Home Surveys

Info

We at Lilly Surveyors Ltd understand that property is quite often the most expensive purchase a person can make, so you can’t afford to take any risks. Whether you are a first time home buyer, or you’re looking for a rental property we can advise on the right survey for you.

Our surveys can shed light on issues like:

• Any potential issues with the original construction of the property
• Does the property need extensive repair?
• What are maintenance costs likely to be over the short and long term?

Your survey will either give you complete peace of mind about the property you’re looking to purchase, or it will give you vital information on potentially serious defects. Going into negotiations for a property armed with the full facts can make a real difference to the price you pay, or the amount of work done prior to purchase. It can also give you the opportunity to avoid a costly mistake. We offer two different surveys; the RICS HOMEBUYER SERVICE (SURVEY) and RICS BUILDING SURVEY.

Please refer to the information below for further information, or alternatively contact us and we will happily recommend the survey that is best for your property.

We believe communication is key. Buying a house is a stressful time even when things go smoothly, so we want to help. We know that knowledge is power, so fully understanding the condition of a property prior to purchase is vital. We keep in touch regularly from your first contact, to help you select the most appropriate report, and then tailor it to your needs. You can even ask us to pay particular attention to certain aspects of the building that may be concerning you. We are also happy to meet you at the premises after our inspection to discuss our findings. Alternatively, we can call you straight away.

For further information please contact us. We look forward to receiving your call.

To help you choose which survey is right for you please refer to the following documents:

Home Surveys Information Sheets click here

Description of the HomeBuyer Report and standard terms of engagement please click here

Description of the RICS BUILDING SUREVY service standard terms of engagement please click here

As part of our complete service we can also deal with all repairs needed to your building as recommended in the survey and any refurbishment or extension works you would like to carry out. For more information please refer to ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LER9SPvdmRs

The HomeBuyer Report

RICS HOMEBUYER REPORT (SURVEY)

This is a standard report produced by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to highlight significant and urgent matters and is typically understood to be the economy service. The HomeBuyer Report is most often used to survey conventional homes of standard construction, such as houses, flats and bungalows. It is designed to flag up major defects and problems that need urgent or significant attention, because such issues will affect the property’s value.

 

The report will include the following:

  • A traffic light rating of the condition of different parts of the building, including service, garage and outbuildings, showing issues that may require varying degrees of attention
  • A summary of the risks associated with the condition of the building
  • Advice on replacement parts, guarantees, planning and control matters for your legal advisers
  • A list of problems we consider may affect the value of the property
  • Advice on repairs and ongoing maintenance
  • Issues that need to be investigated to prevent serious damage or dangerous conditions
  • Legal issues that need to be addressed before completing your purchase
  • Information on location, local environment and the recorded energy efficiency (where available).

For buildings older than 100 years, or for a more detailed report, a Building Survey will be more appropriate.

For a description of the RICS HOMEBUYER REPORT (SURVEY) service and standard terms of engagement please click here.

The Building Survey

RICS BUILDING SURVEY

The RICS Building Survey provides a more detailed picture of a property’s construction than the HomeBuyer’s Report and can be carried out on practically all residential properties. However, it is most suitable when the building is less conventional, either because it is very old, has been built using unusual construction methods, or is dilapidated. Similarly, it can be very useful and informative if a building has been extensively altered, or if you plan to make extensive alterations. The Building Survey is typically a long document, often including far more detail than the Homebuyer’s Survey and typically includes:

 

  • Technical information about construction and materials
  • Highlights of further minor defects that would not have been noted in the less expensive HomeBuyer’s Report
  • Photographs to give you a detailed picture of the state of the building (if requested)

The report will also include the following:

  • The same traffic light ratings system as used in the HomeBuyer’s Report
  • A more thorough inspection and detailed report on a wider range of issues
  • A description of visible defects and potential problems caused by hidden flaws
  • An outline of repair options and the likely consequences of inactivity
  • Advice for you legal advisers and details of serious risks and dangerous conditions

If you would like an estimate of costs for identified repairs, we can carry that out as a supplementary service.

We would also recommend a survey if you plan on staying in your house, so as to assess its current condition and warn of any defects. This is fundamental in helping avoid escalating repair and maintenance costs in the future.

For a description of the RICS BUILDING SURVEY service and standard terms of engagement please click here.

Snagging

SNAGGING REPORT

Many people wrongly assume that a new-build residential or commercial property will be in perfect condition, and therefore they tend not to have the property surveyed. However, you still need to ensure that builders have completed the project to the high standards you expect. For example, are the fixtures, fittings, decor, and electrics exactly as you were promised when you agreed the purchase?

To ensure you are receiving everything that you were promised, we will inspect your property and provide a detailed report highlighting any potential issues. If this report flags up specific defects, incomplete works or cosmetic problems, you can use this information to compel contractors to complete all required additional work needed to bring the building up to your expected standard. The report sets out exactly what you are entitled to expect from building firms and will help you to ensure they rectify any problems at the earliest possible juncture.

Click here for a Survey Quote