There are essentially four choices.

option one
The mortgage valuation report.

This is a brief report normally, but not always, copied to a property buyer who is applying to a bank or building society for a mortgage.

The report is by and large a valuation only, provided to the lending institution for its own use in the mortgage process.

The inspection will normally deal with the main components of the general condition of the property and will tend to deal with major items of disrepair and defects that are likely to affect value or saleability. There may well be other factors however that may affect your decision to purchase which may not necessarily be reported to you within a mortgage valuation.

option two
A private valuation report

Some property buyers may feel they are satisfied in relation to the condition of a property and simply require an opinion as to current market value.

An open market valuation can be provided on the basis that the valuer is not inspecting the property in detail nor undertaking to provide a report upon the overall condition of the building.

The report is similar in format to a mortgage valuation report and will provide an opinion of open market value but will not necessarily refer to particular defects which may exist, or items of maintenance which may be required. The only way to be assured about the condition of the property is to commission a Hombuyer Survey & Valuation report or a Building Survey.

Please phone 01244 322422 for a quote.

option three
The Homebuyer Survey & Valuation Report

This type of report is increasingly popular. The report is produced in a user friendly format suitable for most types of properties but not for unusual, larger, older or non-traditional types of property.

A Homebuyer Survey & Valuation Report is designed to provide a clear and concise opinion of the property and its overall condition with particular emphasis on all matters which the surveyor judges to be significant or which will require urgent attention.

The report will also provide detailed advice about general maintenance matters and provide guidance for any legal matters which may require further investigation by a client's legal advisors.

The report provides a detailed summary of matters, which will require further investigation or action before the legal commitment to purchase is made.

The client receives a detailed description of the service to be provided which sets out precisely what the surveyor will do and which areas of the property will be inspected. The inspection will certainly cover all reasonably accessible parts of the property both internally and externally (from ground level or reasonably accessible vantage point). The roof space of the property will be inspected as long as access is practicable. Comment is made upon the services to the property but services are not specifically tested. Where practical drain covers are lifted.

Comment is also made upon the external areas and gardens including garages and outbuildings in relation to particular defects and risks such as the presence of large trees, etc.

The report also provides an overall opinion and summary of the property together with an opinion of the open market value.

The Homebuyer Survey & Valuation report is intended to be a clear and concise opinion of the condition and value in an easy to understand format.

Please phone 01244 322422 for a quote.

option four
A Building Survey

A Building Survey is a more comprehensive report more suited to older, larger or more unusual types of property often extending to many pages of information and advice. A Building Survey normally incorporates a photographic schedule.

The extent of the inspection is very similar to that in a Homebuyer Survey & Valuation Report but the surveyor will tend to give wider and more detailed advice and opinions of the causes and types of defect and the remedies for repair.

Building Surveys are largely undertaken by our Chartered Building Surveyors and can also be provided for more conventional property types where a client requires specific advice or additional peace of mind.

We can also arrange for specialists to be present, either at the time of our inspection or subsequently, to carry out particular tests (electrical or drainage for example), or to arrange for parts of the structure or fabric to be opened up for closer examination (with permission).

It is normally agreed before the inspection whether a valuation is also to be provided.

Please phone 01244 322422 for a quote.

[Please phone our survey department if you require advice on the choice of survey]

see other services section

Other useful links include:-

Government. - www.housing.odpm.gov.uk
Land Registry. - www.strategy.landreg.gov.uk
Council of Mortgage Lenders. - www.cml.org.uk
SAVA (Surveyors and Valuers Accreditation) - www.sava.org.uk
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - www.rics.org
Law Society - www.lawsociety.org.uk
HSE - www.hse.gov.uk