Posts Tagged ‘Surveyor’

The following are examples of typical TERMS or DESCRIPTION of SERVICES that PROinspect offer.

All tasks must be subject to TERMS as this allows Professional Indemnity Insurance to be verified and will be available to customers should PROinspect act in a negligent manner.

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We apologise for the length of this Web Page but such terms are essential reading:-

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STANDARD TERMS (of all services offered):-

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R.I.C.S. HOMEBUYER REPORT (new version)

Description of the Service

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BUILDING SURVEY

Outline Description of the Service

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MARKET VALUATION Report

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ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE (non-new domestic home only)

OUTLINE TASK TERMS FOR EMPLOYMENT OF A DOMESTIC ENERGY ASSESSOR FOR NON-NEW HOUSING/FLATS:

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EXPERT WITNESS REPORTS

TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT / SINGLE-JOINT EXPERT

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ACCEPTANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS

1                  We require clear written instructions from the Solicitor(s) giving a full description of their requirements of us; the precise scope of our instructions, questions to be addressed etc… These will be repeated within our Report: (note that in cases involving the instruction of us (Stuart Parrett) as Single Joint Expert – SJE – we will require precise instructions to be pre-agreed between Solicitors/Parties and to be identical from both Parties BEFORE we will begin any actions to advance the instructions).

2                  We will only accept instructions where we have the requisite professional training, knowledge and experience appropriate to the task outlined by Solicitors/Parties and where we can clearly complete the task(s) set within the timescale and agreed fee rates stated;

3                  Solicitors should specify the deadline by which the Surveyor/Valuer should submit his/her final Report; if such deadline is, or becomes during the case, unrealistic this Practice will immediately so notify the Solicitors; Our actions up until that point will be fee costed on an hourly rate charge scale and invoiced to the parties for payment within 21 days after which interest will become due as from the original date of the invoice and debt clauses will become operative (as outlined later in these Terms).

4                  This Practice will make it clear to Solicitors/Parties of any part of the commission with which we are unfamiliar, or not qualified to undertake, or on which we require further clarification or information or authority to obtain Specialist Sub-Contractor comment or services (EG: to facilitate access, to assess specialist services, to lift heavy items, etc…).

5                  In cases where I am required to investigate defects or circumstances surrounding methods of inspection, that I will not cause damage (by way of invasive investigations) unless with express written permission of the parties (and/or property owners): any costs to achieve such access, and attendant reinstate of such damage, will be fully reimbursed to the Expert Witness (any and all such costs will be identified within our fee invoice that will be sent to the same addresses from which we received our initial instruction in this case).

6                  Following from (4) above we will state if any part of the commission would be best, in our opinion, completed by other individuals, in which case :-

6/1                  prior agreement will be sought from the Solicitors, and

6/2                  the names, details and qualifications of same will be recommended to Solicitors for verification purposes.

7                  This commission will be subject to the Regulation and Standards imposed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: the RICS Practice Statement [PS] & Guidance Note [GN] “Surveyors Acting as Expert Witnesses” will therefore apply and, where appropriate, the CPR, or other rules, will apply. In respect of the former (RICS PS/GN) we can, upon your written request, supply a copy of the document that will include the addition of our Complaints Handling Procedure.

BUSINESS CHARGES

8/1                  For the task as currently outlined to this Practice we ask Solicitors/Parties to confirm the following as being acceptable to them for our services (this Practice is registered for vat – currently at the Standard Rate of Tax – all fees quoted are subject to the addition of VAT, as applicable): all fees and agreed charges and costs must be paid within 21 days of dispatch of our Invoice (parties liable for such payments but who will pass these on to another authority/body/individual/tribunal etc… must obtain an indemnity from that additional source that they will arrange for full payment to be made within this timescale and any special requirements they may have to achieve that state).

8/2                  Stuart Parrett will personally action this commission; his hourly charge is £105 per hour for reading the commission papers, obtaining any additional information, site inspection (if applicable) and preparing Reports as required. PLUS :-

8/2/1                  Travel costs will be assessed at 45p per mile or actual costs expended for train, taxi, plane, parking etc… Any unavoidable Congestion Charge, or other such travel levy/tax/cost, will be charged as a disbursement and added to agreed fee charges for payment by the client.

8/2/2                  Travel time will be additionally costed at £50 per hour but only after the first 30 minutes of any single journey;

8/2/3                  Attendance at Court will be charged at £120 per hour upon arrival at Court until leaving the premises;

8/2/4                  Court appearance will mean that the Expert must re-read the full File and Report and fee charges, at the standard hourly rate, will apply accordingly;

8/2/5                  Where a late notification of a cancelled Court appearance is given we reserve the right to charge an “abortive diary date” fee – this charge will be calculated at the rate of £750 per day or pro-rata part thereof where we cannot re-schedule other fee productive tasks;

8/2/6                  Disbursements will be charged “at cost” – see also item 13 below (reference Report copies and Photography);

8/2/7                  This Practice will, in the absence of clear Solicitor/Parties indication to the contrary, at the confirmation of instruction stage, look to the Solicitor(s)/Parties for full payment of fees and charges so invoiced – we reserve the right to request fee stage-payments (if Fee payment is not entirely within the power of those providing written instructions to us then we will require signed statements from other persons that are so responsible and their agreement to full payment within 21 days of our demand – see items above regarding debt recovery and please remember that we seek a full indemnity from those liable for fee payments that our full costs and charges will be reimbursed to us, including Court Fees and the professional charges of Debt Recovery Agencies).

