What do surveyors look for during a house survey?

Even if the property has been built to an excellent standard and appears to be in good structure, you should always arrange for a qualified property surveyoror to inspect the property whilst you are in the process of purchasing a new home. Although a property survey is not a requirement in the UK, every property surveyor recommends getting one done since it can save expensive problems down the road like a new roof or significant rewiring. This is especially crucial if you are a buyer at the top end of your budget and won’t have much money left over for pricey repairs.

What is the duration of a property survey?

The best period for arranging a survey is shortly after the proposal has been acknowledged, because the full structural survey may reveal problems with upkeep or significant remedial work that could affect your offer price. Alternatively, if time isn’t as much of a concern and you are not in an arrangement, you might request the seller to inspect and fix any issues before closing the sale at their expense.

It is therefore suitable to research local chartered surveyors before starting your property search to save effort once you have discovered the property you wish to purchase. Depending on the form of survey you require.

As a general rule, a homebuyer’s survey (the most frequently conducted survey) takes between 1 and 4 hours, while a complete structural survey can take between three and eight hours, based on the dimensions of the home being purchased. When it comes to the availability of the surveyor’s report, it typically takes between three and five business days to obtain a homebuyer’s survey and eight business days for a structural survey. However, it is imperative to confirm particular timelines with your chosen surveyor prior to hiring them, especially if you have limited timeframes moving house as turnaround times are dependent on their present workload. 

What are the various survey types?

There are three varieties of surveys: a condition report, a homebuyer report, and a construction survey, although RICS and RPSA refer to them somewhat differently.

Condition report – A condition report is a particularly essential option for home surveys and is suitable for relatively new, standard-built homes in excellent condition. The report provides a summary of the property’s condition, such as risks, urgent defects, and potential legal issues, such as access rights.

Homebuyer report – is the most frequently asked for a surveyor will examine and is usually adequate for standard-build homes in reasonable condition. The purchaser report contains all aspects of the condition report in addition to maintenance and repair recommendations. The evaluation will also emphasise flaws that may have consequences at another time.

Full structural survey – Also known as a building surveyor, a full structural survey is perhaps the most exhaustive type of inspection available. In general, this type of survey is required for bigger, older properties (50 years or more) as well as those with an unusual layout or construction materials, such as a timber frame or thatched roof. In addition, you would want to conduct a comprehensive structural survey on properties that are in a poor state of repair, have been significantly altered, or will undergo significant structural changes.

What are the various survey types?

There are three varieties of surveys: a condition report, a homebuyer report, and a construction survey, although RICS and RPSA refer to them somewhat differently.

Condition report – A condition report is a particularly essential option for home surveys and is suitable for relatively new, standard-built homes in excellent condition. The report provides a summary of the property’s condition, such as risks, urgent defects, and potential legal issues, such as access rights.

Homebuyer report – is the most frequently asked for a surveyor will examine and is usually adequate for standard-build homes in reasonable condition. The purchaser report contains all aspects of the condition report in addition to maintenance and repair recommendations. The evaluation will also emphasise flaws that may have consequences at another time.

Full structural survey – Also known as a building surveyor, a full structural survey is perhaps the most exhaustive type of inspection available. In general, this type of survey is required for bigger, older properties (50 years or more) as well as those with an unusual layout or construction materials, such as a timber frame or thatched roof. In addition, you would want to conduct a comprehensive structural survey on properties that are in a poor state of repair, have been significantly altered, or will undergo significant structural changes.

What will a property surveyor check for during an inspection?

What a surveyor will assess during a property inspection is highly dependent on the type of survey report you require. The qualified surveyor will look for maintenance problems such as subsidence, insecure walls, a leaking roof, any sign of damp in the dwelling and an unsafe chimney chute, among others. They will additionally offer information on the materials and glazing applied, which is useful when it comes to property insurance.

A condition report will contain a traffic signal device for rating the current state of the house and any outbuildings that are included with the property, as well as guidance regarding any potential dangers or problem areas.  

A RICS Home Survey Level 2 (formerly known as a homebuyer report) will contain the surveyor’s opinion on whether you should proceed with the purchase, whether or not the cost you have offered is reasonable given the building’s condition, and what if any, action is required prior to the exchange of contracts.

The surveyor will evaluate the general condition of the property and identify any significant flaws that could affect its value in the future. This includes testing for moisture in walls and wood damage that includes dry decay or woodworm, as well as the condition of the damp-proofing, insulation, and drainage prior to the signing of contracts.

The report might additionally include a market valuation, although this is not a standard feature. This will involve an estimate of the cost of restoring the home for insurance purposes, as well as the market value of the property.

The comparable RPSA home condition assessment contains a colour-coded system for the property’s condition rating, diagrams, photographs, and a debriefing with the surveyor to address the buyer’s remaining questions.

A complete structural survey (now referred to as a Home Survey Level 3 by RICS) will include an in-depth assessment of the property’s condition, a breakdown of the construction materials, and suggestions for defects, repairs, and maintenance. This will include the estimated price of any adjustments, the detailed evaluation involved in the homebuyer report for moisture, insulation, drainage, and wood damage, as well as any recommendations for subsequent inspections.

Your conveyancer and the surveyor actually will be able to advise you on the sort of survey to request depending on the type of property you’re thinking about purchasing. A survey typically costs between £300 and £1500 for a condition report. Again, the expense varies depending on the survey and building type. In general, a home buyer report costs between £400 and £1000, with an additional £100 or so for an optional valuation.

In England and Wales, the buyer is responsible for arranging and paying for the survey, whereas, in Scotland, the seller is responsible for paying for the home buyer’s report pack, which includes the survey, property valuation, energy report, EPC, and a property questionnaire with information on council tax and utility bills. All of this must be completed prior to marketing the property, but interested buyers may also coordinate their own additional survey if necessary.

What is excluded from the survey?

Regardless of the fact that an entire structural survey is unquestionably exhaustive, it won’t address all potential problems with the property. When it comes to a specific concern, you can also request a defect report, in which the surveyor focuses solely on that issue and identifies any associated dangers for buying a new home.

Although any damp-proofing, insulation, and drainage are evaluated, it is essential to note that drains are not examined. In addition, a surveyor won’t examine the electrical system of a property. If you are concerned about the state of the electrical system, you may ask for a wiring condition report for approximately £200.

In addition, a surveyor is unlikely to assess inaccessible portions of a property. For example, they are uncommon to directly access the roof unless specifically requested.

Your conveyancer will additionally be required to conduct local and environmental searches, as the structural survey does not cover the broader issues covered by these searches. As stated previously, a survey does not include a property valuation unless requested. Even so, your mortgage lender still needs an additional mortgage valuation survey prior to mortgage approval.

The distinction between a structural inspection, a mortgage valuation inspection, and a rectification inspection.

The mortgage valuation survey conducted by the lender of the mortgage will not provide comprehensive information on whether the house is structurally sound, especially if the valuation is based only on online property data and there is no site visit. The sole purpose of the mortgage valuation is to determine whether or not the real estate is worth the amount of money you have requested from your lender. This is to ensure that they will receive a return on the money they invested should they default on your mortgage.

A snagging examination can be useful for the purchase of a newly constructed home, especially one built on an extensive development. This report, unlike the homebuyer’s report, will concentrate on problems to be addressed with the developer regarding workmanship, work that wasn’t finished to the agreed-upon specification, and potential violations of building regulations. The developer is responsible for addressing these problems before you relocate into the property. In addition to a 6 or 10-year architect’s certificate of structural warranty, the purchase of new construction properties should include a 6  or 10-year structural warranty, so it is essential to see evidence of this prior to the purchase.