On the professional side of things, I would strongly recommendStuart Parrett of ProInspect. Stuart runs a firm from Bishops Waltham. Check his web site here He is a residential surveyor who has a fervent passion for surveying and wants to share that passion with the world.  His web site is crammed full of useful articles.  If you need a surveyor who will produce a comprehensive survey report using the latest technology including thermal imaging, Stuart is your man.  He is also a really nice chap.

PROinspect are proud to announce that acting on customer feedback we have changed to way we deliver part of your Property Survey advice. Let me explain …….

If a client asks us to act for them, typically as a Consultant Surveyor upon a house purchase, we inspect-and-advise that client within a written report.

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Change 1 – we will ‘report” to that client by electronic means if at all possible.

Change 2 – if, for example, the main walls suffer from a problematic damp proof course we report the facts, the damage and the course of action that client needs to take and this in contained within our REPORT. In future we will also refer that client to our EXTENDED ADVICE “TAB” at our web-site. This area of our web-site provides the client with contextual background information and opinion plus links to others’ web-sites. By this method the client obtains a more balanced service from us, obtain a greater understanding of the defects and solutions and will therefore be better able to prioritise further actions and repairs.

Change 3 – rather than make that data confidential and only available to paying customers we have separated out the specific property data evidence and photographs etc…. but the scenario advice is freely available to any visitor to our web-site. A non-client web-reader will see advice and opinion but will not benefit from any individual property survey report, effect on premises value, mortgagability and saleability etc..

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PROinspect believe this is the way forward and is another way whereby we demonstrate our market leader, Expert status.

We still have some work to do to complete this change: we have currently scheduled the following Subject HEADINGS -

• CONDENSATION
• RISING DAMPNESS
• SUBSIDENCE
• ROOFING
• FLOOD RELIEF ISSUES
• INAPPROPRIATE WORKS
• CONSERVATION ISSUES

When we have completed all aspects of these subjects we may look to include others: IF YOU COULD HELP and submit such technical articles (on your own related Specialism) to augment this series, PROinspect would love to hear from you.

We are also looking to reciprocate business and are looking for certain types of trades and new contacts: EG: we need (1) Heating Contractors prepared to act quickly to check and test house boilers/systems in order for house price negotiations to continue, (2) Contractor underpinning and above-ground-wall-repair Specialists, (3) Chimney Sweeps, (4) Jobbing Contractors for basic maintenance repairs, (5) Flat Roof specialists, (6) Lime-Mortar repair specialists, (7) Period Timber Frame repair specialists (8) Asbestos diagnosis and testing plus reporting specialists, (9) etc………..

WE HAVE A PASSION FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ISSUES, CAN YOU HELP US HELP OUR CLIENTS?

Looking for prime advice? I invite you to contact me for free further opinion and advice. Either use the CONTACT FORM above or call me on +44 (0)1489 896 174. Stuart Parrett.

Note – Survey Products can be requested with any extras – the latter would largely be under a separate contract within a separate document.

Note – Don’t forget that we do not charge for an initial chat and product/fee quotation.

CompanyServices

CLICK THIS LINK TO SEE YOUR INSPECTION OPTIONS INTO 2011

We deal with PROPERTY that has the hallmarks of having been built as a residential habitation: this means houses and flats but also some commercial properties including Pubs that are often converted, or similar to, residential constructions.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUATIONS

INSURANCE REBUILD COST ASSESSMENTS

EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES

DEFECT & CONDITION REPORTS OF ALL DISCRIPTIONS

HOMEBUYER REPORTS

SELLER SURVEYS

THERMAL IMAGING DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

“ADVICE AND A CHAT” TO REASSURE YOU

FIRST TIME BUYER?

PRIVATE HOUSE SALE?

What should you know and do?

If you are only buying then VIEW a prospective home, open doors and windows and have  a good poke around (do not be inhibited). Walk around the district to take in the flavour of the people etc… You could then get onto the internet to check out the Planning history of the home and if you find that what the sellers told you doesn’t match what is in the Planning Department files then ask for an explanation from the sellers. Indeed there are many self-help measures that can bring your purchase forward at low or nil cost and with only minor effort.

Sellers – how much are Estate Agents going to charge you: never agree Sole Selling Rights terms: always get a positive marketing report from your intended Agents – when will the first newspaper adverts go in, how many adverts, in what newspapers and magazines?

