Home Buyers Survey in Tidworth

Should I book a HomeBuyer Report, Full Structural Survey or Building Survey on a property in Tidworth and which one is the cheapest?

The Full Structural Survey has changed its name to a Building Survey and is basically the same the same comprehensive survey.

If the Tidworth property is a flat or maisonette, or is a period property, or has been extended or modified, or is built of unusual materials, RICS recommend the cheaper HomeBuyer Report.

If you intend to do any major works, it would be better that you book a Building Survey. The Building Survey is not as cheap as a HomeBuyer Report however it will offer comprehensive details of the Tidworth property's condition and it includes an opinion on defects and maintenance options .

For further advice why not obtain a Tidworth House Survey Quote or call us 0800 038 6667 to speak to a member of our team.

What are the reasons for choosing a full structural survey rather than a HomeBuyer Report?

Structural Surveys no longer exist anymore and the Building Survey has now superseded it. If buying a modified house e.g. an extended house, the Building Survey is now the most appropriate home survey to go for. Two to three days after the surveyor has carried out a thorough inspection of the inside and outside of the main building and permanent outbuildings, the surveyor's formal report is emailed (pdf format) and posted to you detailing in depth and important insight on the materials used for the construction of the house. There are several limitations with the survey as a RICS surveyor wont be able to, unless safe to do so and with consent from the owner, open up the fabric of the of the Tidworth property for example undoing electrical fittings.

The estate agent has said subsidence might be worth checking affecting the home. What solutions are to available to resolve this?

Subsidence is the movement of the foundations of a home which compromises its structural integrity. Most homes experience minor cracking which will not affect the building's structure. In general, homes in Tidworth are erected with a variety of materials, and these will have varying rates of shrinkage.

Subsidence can result from several issues, some common throughout Tidworth. Collapsed drainage can cause subsidence by washing away or loosening subsoil. This is an example of groundwater subsidence. Organic material in the sub-soil can also create issues. Organic material such as peat is usually stable if kept moist by the water level, but if the soil dries out, this organic matter will rot. This causes the volume of soil to reduce so that foundations can crush the subsoil.

The root cause of any subsidence must be found before repairs can commence. The removal of trees may make the problem worse, however, so professional advice should be sought. You may need to monitor (and measure) the cracks for as much as a year before the picture becomes entirely clear.

What sort of thing will the RICS Surveyor look for on a stipple rendered (stucco) regency house in Tidworth.

Stucco is in fact a kind of render. Normally stucco render is layered over brick hardens to form a smooth stone like appearance. Stucco render is very grand in appearance and is common on some Regency properties. it can be prone to defect and Tidworth Building Surveys can detail any number of problems such as when movement of the wall can lead to cracking of the surface

Another example of problems might result from the pressure from heavy loads such as cracking under concrete slate roofs. Re-covering problems with stucco may be dear as the skills are getting more difficult to find.

The Dutch bond brick on this Victorian terrace is in poor condition. What are the possible consequences? Are brick walls hard to repair?

Brick-walled Tidworth buildings can suffer from distinct issues, including frost damage and sulphate attack. A defect requiring immediate attention is sulphate attack. This results if a cement mortared-wall suffers a prolonged period of damp. It is effectively impossible to treat. Trystan Jones should be able to provide an estimate for repair work. Contact them at Steading Cottage, Eyemouth, TD14 5LR or 07912 696243.

Brick-build property have been used across the country for centuries, leading to a range of courses arrangements and colours.