INTEREST RATE & CALCULATION?  TO BE AGREED

METHODS OF PAYMENT?  TO BE AGREED

INTERIM PAYMENTS?   TO BE AGREED

PRE-PAYMENTS?   TO BE AGREED

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

9                  We will comply with the Bye-Laws of Regulations of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; of which Stuart Kevin Parrett is a Fellow; and in particular that we will act in accordance with the R.I.C.S.  “Appraisal and Valuation Manual” {the Red Book} and the RICS Practice Statement & Guidance Note “Surveyors Acting as Expert Witnesses” and, where appropriate, the CPR, or other such rules.

10                  When giving evidence at court our role will be in assisting the court and we will remain independent of the parties.

11                  This Practice, and any individual employed by this Practice and working on this particular commission, will disclose any direct or indirect association (formal, personal or otherwise) or connection with the client that may influence work for the client – any such actual or potential conflict of interest will be reported to the Solicitor(s) as soon as such becomes known or arises.

12                  The Surveyor or Valuer will assess the need to visit the premises, any “comparable transactions” addresses (for both this Practice and those of the other parties “comparables”) and also whether an interview with the Parties (and any conditions that may need to apply to such meetings) is required and where so will ask the Solicitors/Parties for access arrangements and/or other details accordingly;

THE REPORT

13                  Unless circumstances dictate otherwise the final written Report (5 copies hard copies will be supplied as part of the agreed fee structure – additional copies can be supplied at typical production costs of £25 per copy PLUS £1 per photographic copy contained therein) will typically cover the following areas :-

13/1                  basic information such as names, addresses and dates

13/2                  a summary of our findings/conclusions

13/3                  purpose in presenting the Report, and description of matter investigated

13/4                  the history of the matter

13/5                  methodology used in investigation

13/6                  details of any documents referred to, or seen/relied upon

13/7                  facts ascertained

13/8                  inferences drawn from the facts, with reasoning

13/9                  Appendices such as summary of the Expert’s qualifications and experience; important documents/references supplied or referred to; matrices of results of complex or key/core issues; photographs; diagrams/plans;

14                  Copies of our instructing letters and documents referred to will be copied and provided within our Report (Solicitors/Parties prior approval is hereby granted and will NOT be sought again – such prior approval being implicit in the parties agreement to so instruct us).

CONFIDENTIALITY

15                  The identity of the client or any information about the client acquired in the course of the commission shall not be disclosed except where consent has been obtained from the client or where there is a legal duty to disclose whilst we are acting upon your instructions.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

16                  A fully documented Complaints Handling Procedure is available upon request. In the event of any dispute or complaint please contact S.K. Parrett FRICS, MAE, dipHI, in the first instance.

IMPORTANT NOTE

17                  This Practice, together with its Associates, specialise in residential plus small commercial premises (but please note we are not commercial premises Valuers).

18                  This Practice can accept commissions that revolve around the following :-

18/1                  Residential premises valuations and/or diminution in value

18/2                  RICS Homebuyer Survey & Valuation matters

18/3                  Building Surveys (often referred to as Structural Surveys)

18/4                  General Practice Surveyor/Valuer alleged negligence

18/5                  In respect of residential matters only – compliance with RICS “Red Book” (manual of Valuation Practice)

18/7                  Cases involving Building Defects and their consequences

18/8                  Actions of so-called “Cowboy Builders”

18/9                  Home Inspector / Domestic Energy Assessor roles and actions (in connection with Home Information Packs)

REPORT CAVEATS

19                  The following are a selection of clauses that will be included within our final Report: these are stipulated by our ruling Professional Bodies and Professional Indemnity Insurers (other such clauses may become necessary depending on exact circumstances of our inspection and both the land and buildings in question):-

19/1                  TRUTH STATEMENT – I confirm that insofar as the facts stated in my Report are within my own knowledge I have made clear which they are and I believe them to be true, and that the opinions I have expressed represent my true and complete professional option.

19/2                  End of Report Declaration 1 – I confirm that my Report includes all facts which I regard as being relevant to the opinions which I have expressed and that attention has been drawn to any matter which would affect the validity of those opinions.

19/3                  End of Report Declaration 2 – I confirm that my duty to COURT as an Expert Witness overrides any duty to those instructing or paying me, that I have understood this duty and complied with it in giving my evidence impartially and objectively, and that I will continue to comply with that duty as required.

19/4                  End of Report Declaration 3 – I also confirm that I am neither instructed, nor paid, under any kind of conditional fee agreement.