If you have a simple, modern home you could consider making your home the only one in your street that comes complete with a Seller Survey Report to prove it is in good condition and that you are not hiding anything. Scotland, heralded as having a “better” selling system than in England, has the Home Survey that is exactly this, a condition report with Valuation opinion to bring transparency to the deal (in England our survey products usually do not have Valuations).

If you have a Period Cottage that has been greatly improved and extended then why not include all your plans, permissions, reports, certificates, invoice receipts to prove who-did-what, when and whether warranties/guarantees exist? JPEG file uploads is all that is needed. This data will be needed by your purchasers’ Surveyor and Solicitor and so why not place it all up-front, on show for all to see? This saves time and will get the Purchasers’ Surveyor (and perhaps Loan Valuer as well) on your side – this has to be on the positive side and stacks up the chances of a successful, short-term disposal. It proves your positive and serious intentions to not cause problems or delays.

Here are some simple tips to help you onto the right track —–

1. Should a seller complete repairs before they place a home on the market? This is a difficult question but it my opinion a lot of work is done for no real gain and so the generic answer is NO. By all means do low-cost items and splash the emulsion on walls and generally smarten up the place but large expense is usually a waste of time and money. However—–
2. A few things do require serious consideration: PROinspect are great believers in getting Service Engineers to certify the function and safety of your home wiring and heating system (boiler usually).
3. Had a look at a good prospective home but something is wrong – that crack in the rear wall? Should you not bother with an offer? Should you offer to bid but make it subject to survey? OR, why not ask PROinspect to have a quick look at the problem to advise you how to proceed?
4. Found the right home and your bid has been accepted? STOP. Do not let the Sellers Agent send off a mortgage application through their rear office Financial Services adviser. Intentionally separate the loan valuation from your private survey. Why would you want your mortgage source to have the benefit of knowing the homes’ exact condition, they may decline the finance you need?
5. As we come out of recession and Lenders are still playing games with many buyers and “old rules and truisms” have disappeared and so PROinspect recommend that you get your finance arranged first and once your Solicitor says this is verified/certain then at that time, and not before, arrange your private condition survey. By all means TALK to PROinspect at any time to (1) get advice (2) get a survey product recommendation (3) survey fee quote, but do not be overly influenced by anyone acting for (paid by) the Seller.
6. If you have a private survey we would expect to recommend to you the most popular product in England, the Homebuyer Report (used to be called the Home Buyer Survey and Valuation).
7. Remember this – the majority of Agency chains are owned by Banks or Holding Companies that own banks. They recommend each other for mutual benefit disguised behind “private sounding” names nothing like the Agents name and often nothing like the banks’ name. The one thing you can be sure of is that somewhere along the line a commission is being paid OR somebody can be influential with your so-called independent Valuer or Surveyor. The standard  employed whereby potential conflicts of interest have to be declared has been set far too low by R.I.C.S., C.M.L., etc… (the controlling Bodies within Loan and Valuation/Survey industries) and this is exploited massively by the larger Companies and Group of Companies. That exploitation can often go against your best interests and so you need to protect yourself against unknown/unseen exploitation – simply call PROinspect and we will advise you (I alone own my business and I do  not pay commissions to anybody). NB – Some Estate Agents have in-house Financial Advisers and they recommend Mortgage Companies who attempt to gain your private survey work on the back of your loan valuation: do not be fooled by a short term gain in reduced fee cost: commission your survey privately well away from Loan Companies and Agency businesses.

Don’t let ignorance torpedo your purchase or sale:

Remain in the light - ignorance kills house sales

UPDATE as we enter into the CON-LIB world in England:

HIPs have been shelved for the sake of an attempt to gain popularity at a time when cost cutting is king. The EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) remains and you have a right to request and see it BEFORE you commit to a lease or purchase.

This would mean that First Time Buyers have even less information to rely upon when they purchase. It will sound hollow but the only real answer is to HAVE A PRIVATE SURVEY completed. Do not think of it as a luxury, rather a necessity. You would not buy a car without looking at it in detail and so why is property any different? Talk to us and we will advise you on the most cost effect survey product OR whether any short-cuts may be possible, in all the circumstances and your financial budget. CALL US. E-MAIL US.

Note – Survey Products can be requested with any extras – the latter would largely be under a separate contract within a separate document.

Note – Don’t forget that we do not charge for an initial chat and product/fee quotation.