Home Buyers Survey in West Ewell

Is it best to get a Full Structural Survey, Building Survey or HomeBuyer Report on a home in West Ewell and which is the cheapest?

The Full Structural Survey has been updated to a Building Survey and is basically the same the same.

If the West Ewell property is a flat or maisonette, or is a period property, or has been extended or modified, or is built of unusual materials (e.g. steel and glass), RICS advise the cheaper HomeBuyer Report.

If you are thinking about whether to carry out alterations on the West Ewell property, RICS advise you choose a Building Survey instead. This more detailed survey is not as cheap but it does give you comprehensive details of the West Ewell property's general condition as well as more detailed advice on defects as well as maintenance options .

For more details get a West Ewell Survey Quote on our website or call us 0800 038 6667 to speak to one of our advisers.

We are planning to buy a property and the seller's agent has informed us that it has been partially constructed with Cotswold stone. Are there specific factors to bear in mind, and what will the survey reveal?

From Dukes Gritstone to Naylor Hill Sandstone, there are many types of stone used in the construction of homes in this country. Defects such as displacement affect many stone-walled property. Regular stone describes cut stone, generally forming brick-like courses. These may require less maintenance than more irregularly built walls, but this is heavily dependent on the type of stone used. Buyers should consider that stone can have a great effect on the long-term viability of a property or extension, resulting in higher repair costs in future.

For example, limestones such as Bath stone or Kentish Rag will deteriorate when exposed to the elements.

Home Buyers Surveys will usually offer guidance on these matters. An example would be. Stone walls can also be problematic for buyers interested in extending or altering their new home, as matching stone may be hard or costly to source.

What will the West Ewell Surveyor examine on a smooth stucco coated house in West Ewell which we wish to buy.

Stucco is just smooth type of solid render. Typically it is applied to red brick hardens to a very smooth surface. The coating is very attractive and is was often applied to Victorian and Georgian properties. Stucco is often prone to defect and West Ewell Building Surveys can detail defects for example, when movement of the underlying wall can lead to cracking of the surface.

Another example of problems could result from the pressure from heavy loads above such as cracking under stone slab roofs. Resolving problems with stucco can be surprisingly expensive as the skills are becoming rarer.

When we went to see a sixties house we are planning to purchase, it appeared that there is old wiring; does West Ewell Homebuyer Report write anything on the general state of the electrical system?

During a Building Survey in West Ewell your RICS surveyor will report on the electrical system if it appears that they are in a dangerous condition. This should include an overview or examination of the superficial sections of the wiring or fusebox on top of issues like inspecting the state of repair of any fixed electrical appliances such as electric showers or verifying the condition of visible wiring. Ascertaining the whereabouts of any documentation from the most recent PIR handled by a suitably qualified electrician will form part of the Homebuyer report in West Ewell.