19/5                  End of Report Declaration 4 – I also confirm that I have no conflicts of interest of any kind (other than those already disclosed in my Report, if any).

19/6                  End of Report Declaration 5 – I confirm that my Report complies with the requirements of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), as set down in Surveyors Acting as Expert Witnesses (RICS Practice Statement and Guidance Note). RICS retain full copyright ownership of the PS/GN.

ARCHIVE ARTICLE THAT INCLUDES THE ONLY SURVEYOR JOKE I COULD FIND ON THE INTERNET:

MAN : This house is a ruin. I wonder what stops it from falling down.

SURVEYOR: I think the woodworm are holding hands!

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Who/What does the most damage to a home?

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Woodworm: Rot: Leaks: Frost: UV radiation: Acid rain: DIY: Cowboy-Contractors: Ground movements: Occupier neglect, ignorance & lack of maintenance: Poor design: Inappropriate materials: Storms: Damp/Condensation ?

Woodworm: Multiple forms of woodworm exist – some are “notifiable hazards”. Not usually treated until well-established. Can be costly if ignored for many years or you have Death Watch Beetle.

Rot: Basically only two main forms – Wet & Dry. Wet rot – treat/repair what you see. Dry rot – add a “0 or two” to what you think it might cost!

Contractors: Some are brilliant, some are not! Always get a recommendation – find out what is excluded/included. Always find out when payments are required.

Health & Safety is vital but it can also cause increased costs. Ignore standards and codes and YOU will be in trouble. Even simple low-costs repairs sometimes need massive access costs. Lives are lost needlessly every year because we ignore H&S!

Architects choose materials and designs that Builders must be familiar with to construct your dream home. Any mismatch of skills and understanding and the Surveyor will detect them when they become a problem later on (or advise you that XX may become a problem due to YY).

Suns rays degrade certain materials. Over-heating (thermal gain) can cause dimensional instability and cracking and inappropriate environmental standards.

Frost causes many materials to degrade or to de-laminate. Water pipes/drains can freeze and split/leak. Choose the wrong materials and early failure can occur. (Other materials within land and buildings also cause problems in differing weather or land conditions).

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The real answer to this riddle is “lack of, OR inappropriate monitoring and/or maintenance” causes the biggest problems. Any and every problem has a solution but the best answers always exist if problem diagnosis is both early and correct.

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This throws the spotlight on the -

(1)  common sense of the home owner/occupier (often DIY or Bob-the-Builder solutions make matters worse).

(2)  whether adequate insurances exist (under-insurance means your claim or claims will not be met, or only in part).

(3)  the experience and range of diagnosis tools of the Architect and/or Surveyor.

(4)  the knowledge and experience of all contractors and professionals employed to rectify the problems.

Nothing is perfect, all things degrade but the right choice of maintenance methods, choice of alterations and improvements, the choice of materials used, etc…. are all central to the quality of what you achieve with a property.

• Do you cut corners to meet your restricted budget?
• Is the cheapest contractor the best contractor?
• What alternatives to your needs may exist?
• Which is the best choice – basic repairs or green improvements to cut fuel costs?
• Have you pursued those alternatives to see if grants are available?
• Have you taken cost-v-value advice?
• Is it worth doing analysis OR would it be better to move to a better home?

The property cycle =  BUY  -  MAINTAIN  -  ALTER OR IMPROVE -  MAINTAIN  – UPGRADE & RENEW ELEMENTS  -  MAINTAIN  – MAKE A PROFIT OR LEAVE AN INHERITANCE

Your actions and decisions throughout the above property cycle will determine the eventual outcome of your initial investment in buying a home. Recessions come and go but, over the longer term, housing remains a good investment if you treat it wisely.

If you make the right decisions during your ownership of any home you will have a smile on your face: if you opt for DIY or bodged-solutions to problems, or, even worse, ignore problems or complete no maintenance at all, you enter a potential spiral of decline that may see your investment become a millstone around your neck from which you never financially or environmentally recover.

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Things to consider when investing in your next home.

• Can it be bought within budget?
• Have you the budget to maintain it?
• Have you commissioned and understood your own Surveyors Condition Report?
• Can and should you occasionally improve it to current green standards?
• Can you enlarge it if your space needs increase?
• Is there a price tone ceiling in your district (beyond this improvements may not add any value!)?
• Have you seen and understood the EPC on your potential new home?

• How exposed to frost and prevailing weather patterns is your potential next home?
• Is it within a known flood-plain?
• Does adequate, effective site/surface drainage exist?
• Has it been built upon, or next to, contaminated or filled ground?
• Can you obtain Buildings Insurance and at reasonable premiums without high excess payments?
• Is it traditionally or system built and is that method of construction mortgageable?

Do you need help in fully understanding the answers to the above information? CALL PROINSPECT.

This, by a long long way, is the most popular form of home survey inspection product in England. It easily surpasses all other so-called bespoke Level 2 products and is the Industry leader.

The scheme has been designed and updated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in late 2009 and all member Surveyors must use this version as from 1st January 2010.

