Patterson Francis and Associates Blog
Building Surveys Secures Better Price
The experience that we possess in the property industry is vast and with every new client that comes our way, it only increases. Building surveys is a particular area that we excel in. Our approach consists of a thorough inspection of all the accessible, invisible and exposed parts of the structure. This allows us to offer a comprehensive report. The last thing we want is for you to overpay for a property that needs attention, so we will go the extra mile to ensure that no stone remains unturned as they say.
This year home buyers are making use of their house survey findings to successfully renegotiate the prices for their properties. Recently, the 2016 Which? home movers report found out that fewer than six in ten (56%) recent buyers organised a house survey to be conducted. Additionally, 15% had a mortgage valuation only, while 24% stated that they’d had no survey done at all.
On the other hand, out of everyone who did have house surveys done that revealed property concerns, about 67% were triumphant in either lowering the price, or having the seller rectify the problems before the sale. This showcases the importance of getting a clear, independent opinion before you go through with a purchase.
The main function of a building survey is to find out about any issues, potential or otherwise, prior to the purchase in order to make a more informed sales choice. It could be that your survey turns up nothing, but don’t think for a second that you’ve wasted money. After all, it is much better to be safe than sorry and give yourself peace of mind.
At Patterson Francis and Associates, we recommend that everyone has a suitable survey conducted before going through with their sale. This will give you the chance to have the property looked over and gives you the means to either negotiate a better deal, or have the issues resolved before you buy.
If you do take our advice we can arrange for a building surveyor to have a look at properties all across Reading for you. We provide a professional service and have staff that we put our complete faith in. You can expect the information in our reports to be correct, concise and important.
Avoid Getting Huge Property Bills
A Home Buyer Report can provide enlightening information about the condition of a property. With the details, prospective buyers can decide whether the proposed price is reasonable based on any issues that are found. As a result these reports are invaluable to anyone looking to purchase a home.
When you’re looking to make such an investment it’s incredibly easy to become fixated on what is clearly visible when you view a property. Whilst you are distracted, you may end up disregarding the questionable brickwork or the sounds emanating from the walls. It is definitely not advisable to move forward with a purchase without examining even the smallest issues.
In 2014, research by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors revealed something worrying. It turned out that numerous buyers were setting themselves up to receive an average £5,750 in repair bills. This was thanks to such hidden problems as rot, subsidence and structural defects.
First time and younger buyers are most at risk here as they are generally less experienced. Even seasoned buyers can be caught out though, especially if they don’t get a survey done. It’s always worth setting some cash aside for a Home Buyer Report. The only time a lesser survey may be acceptable is with a new build property. Even then it is always best to be armed with the right information.
Spending a little on the report could potentially save you thousands, as it will give you the means to negotiate more effectively. In the end, Home Buyer Reports are for the benefit of the purchaser, as opposed to the lender or seller.
At Patterson Francis Associates, we are committed to providing the best services to clients throughout Maidenhead, delivering a detailed Home Buyer Report when it is requested. We understand that property investments are a big step and strive to give every client the confidence in moving ahead with a purchase. Additionally we want them to get the best for their money.
If you have any questions for us please get in touch. We have been operating in the local area for a long period of time and uphold the highest standards.
Commercial and Residential Survey Difference
Building surveys are important and should be conducted on practically every type of property, particularly older ones. They uncover a lot of details about the condition and repair work that will be needed, protecting the interests of the buyer in the process.
As experts when it comes to the valuation of residential and commercial properties, we know exactly where to look in order to discover those difficult to find issues. We will ensure a building surveyor looks into all of the exposed, accessible and visible parts of the structure, so that a full picture is obtained of its current state.
Surveys performed on commercial properties differ according to the needs of the commissioning party and are typically more complicated and thorough than residential examinations. This generally occurs because there are more safety and insurance obligations in place in the commercial sector. The survey needs to provide vital information in regards to these.
In commercial buildings there is also the fact that different construction strategies are used in development when compared to domestic housing. Materials such as cladding, reinforced concrete and steelwork are used, in addition to many others. Not to mention, there is some particularly onerous legislation relating to commercial structures. In terms of repairs, the responsibility lies with incumbent tenants a lot of the time.
When a survey is done, every element of the building is described with detail together with findings and observations. Reports also tend to include helpful information on how to manage any remedial works that might be required. The information from the survey can be used as part of the purchasing negotiations before a sale is finalised.
At Patterson Francis and Associates, we don’t want you to pay too much for a property that could be holding some hidden truths. As such, we can dispatch a qualified building surveyor to conduct a survey. We offer this service throughout Maidenhead and strive to deliver reports efficiently after each inspection is completed.
If you are thinking of investing in a property, contact us first for advice and recommendations based on the age of the building and the condition you have observed from viewings.
