One of the most alarming facts about the property market in the UK at the moment is that large numbers of people are purchasing properties without first commissioning a professional building survey. Many homeowners have also revealed they were unaware of the value of a survey before they bought their property. The result is that many people buy what they believe to be their dream home but which turns out to have concealed flaws. A building survey is essential as it highlights any structural issues and the presence of any dangerous materials in the building. This information can greatly influence your decision whether to buy or not.

As a homebuyer, your survey will provide you with many advantages. Buying your first house can be a daunting process, but a survey can prove very reassuring. The information revealed can facilitate negotiation of the asking price and prevent nasty surprises such as dry rot and rising damp making an appearance when you are settled in.

If a survey reveals that work needs to be carried out to improve the property’s condition, you have two options. You can either ask the owners to take the required amount off the asking price and have the work done yourself, or you can ask them if they would be willing to rectify the issue before you continue with the transaction.

A building survey will provide you with comprehensive analysis of older or listed properties. If a building has been standing for many years there is significant potential for problems and it is in every buyer’s interest to identify them at the earliest possible point.

A survey consists of an entire visual inspection and a full check for dry rot and woodworm. Damp levels will also be checked. Surveys also include a full assessment of floors, walls and foundations as well as door and window frames. All gas, electricity, drainage and plumbing systems will be inspected but safety tests will not be carried out. All external features will also be checked including fences and driveways.

We are conscientious surveyors and we offer thoroughly professional surveys along with value for money. As reputable building surveyors in Maidenhead we can be relied on for valuations, surveys and appraisals of both domestic and commercial properties.

Subsidence is one of the most important problems to look for before you purchase a property. This issue can be hugely expensive to repair and could potentially require the building to be demolished. When you get a Home Buyer Report or a building survey, the surveyor should always check for signs of subsidence, including inspecting any cracks. If the structure is subsiding, it is crucial to know exactly what you will be getting into if you go ahead with the purchase.

Finding cracks in a property can be alarming, but it is not always an indication of subsidence. In the best cases they are caused by settlement, or the compression of the soil beneath the property. This generally occurs after construction and the ground will eventually stabilise once the soils are suitably compacted. The movement is classed as subsidence when it is caused by reasons other than this natural compaction of the soil, such as the presence of voids, sub-soil disturbances and when the structure is built on tipped materials.

If your building surveyor indicates that cracks could be caused by subsidence, you may need to arrange to monitor the property for a period of time to make sure the problem is not ongoing and that cracks aren’t growing at a rapid rate. If this is happening, it is likely that major repairs are needed on the property.

At Patterson Francis and Associates we can provide you with a highly trained building surveyor to inspect your Reading property. Our building surveyors are fully qualified and will provide you with the information you need to buy property with confidence.

When we deliver our report on the condition of a property, we will highlight any repairs we feel are urgent. When it comes to subsidence, we will provide an estimate of the repair cost so you can get an idea of how much you will need to invest to correct the problem. You can then factor this into your offer if you do want to go ahead with the purchase. If you have any questions about subsidence or would like to arrange a survey please contact us.

Buying a property is a major investment and could provide fantastic returns in the future, whether you are looking for a home to live in for the next twenty years or one you can renovate and return to the market quickly. In either case, the buyer needs to be careful to inform themselves about what they are getting into with their chosen property. To do this they can commission a survey before signing any contracts.

Surveys give buyers a great deal of relevant and useful information about a property they are interested in buying. There are three options to choose from, but most people will opt for either a Home Buyer Report or a Building Survey. A valuation of the property can also be done, either on its own or alongside the other two surveys.

Home Buyer Reports are perfect for newer properties and will highlight any issues with the condition or maintenance of the property. The information in the report will help you to get an idea of what work is needed so you can factor this into the price you are willing to pay.

Building surveys are more comprehensive than Home Buyer Reports. This makes them well suited to older properties that may have more issues due to their age. The survey will give you an idea of how much you will need to spend on the property to get it into top condition, including estimate costs for each repair.

It is wise to have a survey done after you register your interest in a property and make your initial offer. If the offer is accepted, then you are in a favourable position and can make the investment in a survey. Once you have the report you can renegotiate the price if you discover any big problems that need attention. Alternatively, the seller may opt to pay for the repairs themselves.

We are committed to providing honest, impartial advice about every property we inspect in the Slough area. Clients can call on us for a Home Buyer Report or a Building Survey depending on their needs. The inspection will be completed by a trained specialist and all reports are presented in RICS format, with clear and concise information to help you make informed decisions.

Before you buy a property, it’s a great idea to have it professionally surveyed to protect your interests. There are three different types of surveys to choose from to cater for the condition of the properties you will encounter. With newer builds, the property is typically in good shape and the focus is on the valuation. A simple survey can tell you this.

If you are considering a newer property where the condition is in question, you can opt for a Home Buyer Report. This includes a survey of the property to evaluate the visible parts of the building, determine the state of repair, highlight any specialist repairs that would be needed and point out legal issues. The Report can include a valuation but not every provider will offer this.

For older and listed buildings, there are full building surveys, which can be carried out whether the property appears to be in good condition or is in a poor state. This is the most detailed report you can opt for. The surveyor will look at the visible parts of the property as well as areas that are accessible. As part of the inspection damp levels will be checked, timbers inspected and floors examined. A full assessment of all defects will be provided, complete with estimated for repair costs. Again, a valuation can be included if the provider is qualified to do so.

It is important to choose the type of survey you want based on the age and condition of each particular property. If you are planning to do work on the property, whether it is an extension or a renovation, a building survey is advisable so you have as much information as possible about the existing structure. This can shape your plans and may affect how the project turns out.

At Patterson and Francis Associates we offer clients a choice of building survey or Home Buyer Report, carried out by an experienced and knowledgeable building surveyor in the Maidenhead area. We have a great deal of experience with a variety of properties and work hard to give prospective buyers clear, detailed information about the assets they are thinking about purchasing. We have a highly trained team and follow the RICS code of practice to ensure we deliver a professional service.

Before you commit to buying a property it is wise to have it surveyed for signs of problems that could prove to be very costly to fix in the future. This will protect your interests and allow you to enter into negotiations in a much stronger position where you know as much, if not more, about the building than the owner.

There are two different types of surveys to choose between; a Home Buyer Report or a building survey. The latter is more detailed but both offer valuable insights into the condition of a property that can help you when you come to deciding on the price you are willing to pay. The one you opt for should depend on the age of the home you are looking at and the signs you see during your viewings.

A major advantage of having a survey done is that you will have some protection against unforeseen problems. If you don’t have the property looked at you have to bear all of the repair costs yourself. After a survey you can negotiate with the owner so they have to accept some or all of the cost.

On top of this the building surveyor will hold responsibility for checking the property and providing clear details in their report. The protection will be higher when you choose a survey rather than a Home Buyer Report because the surveyors conduct a more in-depth inspection. This means that if there are problems they miss in parts of the property they access you can make a claim against them.

At Patterson Francis and Associates we provide both types of survey and work very hard to ensure we provide the most detailed information for prospective buyers. Our team are fully qualified and have many years of experience to call on. Both of these facts mean you can expect a quality service from us that will protect your interests.

Whether you are buying a new property or an old build we would recommend you have a survey done. The investment can really pay off with the additional information you will receive and the protection it surveys offer. Contact us today if you are in need of a qualified building surveyor in the Reading area.