Surveying a property is a common practice when buying a home. There are many reasons why a survey is conducted, these can vary from structural issues to weatherproofing. We have put together a list of some typical areas a property surveyor will investigate.

 Asbestos

A surveyor will assess if the property is at risk of, or currently has any issues with asbestos. If an issue is found then this could be a costly rectification to clear the house, and more than likely a specialist will need to be consulted to contain or remove the asbestos.

Structural Movement

This is a major concern if found in a surveyor’s report. There could be a significant risk with any structural movement to a property. This could result in parts of the property collapsing, such as walls, roofs, and foundations. The risk to occupants is extremely high, and any corrective measures to reduce, or fix the risks can be costly.

Damp or Rot

Damp or rot can wreak havoc on a property, and depending on the type, if found in the property surveyor’s report, can lead to health implications, damage to the property, and costly measures to remove the damp or rot.

Electrical

Some electrical issues that might be picked up in a survey could range in the upgrading of a consumer unit, small repairs, or full upgrade of existing wiring.

Plumbing and Drainpipes

The surveyor will also look at the current state of your pipes within the property and externally. Issues with clogged-up piping can cause water damage to the property causing dampness, and in some areas rot. If this is found as a small issue it will not be that costly to repair, however, any significant issues could result in expensive remedies such as damp treatments.

Roof

The surveyor will assess the roof of the property, if the property has a modern flat roof, the surveyor will determine the durability of the roof and potential issues such as leaks. If the roof is traditional the surveyor will look to see if there are any issues with broken tiles, or loose tiles.

Insulated

Older properties tend to have poorer insulation compared to new builds; this is because government initiatives encourage the use of good insulation practices to reduce the impact of heating poorly insulated properties on the environment.

Nowadays energy performance certificates are expected to be in place when selling a property so prospective buyers understand the energy consumption implications of buying a house.

Considerations

Finally, it is worth noting that a buyer may also be interested in knowing about any planning restrictions or any overriding charges on the property that may cause restrictions in the future. 

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