The photos all looked so beautiful. The viewing appointment was a breeze. Everything seemed fine until the survey highlighted evidence of roof movement that nobody commented upon. This is the shock that prompts purchasers to use Building Survey Richmond Futures before taking what could be the biggest decision of their lives.
A property can look perfect until closer inspection highlights features that could cost you significantly more than you anticipate… Fresh paint hides stains, and new carpet hides uneven flooring. Tidy front gardens can cover up drainage problems, and so Building Survey Experts inspect beyond the cosmetic; they see the less appealing structural elements rather than becoming easily charmed.
With expert Building Survey Experts, property age is no big worry; they know where damp typically arises, the severity of wall cracks and how alarming each fault needs to be. Some of these issues will be minor, but some can be foretelling of expensive costs to come.
Buying a property with historic character features is very exciting, traditional fireplaces and beams certainly look great, but these often mean that materials wear out and systems are dated. This doesn't mean you can't buy the property, it just means that you must be aware.
Even if a property is only recently built, its construction should still be investigated: construction of houses is imperfect to say the least, and methods, materials and installation can bring about faults relatively early in a property's life, and you are likely to be less focused on the foundation and structure and more on the aesthetics such as design, location and finish.
So why not the mortgage valuation instead? It will do nothing more than reassure the mortgage lender that the property is good security to borrow against, unlike the building survey which is exclusively for the protection of the purchaser – you are using two completely unrelated things that you must remember.
Using a Building Survey Expert will also be an asset during negotiations. If future repairs are needed, the buyer has clear evidence and not simply opinions or thoughts. Some vendors might reduce the property price and others will be happy to fix the problems before selling the property. Both are preferable to the new buyer and vendor discovering problems after the property has been occupied.
I’ve heard purchasers gasp with relief when the survey highlights a few repair jobs – when this happens it’s because a few tiles are loose and a seal has cracked and worn through and there is nothing to fear in that regard. The buyer has an expert view of the property to be purchased that brings relief rather than confusion or any particular fear for anything at all during what is inevitably a stressful purchase.
Scheduling these Building Surveys with time constraints is also highly important. It allows for an earlier detection of significant faults and gives you time to withdraw if necessary, however if you leave it late then contracts can be finalized and you are in trouble with a last minute issue at the eleventh hour.
Building Survey Experts cannot tell you if the property is the right one for you: they will endeavor to give you all the relevant information required to make an informed decision so you can choose the property that reflects your needs rather than your wishes. They will highlight all features of the property with the information, enabling you to make more educated decisions and avoid any costly surprises.
Your Building Survey Expert will leave you with a clear idea of the condition of the property that you will eventually purchase and how you can care for the property's needs over years to come, as well as cost estimates for any required repairs.