In today’s property surveying blogpost topic we are going to be taking a look at property defects and those ones that can be of significant financial expense in the pre-purchase surveying procedures.
If you are in the process of purchasing a property, whether that is a flat or a house, as part of your pre-purchase procedures you will want to ensure the condition of the property has been fully considered by RICS Chartered Surveyor.
A RICS Chartered Surveyor’s role will be to inspect and review the property, both internally and externally, to ensure all issues and defects that may lurk within have been identified.
With any surveying report, part of the procedures and outcome are going to be that there are levels of defect that exist within a property. It is therefore prudent the purchasers is fully aware of these so they can adequately financially prepare for them, as well as ensuring their offer takes them into account and reflects the defects noted.
We are going to be taking a look at some of the more common high cost defects our surveyors here at Stokemont have noted over the years.
Roof Repairs
These are a high cost property repair. Repairing of roof surfaces themselves are usually indicative of the roof coverings reaching the end of their useful life.
If you consider the majority of properties in the UK were built around the turn of the century or in the 1930s, which respectively were the boom years for property construction, then you will understand the majority of the property stock is nearing or in excess of 100 to 125-years old.
Whilst some property owners will have taken a proactive and measured position on property maintenance, there are those that will not.
This could mean roofs have their slate/clay tile coverings, which will now be at or toward the end of their useful life, brittle, defective and usually cracking or pulling away.
Replacing a roof in full can cost tens of thousands of pounds, whereas, replacing in a piecemeal fashion can often be cheaper, but does come with the surety that the defect(s) will be resolved.
It is also worth bearing in mind that roof repairs will require and installation such as scaffolding, potentially access licence(s) and neighbourly discussion, which can all add to the overall costs of the procedure.
Defective Windows
These are again an incredibly common defect that surveyors here at Stokemont see on a daily basis, especially with timber windows.
These can often be poorly maintained, with weather/water ingress having reduced their longevity of service life.
If indeed you are unlucky enough to have defective timber windows, then the reality is you are likely going to need to undertaken some form of controlled measurement plan and are likely going to need to either replace the windows or undertake an informed and proactive procedure for betterment. In many cases this can involve changing older windows with uPVC type.
Defective Brickwork
This an incredibly common defect that our surveyors here at Stokemont see during their property inspections.
This can be as simple as the pointing coming loose/falling away, or the bricks spalling and delaminating.
If indeed the property your are purchasing does have defective pointing or brickwork, then you will need to proceed on a planned programme of maintenance, to ensure the defect/issue is remedied and rectified.
Defective Drains and Gutters
This is another common defect our surveyors here at Stokemont see on a daily basis.
This can be as simple as the gutters being blocked or, alternatively, as complex as the below ground drainage being ruptured, cracked, blocked or otherwise defective.
If you are unlucky to have any of these types of issues then you will need to have a careful planning course of investigation, maintenance and repair, to ensure the defect(s) are remedied and rectified. Blocked gutters and drains can result in significant cost.
Irrespective the defect the surveyor notes, whether through a RICS HomeBuyer Report or Full Building Survey report, the surveyor will explain what needs to be done to make good and, if it is a full building survey, will likely give you some form of indicative cost to taken into account.
If you would like to discuss your prepurchase surveying requirements with our team of qualified and experienced RICS Registered Surveyors here at Stokemont, please feel free to give us a call today and we shall be more than happy to assist and advise you.
