Chartered Surveyors

What is a Surveyor?

It is absolutely vital that you know the condition of a property prior to investing in it. As such, you will need a professional surveyor to conduct a survey and check the aspects of the house that are not obvious to the untrained eye. Depending on the type of survey you contract them for, surveyors will provide you with a detailed report giving you a clearer indication of the property's value and listing any potential problems. Always use a surveyor that is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

What are the different kinds of Survey?

There are three main types of survey:

• A Valuation (this is actually not a survey)
• A Home Buyers Report
• A Full Structural Survey

A Valuation

Your mortgage lender will insist on a valuation. This simply checks that the price you are paying for the house is fair. In essence, this is to ensure that their investment is being made on sound terms, but you still have to foot the bill and they will recommend the company. Do not confuse a valuation with a survey though! A valuation is not a survey, though it can be carried out by the same people. A survey is a far more detailed look at the state of repair, and is highly recommended, as there could be hidden problems that could turn your dream home into nightmare. You can have a survey done by the same company as the valuation, or contract one of your choosing to do the job.

A Home Buyers Report

This is the most basic type of survey and will check the visible areas of the house for any problems. It is generally suitable for houses built within the last 150 years that are in a reasonable condition. You should be furnished with a report at the end which, according to the RICS, will include the following:

• General state of repair: Covering the interior and exterior of the property and the locality.
• Major defects: It is the surveyors job to judge if there are any major defects that could affect the market value of the house.
• Damp: Results of tests for damp in the walls.
• Timbers: You need to know about any damage to timbers, especially woodworm or rot.
• Drainage: The present condition of any damp-proofing, insulation and drainage must be ascertained (although drains are not tested in this survey).
• Future maintenance: You need to know about any work that will need to be done immediately or in the near future.
• Insurance: The cost of rebuilding the property after a fire must be estimated for insurance requirements.
• Legal matters: There could be issues relating to the lease terms of occupancy, rights of way, rights and responsibilities, parking issues, etc.
• Further investigation: If the surveyor sees anything that requires further investigation but cannot be covered in this type of report, he will notify you.
• Value: Based on the findings, you will be given a valuation of the property on the present open market.

A Full Structural Survey

A full structural survey is a much more detailed and costly report. It is not uncommon for a survey to reach over 20 pages in length, including diagrams, floor plans and using very technical and legal language. A full structural survey will not give you the value of the property; you need to ask for this if you wish it to be included. There are legal ramifications for a licensed surveyor if they do not warn you of anything that could affect the property and the level of detail reflects this. It is recommended for properties that:

• Are listed buildings.
• Are old properties.
• Are constructed in an unusual manner.
• You plan to renovate extensively.
• Have had extensive alterations already.