In essence this is an economy version survey designed with the layman in mind: it is non-technical but is very much a “proper survey” using “proper words” and will offer genuine advice on defects, hazards and premises value (and Insurance rebuild cost).

One new aspect is the introduction of CONDITION RATINGS: 1, 2 & 3 (like traffic lights – red is bad, green is good and, guess what, amber is OK but……..).

In the large majority of cases this survey product will suite purchasers buying mainstream, modern-to-fairly-modern homes. When homes become more complex, older, large or of non-traditional forms of construction then perhaps you should opt to commission the more extensive BUILDING SURVEY product. However, BEFORE you commission a Surveyor call us for a product recommendation as the new Homebuyer Report (HBR) is quite adaptable.

As the HBR is a National Reporting Scheme it has standardised contract documentation and terms and these are sent to the client in advance of attending on-site (together with our Standard Terms).

So … sometimes surveying can be as easy as 1 2 3.

Home Sweet Home OR House of Horrors? Let us take the guesswork out of your choices.

Decided to SALE and/or BUY?

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.

PROPERTY CONSULTANTS for

EXPERT WITNESS or LITIGATION REPORTS

1. Can you help me? I need a chat for general advice.
2. Can you report on XXXX to tell me if I am right and may need to sue my Builder, previous Surveyor, Valuer, Solicitor, etc…..?
3. We need a pre-part-35 CPR Report.
4. We need a part-35-CPR Single Expert Witness Report (or as a Single, Joint Expert appointment).

All of these things are different: 1 is a chat and no inspection; 2 is a survey that may lead to a provisional conclusion (but, if the case moves into the hands of Solicitors or goes to Court then your initial report will not be suitable and will need to be upgraded and altered very significantly).

Item 3 provides us with the greatest problem in “how to advise a customer”. This is because Solicitors cannot agree what common format and when such a report is needed. The problem is that such reports may lead nowhere, in which case they are best short and at low cost, whereas if they do lead into Court then they need to be capable of being upgraded to the required format and style.

Item 4 above reports that are formal, highly regulated and should only be generated by professionals trained in such matters and how are true masters of their trade: very few exist and you appoint such an Expert at your peril as they can turn a case (in either direction, for you, or against you).

An Expert Witness part-35 Civil Proceedings Rules Report must be addressed to the Court. Although you may commission it and pay for it the Expert is under a duty to report as if the Judge/Court has appointed him/her.

Such reports are complex and long and therefore expensive. Not only is all evidence to be obtained and shifted but the Expert must explain his findings and justify his conclusions. The structure of the report is regulated and a Truth Statement and other Sign-off Statements make it clear that the Expert is under a weighty duty of care to include all data and not to be unduly influenced by either party to the dispute. Strict Protocols surround all aspects of the Expert appointment, report generation and delivery of evidence.

PROinspect suggest that all customers how consider that grounds for potential litigations should first be discussed with their Solicitors BEFORE speaking to us. We have seen cases where the customer has been given the wrong initial advice and this has resulted in the cost of producing relevant Expert evidence, in the right format, being very high indeed.

Our Stuart Parrett is a member of the Academy of Experts, is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He has Courtroom experience and has completed training courses in part-35-CPR Report writing and the giving of evidence in Court. For residential property matters – building disputes, contractor problems, surveyor and valuer negligence and other related matters, Stuart is considered to a be a safe pair of hands as Single/Joint Expert appointment.

Cases completed by Stuart have included:-

• Tenants failure to maintain:
• Surveyor failure to identify large quantities of hazardous material:
• Misrepresentation by a Seller of a house:
• Surveyor negligence when completing most forms of house survey product:
• Loan Valuer over-valuation cases:
• To establish where dry-rot had spread from, and why:
• Inadequate reporting standards within level 2 Homebuyer Report formats:
• Failure of a Local Authority to maintain a flat:
• Personal injury case – valuation matters to establish the lifetime effect on property decisions:
• Building damage due to works being completed in the adjoining property.

IF YOU HAVE VISITED THIS SITE TO FIND OUT THE PEDIGREE OF STUART PARRETT THE FOLLOWING MAY ALSO INTEREST YOU:-

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Summary of the experience of Stuart Parrett (a provisional CV):-

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NAME STUART KEVIN PARRETT FRICS, MAE, dipHI

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Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Practicing member of the Academy of Experts.

Registered Home Inspector & Domestic Energy Assessor.

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D.O.B. Male 12‑02‑56.

Nationality British.

Marital status Married to Penny – 2 adult children.

Professional Qualifications and Awards

19/11/80 (Professional Associate) and

13/5/87 Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Membership No. 0057808).

12/2/96 Membership of The Academy of Experts (Membership Ref : PM1490).

2001 “Accredited” by SAVA – Surveyors and Valuers Accreditation Ltd; for Level 2 and 3 Surveys.

(Membership Ref : 0001182)

Home Inspector and Domestic Energy Assessor award by ABBE in 2007/08.

