0121 607 8165
www.chartered-surveyor-birmingham.co.uk
Suite 2A, Blackthorn House, St Pauls Square, Birmingham, B3 1RL8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday
Prepared in an easy to read jargon free standard format designed by the RICS the Homebuyer report aims to help you:
make a reasoned and informed decision on whether to go ahead with buying the property;
make an informed decision on what is a reasonable price to pay for the property;
take account of any repairs or replacements the property needs
consider what further advice you should take before exchanging contracts;
and determine how much to insure the property for.
Homebuyers Report Condition Ratings
To help describe the condition of the home, the surveyor gives condition ratings to the main parts (or 'elements') of the building, garage, and some parts outside.
Defects which are serious and/or need to be repaired, replaced or investigated urgently.
Defects that need repairing or replacing but are not considered to be either serious or urgent. The property must be maintained in the normal way.
No repair is currently needed. The property must be maintained in the normal way.
Not inspected.
The surveyor also advises and matters that your legal advisers should investigate and imminent risks to the property or people.
Homebuyers Survey report on a 1930's semi detached house in Birmingham
Typical 1930's semi detached house. The elevations have been rendered to save money by avoiding the need to purchase and carefully lay expensive facing bricks. The render had been given sharp edges at the openings using metal beads. Unfortunately these were corroding leaving unsightly stains. The only remedy is to chop them out and re render which requires skill to blend the new into the old. The house then has to be repainted unless matching paint is available. The roof surface had formed a dish shape due to a slightly substandard structure in which a major component was undersized and had sagged slightly. An outbuilding had a fractured concrete roof. Apart from letting water into the outbuildings this is potentially problematic as the reinforcing may start to corrode forcing concrete of the roof until it is eventually destroyed. The property had the original quarry tile floor in the kitchen. This was uneven due to the sand or ash on which it had been laid compacting unevenly. The tiles and particularly the joints are likely to be damp as there is no damp proof membrane under. Such floors need to be kept uncovered and well ventilated. Roots had also invaded a drain and were catching water material. Fortunately this was at an early stage and the chamber had not filled.
RICS Surveyors Homebuyers report on a 1950's Birmingham Bungalow
Typical 1950's bungalow of brick construction with purpose built roof void bedrooms.
The property had extensive moss growth which is often an indicator that there is no insulation in the roof. The moss was blocking rainwater goods and impeding water flow off the roof.
The thin roof and sides of the dormer are likely to have limited if any insulation. Improvement is difficult without removing the internal plaster. There was also no insulation on the back of the roof void room partitions. Angled ceilings were partly insulated but with blanket insulation which when stuffed into small voids will impede important ventilation which reduces the risk of condensation. Rigid insulation should be used with a gap above for ventilation.
Other defects included no hand basin between the toilet and kitchen sink, a leaking felt roof damp and decaying skirting boards and a leaking radiator valve.
RICS Homebuyers Survey on a 1909 Birmingham Semi-detached house
Birmingham semi-detached house with cellar and attic room from just after the turn of the century. The chimneys have been demolished probably because they were in very poor condition from attack by condensates of combustion and the original tiles roof replaced with a modern concrete tile one which raised concern about the structures ability to support the extra weight. Poor cellar ventilation had encouraged dampness which has caused decay of the floor structure and encouraged beetles to infest the floor planks. There was no protecting the occupier of the attic room from fire and the stairs to the attic room were steep with winding treads and difficult to use in the dark. External redner appeared to have used plaster rather than a sand and lime render which would make it vulnerable to water damage. The property had old lead water supply pipe and a corroding metal gas pipe. Insualtion of the attic room was considerably substandard.
Birmingham surveyors RICS Homebuyers Report on a 1900 Semi detached house
Typical semi-detached three storey house with cellar from just before WWI. The Roof surface is life expired and has also distorted due to a sub standard structure which has probably resulted from having to accommodate the dormer window. There are no fire doors on the landings or halls to protect the occupier of the roof void rooms or to allow an escape corridor. The garage roof was also like expired due the slates delaminating and the structure was also substandard and had a decayed joist end. Boundary walls had suffered considerable loss of their faces. Yew trees in the garden are extremely toxic and a beech tree is a maintenance liability and may have protection order. The period nature of the house and others in the road means it is likely to be in a conservation area.
Choosing your Birmingham Residential Property Survey.
The videos below offer advice from the RICS about the different types of RICS Survey including RICS Homebuyers Reports, and RICS Building Surveys which were previously known as Structural Surveys. Steve Butler Surveyors offer both Homebuyers Report and Building surveys on properties throughout the Birmingham area. We also offer RICS Valuations including Target HA compliant Help to Buy Valuations.
Homebuyers Report defects seen by our Birmingham RICS Chartered Surveyors
Our Birmingham surveyors saw this dormer bungalow roof void partition on a Homebuyers Survey in Solihull. The lack of insulation will make the roof void room cold. Provision of insualtion to the back of partition where there is an access hatch is relatively easy. Ridgid or blanket insulation can be secured with wires or boards. The angled ceilings were also not insulated. In this case rigid insualtion can sometimes be pushed up between the rafters.
RICS Chartered Surveyors in Sheffield - RICS Chartered Surveyors in Leicester - RICS Chartered Surveyors in Wolverhampton - RICS Chartered Surveyors in Birmingham - RICS Chartered Surveyos in Stoke on Trent
RICS Building Surveyors in Sheffield - RICS Building Surveyors in Leicester - RICS Building Surveyors in Wolverhampton - RICS Building Surveyors in Birmingham - RICS Building Surveyors in Stoke
www.chartered-surveyor-sheffield.co.uk - www.buildingsurvey.co.uk - www.chartered-surveyor-wolverhampton.co.uk - www.chartered-surveyor-birmingham.co.uk - www.building-surveyor-stoke.co.uk