If the surveyor can’t get to some areas, the buyer will be told. The cost of the report varies depending on the size and price of the house, but is usually in the region of £300-£600 +VAT. With the average house price hovering at around £170,000, it’s a pretty shrewd investment for that dream property.
The righT survey If the house is very large, very old or very expensive, it may be that a building survey is more appropriate. This is a much more
detailed inspection and report, giving a breakdown of any defects, their likely causes and probable remedies. A valuation can be included if required. The level of inspection is much more detailed, as is the report, and therefore the costs are higher. Typically they will start at around £650 + vat, and can be as much as £2000-£3000 +vat for the very large properties with land and outbuildings. In this instance it’s advisable to obtain a firm quote by talking to a chartered surveyor before instructing the survey. Too many purchasers
take too little time to discover just what they are buying, and often end up paying for significant repairs after they have moved in. Frequently, the cost of these is usually much more than the price of the survey they should have had. If nothing else, a survey offers peace of mind that the house is in good order with no major problems, and appropriately priced.
More importantly, a survey carried out prior to purchase highlights any significant defects and can help the buyer avoid the cruel irony of an expensive post purchase nightmare resulting from the desire to cut corners and costs. *Survey conducted for RICS by GfK
NOP Business. 1,001 online interviews were carried out in August 2010. Respondents had either bought a property in the last 12 months or were considering doing so in the next 12 months.
Geoffrey Milnes BSc. FRICS, Dip HI has 30 years’ experience as a
specialist residential surveyor and valuer. Formerly Associate Director with Countrywide Surveyors, Geoff now works in the Professional Services team at one
of Leicestershire’s largest estate agencies and chartered surveyors, Andrew Granger &Co
www.andrewgranger.co.uk
Any views you’d like to express on this?
www.propertydrum.com/articles/surveysfeb
Surveys let you buy your home with confidence
A survey from
e.surv gives you peace of mind that the new home you’re buying is as safe as houses.
Not getting a new home surveyed is like buying a car without checking its service history or not taking it for a test drive.
78% of people recently said they would only trust home condition information that had been provided by an independent surveyor they’d appointed themselves*. A survey from
e.surv starts from just £199≠ making them a cost-effective way to guarantee there will be no hidden surprises.
Become one of our partners and earn rewards
Arm your customers with the best possible information. Become one of
e.surv’s official partners and you’ll see the benefit straight away. Register your interest by emailing
info@esurv.co.uk *Ipsos MORI research – July 2009. ≠For an electronic version of your report.
find out more
www.esurv.co.uk info@esurv.co.uk
Part of the LSL Property Services plc Group.
PROPERTYdrum FEBRUARY 2011 25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68