A guide to home maintenance

Andrew WilliamsHome Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Surveying, Uncategorized

The external walls The walls of a property are the barrier which keeps the elements, and particularly water, from reaching your comfortable internal environment but they need maintenance. In order to fulfil that function effectively, however, they need to be clear of soil and ground level build up. The problem Old properties Already prone to rising damp, solid wall structures … Read More

Defects in property

Andrew WilliamsHome Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Surveying

  He was a marvellous gardener. The neighbour was right. The garden was perfect.  Pity about the defects. Pity he grew a low hedge up the front wall of the house and porch. (See photographs) This created defects that I had to report. As the hedge prevented visible access, I had to report that it was not possible to fully … Read More

Knotweed

Andrew WilliamsHome Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Japanese knotweed, Surveying

Japanese Knotweed   I was discussing surveying matters with a friend a few days ago and thinking about the results of surveys. If a surveyor finds a major problem with a property, the chances are that finding the problem wasn’t really chance; it the result of years of training. There is of course the temptation to dance a jig to … Read More

NEW HOMES, HOUSE BUILDING AND PROPERTY

Andrew WilliamsBNI, Commercail Energy Reports, Home Condition Reports, News, Party Wall, Surveying, Uncategorized

The number of new homes being completed is exceeding 2014 figures by 14%. The majority house building was made up of private sector completions.  According to Knight Frank prime UK waterfront property is 70% above that of inland homes. The Environment Agency saying 1.8m homes in the UK are at risk from sea or river flooding.  Jeremy Corbyn is proposing … Read More

EPCs – Energy Performance Certificates

Andrew WilliamsBNI, Commercail Energy Reports, Commercial Energy Reports, Commercial EPC, Energy Performance Certificates, Home Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Party Wall, Photographic Condition Reports, Surveying, Uncategorized

  Chartered Surveyors            Energy Performance Certificates are required when selling or renting a domestic or commercial building. For domestic premises the EPC can be completed very quickly but because commercial premises are more complex, a commercial EPC is calculated using the SBEM formula. Andrew R Williams & Associates are qualified to carry out both types of EPC. Energy Saving Ideas … Read More

BNI Bravo St Helens

Andrew WilliamsBNI, Books, Commercail Energy Reports, Commercial EPC, Energy Performance Certificates, Extensions, Home Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Land wanted, Legal, News, Party Wall, Photographic Condition Reports, QSi - Quantity Surveyors International, Surveying

                        Business Networking International   BNI   Bravo (St Helens) meet on Friday at: The Mansion House Victoria Park North Road St. Helens Merseyside WA10 2UE http://www.bni-europe.com/chapter.php?chapter=544 BRAVO are well on their way to having an annual “turnover” of £2 Million. To put it another way, each member of BRAVO sits in a seat worth £60,000.00 pounds Stirling. Being active … Read More

Dry Rot

Andrew WilliamsBooks, Home Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Photographic Condition Reports, Surveying

  Chartered Surveyors Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is a wood-destroying fungus. In the UK, it is best known for its ability to destroy timbers in buildings. Typical indications of dry rot include: If strands are touched a distinct mushroom smell is emitted. Affected wood shrinks, darkens and has cuboidal cracks . Cottonwool – mycelium develops under humid conditions. Moisture – … Read More

RICS Home Buyer (Homebuyer) Survey and Valuation

Andrew WilliamsBooks, Home Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Surveying

Chartered Surveyors   The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has designed the Homebuyer (Home Buyer) Survey and Valuation report to provide a prospective purchaser with basic information in a standardised format. It includes details of: General condition and form of construction. Significant factors which might influence or affect value. Market value. Valuation for insurance. Information is provided in a simple, straightforward … Read More

Party Wall Awards

Andrew WilliamsBNI, Books, Commercail Energy Reports, Commercial EPC, Energy Performance Certificates, Extensions, Home Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Legal, News, Party Wall, Photographic Condition Reports, Surveying

  Party Wall Work The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 introduced a procedure for resolving disputes between owners of neighbouring properties, arising as a result of one owner’s intention to carry out works which would affect the party wall, involve the construction of a party wall or boundary wall at (or adjacent to) the line of junction between the two … Read More