Identifying Damp Issues
Sometimes, it can be difficult to ascertain the current status of a building. Unfortunately this is something you really need to be aware of if you’re planning to invest in a new home. With the help of a home buyer report you can find out a great deal more about the condition of a property though.
As experienced surveyors, we have to know what we’re looking out for when compiling home buyer reports. In terms of damp, there are several things to look for when seeking potential problems. Depending on the root cause of the condition, numerous signs of damp are often accompanied by a musty smell.
Crumbling brickwork is a characteristic of damp bricks that are starting to deteriorate. This can come as the result using unsuitable, impermeable and hard mortar. As a result the moisture in the walls has to escape through the bricks because they are softer. Bricks are also able to become damp thanks to down-pipes and leaking gutters that don’t divert the water away from the wall’s surface.
Black spot mould is caused via condensation and commonly shows up in corners and behind furniture within unheated and badly ventilated areas. While it isn’t nice to look at, it’s typically a surface mould that does no structural damage. Staining found on the ceiling is often associated with a leaking chimney flashing or roof. In addition, other causes of roof stains include faulty water storage tanks that are found within the loft space.
At Patterson Francis Associates, we are aware of every nook and cranny where damp may make its home. When we conduct an inspection prior to delivering a home buyer report we look into every accessible area of the building and check damp proofing where possible. This gives our clients the information they need to decide whether they want to proceed with a purchase and if they want to renegotiate on price.
We recommend one for every customer intending to purchase a property, particularly if it’s an old structure. If you are interested in our services and would like further information, please do get in touch. You can come to us with complete confidence; we are fully qualified to provide a detailed home buyer report for properties throughout Slough.
Home Buyer Report Validity
The RICS approved Home Buyer Report system is something widely regarded as, on the whole, bringing exceptional value to all parties within the property market. It gives a clear, objective account of the structural qualities of a building. This provides both the buyer and the seller with a reliable guide in determining what could be considered as a reasonable and fair price.
For several years we’ve been the leading name for clients looking for a Home Buyer Report in Reading. As a result of this we’re delighted to say that we’ve become the first choice for people wanting to ask questions about them.
We’re always happy to give help and guidance whenever we can, sharing our knowledge to the benefit of our clients. In this respect there are one or two questions which come up on a fairly frequent basis. To help we thought we’d look at one of the most common queries here.
It is with confidence that we’d say the leading query about RICS Home Buyer Reports is about how long they are valid for. Whilst we can’t give a specific date answer to this question in terms of to and from times, we can all the same provide a very clear answer.
Firstly, in terms of when a Home Buyer Report would initially be valid the RICS guidelines are very clear. In order to ensure the information is as relevant as possible the reports should not be more than 12 weeks old at the first instance of a property being listed for sale.
The question of how long the report is valid after the property has been listed for sale is impossible to answer in a general way. What the document stated about the structural condition of the property is key to understanding this.
Should the report have found all to be fine then it’s likely it could be viewed as valid for a fairly reasonable period. If it indicated areas of concern, then further deterioration or measures taken to address problems could be expected. As a result a more up to date inspection may be needed.
We trust that you have found this information to be useful and interesting. As part of our work in as the leading RICS format Home Buyers Report provider in Reading we can always be relied upon to answer all questions, making sure you get the most beneficial service possible.
Everyone Wants Investments Security
The building surveys conducted by our team are some of the most comprehensive that exist in the industry. Particularly recommended for older structures, these inspections look at every area of the premises that is accessible and help you to get a proper picture of its current state. Useful whenever you’re aiming to either purchase or sell a property, we can provide an experienced building surveyor in Slough to take a very close look at it.
Purchasing a home is a lengthy and expensive process, with the additional time added on by surveys seeming like a costly extravagance. However, not having them done often results in what’s called a false economy, an apparent saving that in actuality leads to further expenses. In addition, there are a host of other reasons as to why you should have some form of survey performed.
If you happen to be buying with the assistance of a mortgage, the lender will generally ask for a basic survey to be done to determine the value. This is so they can decide if lending is viable and how much they will lend. The lender is just looking to protect their own investments and the reports are unlikely to feature too much useful information for the buyer.
Building surveys are far more extensive than those conducted on behalf of mortgage providers. This provides you with a huge amount of information so you can protect your investment. You’ll be able to learn far more about the condition of the property, any problems that need urgent repairs, and even estimates for the cost of this work.
The fact that mortgage providers have a survey done to protect their interests should encourage you to do the same. After-all you will be the one left with any unexpected repair bills in the future. Neglecting to have someone come in and investigate a property can lead to potential issues becoming very real and costly ones.
With Patterson Francis Associates you can hire a building surveyor in Slough who will work on the benefit of the purchaser rather than the lender. After our results are finalised, we can supply you with an accurate estimate of how much it will cost to rectify all issues. The report will also include our recommendations and can feature an estimate of the price of the property if you wish.
If you require our aid, please do get in touch.