Employment Residential markets Private Practice

[1] Messrs Hall Pain & Foster, Fareham, Portsmouth, Havant,  Waterlooville. 1976 ‑ 80. Trainee Surveyor

[2] Messrs Young & White, Portsmouth. 1980 ‑ 1989. Surveyor, Senior Home Sur­veyor, Associate Partner, Equity Partner including at time of disposal of business to Cornerstone (Abbey National Estate Agents) in 1988. Eight offices inc. Portsmouth, Winchester to Southampton.

[3] 1989 to 01/03/03 : Self-employed trade styles :

Chandlers Professional and Proinspect (Home Inspector and Chartered Surveyor training). Consultant to the John Byrne Survey Centre (Wickham).

[4] 2003 to July 2008 :  Rund Partnership Ltd (Chartered Building Surveyors) Eastleigh – Director; shareholder, senior residential property Surveyor/Valuer and staff trainer.

[5] August 2008 onwards – self-employed as PROinspect Consultancy. Private sector house surveying, valuing, energy assessing, defect diagnostics, Expert Witness reports, Thermal Imaging Consultants.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Summary

Long track record of working on own initiative.

Intuitive inspection and deduction/interpretation skills.

Excellent communication and report writing skills.

Highly focused and experienced in residential housing surveys.

Independent thinker.

Details/examples

Residential property market. Full Building surveys (L3), RICS Homebuyer Surveys (L2), Valuations (L1) for all purposes (valuation range predominantly up-to-£1,500,000).

Usual range of other professional work from Grant Applications (80’s), project co‑ordination plus extensive Expert Witness and other Litigation reports for Solicitor clients (with attendant Court appearances). Large amount of client Company house Part‑Exchange scheme surveying involvement. Usual random tasks such as Compulsory Purchase Acquisition claims/negotiations, Local Authority “Right to Buy” scheme negotiations, etc…

Early 1992 Inland Revenue contract work to prepare residential Council Tax Valuation Bandings in south Hampshire.

Within the practice of Young & White I was senior residential (Partner) surveyor/Valuer. This called for Practice development expertise i.e. negotiation with mortgage Lenders regarding valuation panel membership and fee scales; co‑ordinating efforts and marketing to enter new markets, producing and updating Conditions of Engagement, dealing with staff negligence cases and annual employment reviews etc….

The 1990’s, and now the new century, saw great growth in Litigation Reports required due to claims alleging professional negligence. My experience and highly active role within the profession has allowed me to specialise in this area (Expert Witness Reports).

In 2002 I have set up a subscription based internet Home Inspector Resource facility (proinspect.co.uk). To facilitate Home Information Packs plus Energy Performance Certificates this infrastructure was upgraded to PROinspect Network Portal in 2005. This has now evolved into a 2008 new business that focuses on the surveyor and general assessment of residential property.

Throughout 2002 to 2007 I helped devised both (1) National Occupational Standards for Government licensed Home Inspectors and (2) the external test/examination that all such candidates will have to take. This has led to major professional services Consultancies with the two main Home Inspector Assessment Centres in England, RICS and SAVA.

1997 to date

Seminar speaker to Chartered Surveyors and others on behalf of

• the RICS (nationally, regionally and locally) inc. as “Safe As…”
• Portsmouth University CPD Unit
• SAVA Ltd
• PROinspect.co.uk
• Legal & General Surveying Services Ltd
• CIOB
• Rund Partnership Ltd.
• BNI networking UK.

Typical subjects

• Homebuyer Survey & Valuation scheme
• Expert Witness Reports
• “How to Understand Home Surveys” – to Solicitors at in-house training sessions
• SAVA competence/assessment days
• Survey Standards, Report Writing, Accreditation, new Home Condition Report
• Surveying new buildings, surveying Services, etc….
• General Valuation issues
• Effective Report Writing
• The Art of being a Residential Surveyor
• The 2009 all-new R.I.C.S. Homebuyer Report and the NEED FOR CHANGE.
• Site Notes and the DEA
• Maximising Income as a DEA
• An Overview of Surveying Housing.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1989 to date

IT and keyboard skills attained – Microsoft Word, Publisher, Outlook, Powerpoint.

Public Speaking, Mentoring Younger Surveyors and Practices, etc…

1985 to 1992

Committee member Portsmouth District Estate Agents/Surveyors Association.

1987/88 Chairman.

1991/2 and 1995/6

Chairman of Wessex Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors General Practice Division.

Committee member 1988 to 2001.

1992 to mid-2000

Member of a small team who operated a monthly Chartered Surveyors clinic at the Eastleigh offices of the Citizens Advice Bureau.

1994 to date

Member of Southampton Property Association.

1994 to 12/2000.

Wessex GP Division “Representative” to RICS GP Divisional Council. 1997 to 2000 elected to the Executive Board of the GP Division.

1999 to mid 2001

R.I.C.S. Wessex Branch Representative to General Council.

1994 to early 1999

Member of the RICS Small Practices Support Group.

1993/95

Inaugural Chairman of the Independent Surveyors Association. Created to fight “mortgage valuation placement” monopoly problems and to improve survey standards.

