Home Buyers Survey in Umberleigh

Should I get a RICS Level 2 Survey, RICS Level 3 Survey or Full Structural Survey on a property in Umberleigh and which is cheaper?

The Full Structural Survey has a new name called a RICS Level 3 Survey, however it is basically the same the same comprehensive survey.

If the Umberleigh property is an apartment, or is an older property, or has been substantially modified, or is built of unusual materials (e.g. timber frame), then RICS recommend a cheaper RICS Level 2 Survey.

If you are planning to do any significant alterations, RICS advise you go for a RICS Level 3 Survey. This survey is less cheap but it will offer a more detailed analysis of the Umberleigh property's general condition as well as an opinion on defects as well as maintenance options .

For further advice get an instant Umberleigh House Survey Quote or call us 0800 022 4428 to speak to our survey team.

On a Umberleigh RICS Level 2 Survey what are common defects an amber light rating impacting 'E3 - Rainwater pipes and gutters' ?

A fairly common example may be improperly sloped gutters. The drainage system is inspected visually with the aid of binoculars where appropriate. This section does not include defects in the sewer system.

Amber, or condition rating 2, defects will need to be repaired or replaced at some point, but this may not be urgent. In some cases, an element covered under Section E may be marked as NI, or 'Not inspected'. The structured format for the RICS Level 2 Survey is intended to produce a useful and comprehensive survey for any house buyers. As a result, some sections are omitted where they do not apply to the surveyed property.

Should I choose a full structural survey prior to investing in a poor condition sixties penthouse flat in Umberleigh?

The Full Structural Survey is now dubbed the RICS Level 3 Survey.

The RICS Level 2 Survey is appropriate for a post fifties unmodified Umberleigh flat of typical construction materials i.e. brick walls and tiled roof. The RICS Level 3 Survey is the most relevant survey to choose in relation to the flat described. Around 3 days following a thorough site survey of all accessible areas, a formal report is sent to the buyer giving any crucial insight about the construction of the flat. There are certain limitations with any survey insofar as a local surveyor will not be able to open up the fabric of the of the Umberleigh flat, an example being the removing loft contents. Also flats typically mean access to the building can be prevented and the surveyor is only authorised scrutinise the flat itself, however he may also outline information about other tenant shared parts like e.g. commonly accessible roof spaces. For a table containing a breakdown of what each survey type includes see the following article.

When I visited a sixties house I am meaning to purchase I think we saw that there might be an overload of the fuses/fusebox - will a RICS Level 2 Survey in Umberleigh go into detail on the general state of the electrical system?

When performing a Umberleigh Home Buyers Survey the surveyor will typically add detail on the overall electrical system if it is suspected that they are in a less than satisfactory state of repair. This will include a by sight check (i.e. no removal of fittings) of any uncovered parts of the wiring on top of areas e.g. inspecting the state of repair of fitted electrical appliances, for example storage heaters or the state of residual circuit breakers (RCD) and/or miniature circuit breakers (MCBs). Ascertaining the whereabouts of any evidence of a test on the condition of the electrical wiring conducted by a suitably qualified electrician on the property should usually be part of the survey in Umberleigh.