With property prices on the rise, you want to be sure a house is perfect for you if you’re going to buy. That’s where a surveyor comes in. Once you’ve found a property that you think is for you, a surveyor can carry out a variety of reviews that can assess the value, the general condition and the structural integrity of the building.
This ensures that you won’t be stung with unexpected hefty repair costs later down the line, so is well worth the cost. When choosing a surveyor, there’s a variety of factors that you need to consider first.
Type of survey
There are a few different types of survey with varying degrees of technicality, depth and cost. Picking one will depend on your property, and you may even have to pay for more than one so be sure to account for this cost.
1. Valuation report – This is normally carried out by your mortgage lender on their own behalf. This is to check that, should the property have to be repossessed and sold at any point, the loan will still be paid off. This is quite a brief overview of the worth of the property, that allows you to check whether the price you are about to pay for it is correct.
2. Condition report – As a general overview, a condition report can inform you of any major problems with the house or flat. This kind of survey is most useful for properties that are fairly modern and with no obvious concerns, just to double check that everything is fine.
3. Homebuyer report – As you can probably guess from the title, this report is the most popular for homebuyers. It offers quite a comprehensive survey of the property, looking for any problems that can affect the value and gives you ideas of areas that might need maintenance or repair later down the line.
4. Building survey – A building report is for houses that need a lot of renovation, or building work carried out. This survey is quite expensive and can cost up to £1,000 depending on your location and value of the house, but gives you an in-depth analysis of the structure of the building.
Recommended surveyor
Once you’ve figured out what kind of survey best suits the property, you need to choose the surveyor. Your mortgage lender will have a list of recommended local surveyors which is often best to go from. Some reports may not be considered properly by the mortgage lender if the surveyor isn’t recognised with them.
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
The RICS has an index of over 80,000 surveyors that meet the standards of the institute so it’s worth browsing their website as you can be sure they are qualified for the role. They also have professional insurance, so if they fail to spot a major fault, you are better protected.
Local knowledge
Knowledge of the local area is invaluable when you’re looking for a surveyor. Be forward and ask them about this local knowledge, their experience, and if they have looked at similar properties to yours before. They will know any common issues in the area that are worth noting, better than any other surveyor further afield.
Once you’ve chosen a surveyor, be sure to keep their details as you never know when you may need them again, for the same property or future ones!
When you’ve had the all-clear from your surveyor, it’s time to plan your move. Intransit are a Wiltshire removal company and have had years of experience in moving properties, and can make your move as stress-free as possible. For more information on our services, give us a ring on 01225 759200 or you can request a free quote here.