1997 to late 1998

Committee member of the then new Wessex Branch GP Division “CPD” Club for training purposes. This involved organising all aspects of course seminars.

1998 to 2002

Member of RICS Insurance Working Group.

1999 to 2005

Committee member of SAVA Benchmarking & Training Panel.

Consultant to SAVA Assessment Centre.

Accreditation Manager and conference leader.

2000 to 2001

Wessex RICS Branch chairman

2000 to 2002

Member of RICS South-East Regional Board.

2004

Business Management and H.I. Roadshow Consultant for RICS Safe As…. Home Inspector Assessment Centre.

2004 -2007

Working Group of A.B.B.E. (in Birmingham) regarding implementation of Home Inspector regulations, advising upon National Occupational Standards for Home Inspectors, advising on training requirements and the delivery/type of “external” test for Home Inspectors (together with populating the examination question database).

2001 – 2007 Appointments:-

• SAVA Accreditation Application Assessor for L2 and L3 grades.
• SAVA level-2 (HSV/HCR….) Workshop seminar facilitator / speaker.
• Training Consultant and Home Inspector candidate Assessor for SAVA Home Inspector Assessment Centre.
• RICS Professional Indemnity Insurance Working Group.

This very much depends on what level of inspection is being completed and the complexity of the property.

A good Inspector we have risk and database researched your property before he/she arrives. This process should have raised various questions that will probably be added to the Inspectors normal list of standard queries.

Any Inspector will need to know the history of the land and buildings. This broadly splits into the following areas:-

• Tenure/Legal
• Planning and Building Control
• Limitations or special instructions (imposed upon or for the Inspector)
• Risks
• Documentation, Certificates and Service records
• DIY
• Insurance Claims
• Premises age and the dates of material changes/problems/events

So, the Inspector will not want to be bothered by your Pets/Dogs. Similarly young children may best be taken to neighbours/friends. A tidy environment is always easier the inspect than an untidy and unclean home.

The Inspector will want to get at and into all rooms and areas and so unlocking the garage, shed and side gate will all be appreciated. Moving the car off drainage inspection chambers is also a good idea; as would be taking the car out of the garage or car-port.

If you can take copies of important documents these will be invaluable to the Inspector but it is our experience he/she can just as easily take photographs of such documents.

So what questions and/or documents are important?

1. How old is the house?
2. Is it Listed (which Grade), in a Conservation Area or in a Smoke Control Area?
3. Are any Council Plans/Proposals known of that may affect the house or its plot?
4. Boiler age/installation and service/repair records.
5. Is mains Gas available and metered?
6. Are all other mains services connected and metered?
7. What private services are connected: do they pass to and from only public land OR do they pass over/under private land (and are they shared)?
8. Date of electrical system tests or of re-wiring/alterations.
9. Date of double glazing installation (FENSA certified or under Building Control?).
10. Planning Permissions and/or Building Regulation Approvals.
11. Who designed and constructed (and when) the Conservatory.
12. Lease details.
13. Any off-site buildings or parking facilities? Full details needed.
14. Do any off-site shared facilities
15. Management provisions, fees and charges + name and contacts details.
16. Tree Preservation Orders?
17. Trees removed: and when?
18. Have any Insurance Claims, Party Wall Act Notifications, Neighbour or Boundary Disputes happened – full details/outcomes needed.
19. Extensions and/or improvement or conversion plans, dates, descriptions.
20. Inserted insulation? Type, when and by whom?
21. Have the drains ever blocked, been repaired or renewed? Are any chamber covers hidden from view?
22. What works have YOU done, OR have been done by non-professional or non-specialists?
23. What fixtures and fittings form part of the purchase price and will be staying in the home when the sellers move out?
24. Which site boundaries do you believe to be yours?

Anything you can do to provide certainty to your answers would be invaluable to the Inspector. Remember that anything you can produce to help the Inspector here will probably go into his/her Report and both their client and that clients legal team will have one less thing to worry about – if you take the time and effort to fully cooperate here you are rewarded with less uncertainty at a later date.

Much of the above may be included in the Home Information Pack: at the time of writing these words it is our experience most Sellers, Solicitors and Estate Agents are not bothering to request these details are produced “up front” and so the existing marketing/legal system is not entering in to the spirit of HIPs: in our opinion this attitude is to the detriment of all home buying transactions.

1- Do I need a Surveyor?

BUYING – Chances are that the home you are buying is OK. What if it isn’t? Do you carry the risk? Would the value of the house be lower with significant defects? We would be insured against serious matters, wouldn’t we?

Is the message becoming clear? Why accept risk when you don’t have to? Any defect, minor or serious, is not an insurable peril if it existed when you bought your home (Insurers call these matters “pre-existing-defects”).

Also remember – don’t be fooled into thinking that just because your Loan Company have advanced a large sum means that the premises are free of defects. A Valuation Report IS NOT A SURVEY and in an increasing number of cases such Valuations are produced without inspecting the premises.

So – do you need a Surveyor? The answer is a resounding YES, you do.

