A surveyor does vital things for you when you buy or sell a house. When valuing a property, choosing home insurance and planning renovations, he plays a crucial role. He needs to check the condition of a property you are thinking of buying. Finding a good surveyor for your needs can be challenging, especially if it is your first time needing such help. Here is key information to help you pick the right surveyor.
Determine the service you need
First, think of the service you need. Decide on the kind of survey you need and what you expect from the person so that you can discuss it with him. Chartered surveyors can provide a condition report, homebuyer service or building survey.
- Condition report. It presents problems that need urgent attention or concerns that need to be checked further after a thorough inspection of the property.
- Homebuyer service. This is for homebuyers and those eyeing renovations. It presents market valuation, drainage and roof space inspection and the required maintenance.
- Building survey. It does not provide market valuation but information necessary for large investments such as a report on defects and potential hazards, repair options, and a detailed inspection.
Find a good surveyor
Chartered surveyors must be registered with RICS or the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. You can check their page to see if the one you have in mind is registered. This helps you get a qualified surveyor. The surveyor should have knowledge of the area and the houses within it. Ask about their experience and specialisation, especially if you are buying a unique property. You can also ask for recommendations from friends or relatives, as well as from your trusted broker.
Check the credentials of the surveyor, local knowledge, experience with a particular type of property, how long he has been practising, and the rates.
Budget considerations
The value of the property, the service you need and your location determine the cost of the survey. Get several quotations, as the rates of surveyors also vary. The average cost of a building survey for houses valued at £100,000 is around £480 while a homebuyers report is £300. Building surveys cost around £60 to £800 and homebuyers reports range from £350 to £530 for houses valued at £200,000 to £500,000.
What to expect from a surveyor
Clarify with your surveyor the details of the survey he will do after choosing the type of survey. This way, you can prevent disappointment if you expected him to do a much more thorough inspection, but he did a general overview. Be clear about the deadlines.
The money you will spend on surveys could help you a lot when investing in a property. Choosing the right services from building surveyors in Leicester could save you thousands, by being able to negotiate the price of the property. Think about what you expect when commissioning a survey and discuss it with the surveyor. Getting an expert to go over a property will help you decide if it is worth the investment.