Thank you for clicking on today’s Property Surveying blog post. Today we are going to be looking at pre-purchase surveys and defect analysis reports.
Here at Stokemont, we are very proud to assist numerous different clients each and every week with their pre-purchase survey requirements and their defect analysis reports.
Here at Stokemont we offer two different types of pre-purchase surveys.
RICS Homebuyer Reports
The first type of pre-purchase survey that we offer is RICS Homebuyer Reports. RICS Homebuyer Reports are a standardised report that have been prepared in format by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, also commonly referred to and abbreviated to as RICS.
The RICS Homebuyer Report is considered to a mid-level or Level 2 survey.
The report itself will cover all different aspects of the property that is being inspected, both internally and externally.
One of the duties of the RICS Homebuyer Report, is that it will go through the various different elements being inspected and condition rate them in a handy and easy to understand traffic light system.
The traffic light system will range from green, to amber, to red effectively helping the reader fully understand the defect at hand and the urgency in which it needs to be addressed and made good.
Condition Rating 1: Green
This means that there is no repair currently needed – It’s the best outcome!
Condition Rating 2: Amber
This means that the item being inspected has a defect that requires repairing or replacing.
However, it is worth noting that the defect is not considered to be serious or urgent. – This is a medium rating confirming that the item may need attention at some point in the near future.
Condition Rating 3: Red
This means there are defects that are serious and/or need to be repaired, replaced or investigated urgently – This is the worst rating possible and will mean urgent attention and likely cost is required.
The second type of pre-purchase survey that we offer here at Stokemont is a Full Building Survey.
Full Building Survey
A Full Building Survey is the most comprehensive pre-purchase survey that a property buyer can undertake
The survey itself will cover all of the same areas of the property that an RICS Homebuyer Report does, however the difference is the level of detail that it will go into.
As a Full Building Survey is classified as a Level 3 survey, it is the most comprehensive that a property buyer can have undertaken.
When it comes to the content and level of description that the surveyor goes into, it will far outweigh that of an RICS Homebuyer Report.
Much like an RICS Homebuyer Report, the survey will use the same condition rating system. However, in many cases the surveyor is not only going to condition rate the defects, they are likely to give the property purchaser clear and thorough information on the likely costing to remedy, make good and repair.
Here at Stokemont, we tend to recommend pre-purchase surveys for your properties that are unconventional, or alternatively full houses.
Equally, we tend to recommend RICS Homebuyer Reports for flats.
The reason behind this, is that there will be many areas of the property that are restricted from inspection during the course of surveyor visit of a flat.
Therefore, while you will pay the extra money for a Full Building Survey, you might find that you don’t get the value that comes with that merely by the surveyor not being able to inspect those areas.
For example, if a flat on the first floor or upper levels, with access not being possible to the garden, it is unlikely the surveyor is going to be able to inspect the rear parts of the property.
Cost Rating System
Here at Stokemont, in all of our surveying service offerings, one of our key drivers is to ensure that our clients get the best value for money possible.
With our pre-purchase surveys we are able to achieve this by going a step further in the property rating system.
We use an industry first and company unique cost rating system with all of the elements that we will inspect.
The cost rating system will go through the various different property elements, much like the condition rating system.
However, it will cost rate the various different defects on a low, mid and high level.
Low Cost
These are costs towards the lower end of the spectrum. We’d classify these as less than £1,000.00.
Mid Cost
These are costs towards the mid end of the spectrum. We’d classify these as £1,000.00 – £5,000.00.
High Cost
These are costs towards the upper end of the spectrum. We’d classify these as more than £5,000.00.
Those different prospective levels carrying with them likely financial outlay to remedy and make good.
We have found that this not only gives our clients all of the information they need to make a fully informed purchase decision, but importantly, it also ensures that they are fully abreast of the likely financial outlay that comes with property defect.
Defect Analysis Reports
Our Defect Analysis Reports are much like our pre-purchase surveys, however the key distinct difference is that the surveyor will be inspecting a specific issue.
Commonly these types of specific issues tend to be problems such as:
- Damp
- Defective roofs
- Defective pipes or gutters
- Pests
- Subsidence
Rather than going through the entirety of the property, the surveyor’s aim and instruction will be to inspect the specific area where the client has noted issue.
The aim being to fully inform them of what that issue is, what is required to rectify and remedy.
Equally, and usually of most importance, how much the likely remedy is going to cost.
Defect Analysis Reports are often used as a vessel or driver to compel or force landlords, also commonly referred to as freeholders, to take action to address the issue.
Equally, where a client is perhaps unsure of what the specific defect is, the defect analysis report will shed light on that, giving them the all important surveyor’s information and advice.
As building surveyors at our core, here at Stokemont we believe that our pre-purchase surveys and defect analysis reports are some of the key surveying services that we offer.
The ultimate aim is to give the client the full understanding of exactly what the issues are, so that they can then progress in remedy and making good in a cost and time effective way.
If you would like to discuss these services please feel free to get in touch with us.
Home Survey Direct
As a building surveying firm, we are also very proud to offer our services to a number of different property companies throughout England and Wales.
Via Home Survey Direct, we offer trade equivalent surveys so that surveying companies and other property service providers are able to utilise our services seamlessly, integrating them to their own surveying service offerings.
At Home Survey Direct we offer pre-purchase surveys including RICS Home Buyer Reports and Full Building Surveys. We also offer Defective Analysis Reports.
If you would like to discuss Home Survey Direct with our team of experienced and qualified building surveyors, please feel free to get in touch with us today. We will be more than happy to assist and advise you.