SELLING – Increasingly the wise home owner, but only those who can afford this benefit as it is not essential, is choosing to commission a Seller Survey. This is something new but it can be relied upon by Loan Companies and Purchasers (either could sue the Surveyor even though the report was commissioned and paid for by the seller).

Why would a Seller want such a survey? To prove there is nothing wrong or to say, yes we do have condition issues but the report quantifies them and are Asking Price has been set accordingly (thus limiting the negotiation time and angles that otherwise cut in later in the disposal transaction period).

IMPROVING – Thinking of having Conservatory or new windows or a loft conversion? STOP and THINK.

Will that money actually add value to your home? Not all improvements add value. Do you need a Valuers opinion?

If you have just had such works completed do you realise that you may have forgotten something else? You have just created additional costs should your home have to be rebuilt for whatever reason. Did you increase the sum of money that represents the ceiling sum within your Buildings Insurance policy? Do you know how to calculate the rebuild cost of your home?

Surveyors/Valuers are needed at almost any stage of any project to do with housing.

QU – What factors combine to increase the risk of defects at residential properties?

ANS – Age: certain forms of construction: the degree of DIY completed: the type of sub-soil the home is built on (clays being the worst): is the home under threat from flooding?: lack of past maintenance: certain ages of home have certain defects “built in”: the quality of alterations and extensions: weather exposure: the list be long………..

QU – I can do what a Surveyor does; it’s easy. Why bother with using a Surveyor?

ANS – Our standard answer revolves around – anyone can see if the paintwork is peeling, if the roof has a hole in it, if the walls are cracked or not, etc…. But, consider this …… could you recognise the difference between subsidence, settlement and heave? …… could you recognise the difference between wet rot and dry rot and know the implications of that distinction? …… if the roof contours were straight could you still recognise when a roof frame is under serious stress? …… could you diagnose cavity-wall-tie-corrosion problems? …… before you went to the house would you know if it was in a district that suffers from defects such as Mundic, Radon Gas, Black Ash, Subsidence, Flooding and other serious problems?

2-         When do I need a Surveyor?

This is a more tricky question.

Sometimes it all depends on cost – if you are buying a Leasehold home/flat the legal and other researches needed are much more costly in which case it can make sense to commission all those matters first and leave the survey until later in the transaction.

However, in most cases it is wise the consider appointing a private surveyor as soon as possible after having your bid approved by the seller.

Private surveys will focus on the negative about the property and discuss the defects and their effect on saleability and value. Are these matters you would necessarily want your Loan Company to know about? Why then would you consider using the Loan Valuer for a simultaneous private survey? It just doesn’t make any sense.

Always commission a separate Loan Valuation and Private Survey.

In some cases the Loan Company Valuation report or researches will state that signs of a defect were noted or that the home is at high risk of ………… In these cases we would suggest you contact PROinspect immediate and talk through your worries. It is possible we can give you the re-assurance you need to move forward; if we cannot then we should be able to suggest a Survey Product designed to provide exactly what you want OR refer you to another professional who will be able to help you specifically.

Don’t forget your Surveyor after you have moved in. Many times during your occupation you may need a chat before you commit to a course of action that if you get it wrong may later rebound to haunt you —

• I live in an exposed coastal position. Is cavity wall insulation a good idea?
• Will converting the garage into a dining room add value to the home?
• After the snow of New Year 2010 I noticed a bow to my main roof – can you check it out?
• We had XXXXX works completed but are not happy with some elements of the finish and need your opinion?
• We are getting mould and condensation. Can you help us?
• We have had an extension done and now need to increase our Home Insurance to reflect that work. Can you calculate the right sum for us?

And finally…. when you come to selling your home you nowadays have the option to commission a Sellers Survey to prove your homes’ condition. Any buyer can rely on that report and either seller or buyer could sue us if we have got something seriously wrong. In England we are not used to such a Survey Product but in the difficult times we now live in this is something that should be at least considered before you instruct an Estate Agent.

3 – What Survey Product will I need?

1, 2 or 3 or something else?

First of all do completely forget what any other professional adviser has mentioned to you. How many times have we heard customers tell us what “the man in the pub” told them they should ask for.

If you need property advice about surveys who is the right person to take a brief from? Your Solicitor? The Estate Agent? Your Neighbour? NO – tell the Surveyor what your needs are and he/she will recommend the right product that will deliver the re-assurance you need to move forward.

In industry jargon there are only three basic types of property inspection – the higher the number the higher the complexity, fee cost,

• LEVEL 1 Any brief inspection that is not a survey. All Valuations are at this level.
• LEVEL 2 Defined/Limited/Economy surveys or inspections. The most popular forms of Home Surveys are at this level. Included here are Specific Defect Surveys and diagnostic viewings.
• LEVEL 3 These inspections carry the higher fee costs, the surveyor accepts much higher levels of liability to you, the survey products are in much greater details, extras can be added to tailor the final product to your exact needs and budget. Building Surveys and Expert Witness Reports fall into this category.

