Buying a house is a major investment. One that you really need to make an informed decision about. That’s exactly what the Home Condition Survey allows you to do.
It’s a striking fact that around 70% of homebuyers do not commission any form of independent survey on the property they purchase. Which?, the consumer agency, estimates that undertaking a condition survey could save homeowners thousands of pounds–in some cases, as much as £10,000.
The Home Condition Survey is delivered by specially trained and fully-accredited residential property surveyors. It gives you a plain English, jargon-free report on the condition of the property using a simple 1-2-3 rating guide. You will understand any risks or unforeseen expenditure that could crop up when you are settled in.
Your Home Condition Survey means you will know all you need to know about the house you’re about to buy. To produce a Home Condition Survey, the surveyor must be a member of SAVA, our accreditation scheme which trains and audits the work of surveyors.
SAVA members specialise in providing information for buyers and sellers of residential properties. The following matters are covered::-.
- Identify any major problems with the home you are buying
- Highlight any hidden areas of possible concern that need further investigation
- Give you a simple 1-2-3 condition rating of all key aspects of the property
- Deliver a comprehensive and jargon-free report
- Help you plan for future expenditure
- Be carried out by accredited and comprehensively trained surveyors
- Building condition and defects
- Any structural movement
- Damp, rot and woodworm
- Heating and electrical services
- Alterations
- Drains
- Environmental issues
- The reinstatement cost you need for building services
Your Home Condition Survey tells you all you need to know, in a comprehensive and easily understood way. The surveyor gives each part of the structure of the main building a condition rating using a trafic light system.
1 – Green – No repair is currently needed. Normal maintenance must be carried out.
2- Amber- Repairs or replacements are needed but the surveyor does not consider these to be serious or urgent.
3- Red – These are the defects which are either serious and/or require urgent repairs or replacement, or the surveyor feels that further investigation is required. You may wish to obtain quotes for additional work where a condition rating 3 is given, prior to exchange of contract.
Buying a house is stressful and it is not always in the seller’s best interests to be fully open about its quirks and shortcomings. That is where the SAVA surveyor comes in.
Your Home Condition Survey offers a thorough, comprehensive and easy to follow report for a fraction of the cost of a full structural survey–putting you in a stronger position to negotiate with the seller.