The full structural survey is a rigorous property survey that one can ever conduct on a building. Though this might sound like the usual survey conducted by homebuyers to find if there are any faults that should be fixed, a full structural survey is about old buildings, or rather houses that are unusually constructed. This means that it must be done by highly qualified valuation experts.
Since it is much detailed, it could take a little longer to what you might be used to. At the end of the process, you will have a clear outline of all structural concerns that the property has. Most of the time, this type of survey will touch on the areas that are not very easy to reach.
After the survey, you will know all the areas that need to be fixed and what caused such problems. Also, the expert will give you an overall cost of fixing such problems. Today, there are many steps of property surveys available, and all of them must be done with the help of an expert. Note that all the steps are charged differently, so a good budget will go a long way in ensuring that you have peace of mind.
This comprehensive guide has shared everything you might want to know about the full property survey. It is, therefore, vital that you go through the entire piece.
What is covered in a Building Survey?
Your survey will encompass both internal and external inspection. Note that there should not be any stone left unturned, so all aspects of the building will be put into consideration. Your surveyor has the mandate to inspect all angels of the buildings, including the areas you don’t use actively. These include floors, walls, cellars, roofs, windows, garages, doors, etc.
Why You Need a Building Survey
It is easy to think that a structural survey is an expensive process that you don’t need in the first place, but that is not true. Also, as suggested by the name, a full survey is a process that can be done any type of property. However, it is mostly used on houses and properties that are at least 50 years old. This is because most buildings around that age naturally have some defects that are worth reviewing.
It is also vital that you go for a thorough building survey is you are looking to purchase a property minus building regulations approval. This is good due to the nature of details that are normally included in the report, as well as the cost compared to other available options.
Here are some of the instances that might compel you to go for a building survey.
- The house is older than 50 years
- Listed or historically unique building
- Not in good condition
- Uniquely built or unconventional
- Has had or there is a plan for renovation
- The building is situated in a conservation area
If the property is less than 50 years old, a homebuyer survey would suffice since it will touch on all areas of concern and you won’t spend a lot of money. Also, if the property is newly built, the chances are that it won’t have any structural issues, so you don’t need an aggressive survey, but you will still need a snagging list.
If your plan is to acquire a unique or listed property, it is vital that you look for reliable online resources and read about specialist building. It is important that you get ready for the survey ahead of time.
How much will it cost for a Full Structural Survey?
You will be charged based on the property you are looking to survey. In general for a full structural survey cost the surveyor should ask for between £500 and £1,500. This is the most expensive type of survey that you can ever do on your home, and it will go on the total RICS building survey cost of purchasing a home.
Accessibility is another important factor that might add to the cost of hiring a professional surveyor. Note that your surveyor will need to have free and easy access to all parts of the building to give you detailed feedback.
How Long Will The Survey Take?
There are many factors to consider when determining the duration it would take to fully survey a home. The whole process should take between four to eight hours. If there are many areas to check, the process might go for ten hours. The report, on the other hand, should be ready after three to seven days, following the completion of the survey.
The timing can also vary based on the accessibility of the building, so we are going to look at some of the things that determine the duration of the survey.
Booking The Survey
After your offer gets accepted, you are supposed to begin looking for an expert to help you with a structural survey. Most of the time, your offer will be accepted after you have confirmed that the previous survey did not discover any concerns. After the completion of the survey, the final price of the building can be negotiated based on various factors applicable.
Ensure that you maintain good communication with your surveyor ahead of time and identify the areas that the survey should focus on. This information can help you prepare the space so that all required areas are easily accessible.
For instance, if you want to buy a house that has a loft, it is vital to have a ladder that is long enough to reach the entrance. Otherwise, that area will not be surveyed.
The Other Day of The Survey
We had seen that the process should only run for one day. However, the size, location, and accessibility of the property might make the survey last longer than expected. If you are talking about a smaller house, then two to four hours would be okay. The larger ones, on the other hand, will need between five and eight hours to complete.
When Do You Want To Receive The Report?
Again, based on the size of the house you intend to buy, you will receive the report about the survey of your building in three to seven days via email. If you wish, you can receive it through a post, but you will have to spend some money on delivery.
After the inspection, your surveyor must give you clear information on when you should expect the report. If you don’t hear from them after one week, you can send them an email to follow up on the progress.
What Does The Report Look Like?
The report should be very easy for you to read. It should highlight the areas with the most concern and might need instant attention. The report is not complicated, and you should not expect any jargon. Your surveyor will give you a layout that you can easily understand without thinking too much.
If you are the seller, then you should expect something a little different. The survey will cover wide areas and will go into every detail of the building. Also, in the report, you will see the possible repairs that must be done to sell the property at the highest price possible.
There are free online guides on what one can do in case they receive bad survey results. Make sure that you only get that from credible websites, especially from RICS.
Building Survey FAQ
Who Organises a Survey When Buying a House?
If you are looking to buy a house, you can hire a surveyor to inspect the building. This means that you will cover the expenses. Make sure to only do this after your offer has been accepted because you will use the receipt to bargain the price of the building you intend to buy.
Do Surveyors Look in The Loft?
Yes, to give you a detailed report, the surveyors must check every part of the building. This is done to give the home buyer or seller a full overview of the condition of the property. Therefore, make sure you prepare the space to enable your surveyor to check the loft.
Will My Surveyor Check The Boiler?
Your boiler plays an essential role in regulating the temperature of the house. It also ensures that you have warm water at all times. Therefore, your surveyor must check to ascertain that it is in the right condition.
What if I Can’t Afford a Surveyor?
If you are looking to buy the property and don’t have enough money, you can talk to the seller. Let them have the house inspected and ask them to share the report with you. Better still, you can wait until you have enough money for the survey.
Conclusion
Now that you have complete information, you can go ahead and have the property surveyed. You can talk to use to help connect you with the right body that can help inspect the property and give you a report within the shortest period possible. Always make sure to only deal with an expert in property surveying. Otherwise, you will waste your money on substandard services.