According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 4/5 homebuyers don’t bother commissioning their own independent survey.
Most believe that their mortgage lender’s standard valuation is sufficient, although it says nothing about the building’s state of repair.
On average homebuyers spend £5,750 on repairs once moved into their new homes which is often due to not commissioning the correct survey.
Building (Structural) Survey
The Building (Structural) Survey is the most comprehensive and detailed report on the condition of a property that we offer and is suitable for all types of residential properties. The Building (Structural) Survey report will describe the condition of each element of the house and identify the property’s defects, their apparent cause, the urgency of repair, maintenance options and may also include an estimate of cost to repair on request. The survey and report will cover all visible and accessible parts of a building, including structural movement, roofs, floors, walls, dampness, timber defects, services, outbuildings etc. It will also include technical details on construction of property including materials used. This is our most popular type of report and our specialist area of expertise. In contrast to the HomeBuyer Report, there is no specific format for the Building (Structural) Survey report, so the surveyor is able modify the report to suit each individual property.
HomeBuyer Report
The HomeBuyer Report is in our own format and covers all elements of the property but is a more condensed, less detailed and less invasive version of the Building (Structural) Survey report. This inspection is only suitable for properties built after 1950 which have not been significantly altered, extended or renovated. The price difference between our basic HomeBuyer Report and the comprehensive Full Building (Structural) Survey is marginal so most clients tend to choose the latter.
Snagging Report
A snagging report is a survey of a new-build property. Unlike the Full Building (Structural) Survey and Homebuyer Report, snagging surveys should pick up everything from minor issues and inadequate decorative finishes to more serious structural problems. The snagging report is usually completed during the period between the completed construction work and the legal completion date, so the developer has time to fix any snags before you move in.