Home Buyers Survey in Birkenshaw

Is it best to go for a HomeBuyer Report, Full Structural Survey or Building Survey on a property in Birkenshaw and which one would be the cheapest?

The Full Structural Survey has changed its name to a Building Survey, although it is effectively the same level of survey.

If the Birkenshaw property is a flat, or is an older property, or has been extended, or is built of unusual materials, then RICS recommend a cheaper HomeBuyer Report.

If you are thinking about whether to do any alterations, you should you go for a Building Survey. The Building Survey is not as cheap but it does give a thorough analysis of the Birkenshaw property's state of repair and it includes information on defects and maintenance options .

For more information why not get a Birkenshaw House Survey Quote on our website or call 0800 038 6667 to speak to one of our advisers.

What will the RICS Surveyor be focused on, on a stucco regency house in Birkenshaw that I wish to buy.

Stucco is just a kind of smooth render. Normally it is layered over brick (sometimes also ceilings) that dries to a smooth stone like appearance. The coating is very grand in appearance and is found on Victorian and Regency houses. Stucco is often problematic and Birkenshaw Building Surveys sometimes focus on defects for instance when movement of the wall results in cracks. Other potential problems could result from the supporting heavy loads such as cracking under the eaves. Re-coating Stucco problems can be costly as despite the craft being thousands of years old, the skills are becoming harder to find.

The estate agent mentioned subsidence is worth checking affecting the home. What subsidence information does the Birkenshaw house survey include?

Movement of a house on a structural level is called subsidence. Many homes in Birkenshaw are built with a variety of materials, each with a different shrinkage rate.

Subsidence results from a range of factors. The roots of [trees and bushes], for example, impacting the property's structure in clay-rich soil, as water is drawn out of the soil by bushes and trees. Inside the property, keep an eye out for rippling wallpaper that isn't caused by dampness.

Restoration work cannot begin until the original source of the movement is found. Removing or even pruning the tree(s) causing subsidence may be enough to halt any further movement. Existing trees must be well managed, and new trees should be planted at a safe distance from the exterior walls of the property. Place pine, birch and cherry trees, for example, at least 10m away. If the load-bearing parts of the property have been damaged, these may be repaired with steel rods, fixed into place with cement to restore the structural integrity of the building. Chartered surveyors should be able to identify a subsidence problem, while structural engineers may also be required.

What should we be wary of when buying a maisonette next to a rubbish tip

Landfill Sites are used for a variety of waste for example: non-hazardous refuse disposal. Of course nobody ideally wants to live near one (most people do live near one). Worries might include leaking underground tanks from petrol stations for example. Potential health concerns such as downs syndrome have been associated to landfill sites .

Surveyors will notice structural issues connected with the landfill. Your conveyancer will carry out environmental searches of the Environmental Agency database and Kirklees Local Authority and advise you .