Can't I just get a basic survey?

Your mortgage company will want to see a valuation survey. This simply looks at the basic construction of the building and the surveyor doesn't undertake an exploration or in-depth investigation of the building. This is fine if the house is relatively new, but if you are buying an older property, or one that you are planning to extend or develop, it is important that you get a full building survey.

Why is it so important to get a building survey?

If you buy the property and then discover that it has serious structural problems, you could find that you need to spend a lot more money than you previously budgeted. You will not be allowed to build an extension or change the interior structure of the property unless the basic structure is sound. This means ensuring that the walls, roof and internal building elements are intact and do not need replacing or renovating. Using a building survey to perform a health check on your property means that you can either negotiate on the price before you buy, or make sure that you have enough funds to tackle any problems that arise. A building survey is usually recommended if your property has already had several additions or alterations, if it is constructed with unusual materials, or if it is older than 75 years.

What is included in a building survey?

A full building survey entails a visit to the property by the surveyor, who will spend some time looking at the property both inside and outside, making visual checks and observations. They will also look at any easily accessible areas, such as roof or cellar space to look for any structural problems. You can also ask your building surveyor to look at any suspected damp problems, check foundations and to catalogue any potential subsidence hazards such as tree roots. Because of the detailed nature of the inspection, the surveyor will be at the property for several hours, and it could be 1-2 weeks before you receive a report. Your report should be very detailed, and will list everything that the surveyor thinks you should know. At first reading this can be daunting, but remember that every house has defects and not everything needs to be corrected immediately. Get quotes for work that needs to be done urgently, as this can help you to negotiate the sale price of the property.

How much does a building survey cost?

A building survey is more expensive than a basic valuation survey, but failing to uncover serious structural problems can cost you many thousands more than a building survey would. The price of a building survey is usually linked to the size and price of the property, and can cost from £500 to £1000. Whilst this may seem like a huge amount, especially when added to the other costs of moving, it could save you money in the long run. If the building is particularly unsound, then an investment of £500 in a building survey could stop you from spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a problematic property.

How do I arrange a building survey?

Find a surveying company, either by recommendation from friends, or through your estate agents of mortgage provider. Contact two or three and get quotes for a full building survey before choosing your surveyor. Find out how detailed their report will be and how quickly you can get it through. Make sure that your surveyor is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). You can double check their membership with the Institute directly.

The first step in your project is to hire the right builder. Use www.findalocal-builder.co.uk to get a list of builders in your area, and then look at our other advice articles to see how to make sure you choose the best builder for you.