Level 2 Reports are by far the most popular in the UK and the one Report Product that is head-and-Shoulders above the rest is the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Homebuyer Report (the HBR). It becomes highly important that potential customers discuss their needs direct with a Surveyor BEFORE they issue an instruction. This ensures that the Survey Product obtained is both relevant and focussed to that clients need and budget.

To list a few Level 2 products will make our meaning clearer:-

1. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Homebuyer Report (the HBR).
2. SAVA Home Condition Report
3. SAVA Home Condition Survey
4. PROinspect Landlords Property Report
5. Thermal Imaging diagnostic reports for leakages and condensation
6. Schedule of Condition (usually with a high element of photography)
7. Schedule of Dilapidation.
8. Specific Defect Report.
9. Pre section 35 (CPR) Expert Witness Report.
10. Boundary and/or Contractor dispute opinion Report.

We offer multiple forms of survey product and Surveyor Training services.

Do your staff need training in dealing with Loan Valuers or Surveyors?

Survey Product characteristics appreciation (so they can better advise clients)?

Home age appreciation?

Typical defects – how to recognise the tell-tale signs.

Can we help to train your inspection staff in any aspect of inspection and report writing?

If you are a University or College: can we deliver Surveyor Craft seminars/training to augment your in-house courses?

Stuart Parrett helped devise the Home Inspector end-test for ABBE, took one-day seminars for SAVA on Level 2 survey products, was a regular contributor to RICS for multiple projects, etc….. and this experience places him well to be able to help your students!

All services (and fee quotations) are subject to Surveyor verification and “conditions”. This is to protect both parties and provides the client with the comfort of knowing that they can sue us if we are unprofessional and miss something.

Therefore all referrals and instructions are confirmed in writing before we start our services. The documents used are mailed or e-mailed to the client (we prefer to use e-mail for the increased speed of communication).

A selection of the main documents currently used by PROinspect, including details of how to complain, are attached (see separate pages).

Required Customer Information

PROinspect and our customers must communicate and agree at least the following data and terms:

1. Client name and full address (if more than one person then multiple data is needed).
2. Home, work and mobile call details of each client.
3. Preferred E-mail address of each client.
4. Full address of home to be inspected (including post code).
5. Home access method and details (typically an Estate Agents full details).
6. If a home HIP exists – the full reference number of that document in sufficient detail to allow us to download it.
7. If the client knows what survey product they need then please provide the NAME of that product OR tell us what is worrying you about the home.
8. What extras to the standard service level are needed?
9. Fee agreement – the sum, how and when it will be paid etc… We usually require full payment before we submit our Report or findings to the customer.
10. The urgency of the transaction (do you have any pre-agreed deadlines?).
11. Full details of your solicitor (including call number, name and personal e-mail address).

PROinspect will then e-mail or mail our verification, business Terms, product scheme, Conditions plus fee Invoice.

We will contact the Agent or Home Owner and do all that is necessary to inspect the premises and to report to you. Once you have our verified Fee Quotation and Terms/Conditions, and have indicated your full agreement o our service(s), then we do everything leaving you free of the stress and worry of having to organize anything.

NEED ADVICE?

Try the SEARCH Box facility (below, left), click on an Article Heading (below, left) or simply read on….

• BUILDING SURVEYS with or without VALUATION advice
• HOME VALUATIONS by an RICS Registered Valuer
  
• HOMEBUYER REPORTS or SELLER SURVEYS
• AUCTION or QUICK-WALK-THROUGH Appraisals
  
• Update your BUILDING INSURANCE SUM INSURED
• Is DAMP REALLY DAMP or actually CONDENSATION as a result of your lifestyle?
• Is that CRACK the beginnings of SUBSIDENCE?
• Divorce or Negligence Court-Compliant EXPERT WITNESS Reports/Valuations.

Hello, I’m Stuart Parrett. I am a truly independent, knowledgeable and experienced Chartered Surveyor and housing specialist. I am in the PEOPLE and HOMES Business where Information Discovery is all important.

I survey homes for faults and worth/value but it is not what I do but HOW that separates PROinspect from competitor surveyors.

THE HOUSE DOCTOR IS IN:

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

SOMETHING of VALUE for you —-

1-  Do you have a SEPTIC TANK DRAINAGE system?

NEW Environmental Permitting Regulations cover even old septic tanks, which may previously have escaped regulation, but are now controlled and must be formally registered with the Environment Agency by 1^st January 2012. Failure to register is a criminal offense. Click this link PrivateDrainageChanges2012 for an Environment Agency Brochure that explains all.

2-  CONDENSATION SEASON IS UPON US – have you looked in the back of the wardrobe recently or in “that corner”?

Cold = drop in dew point = cold surfaces will attract condensate: Quick Fix – create airflows and reduce the amount of vapour in the air. Longer Term Fix = Raise the wall temperature by lining it with XXXX; properly kill off mould spores; introduce sensors that apply venting or temperature changes to the environment. Simple.

What often works is opening the window for as long as possible during and after sleeping/baths/showers/cooking (this removes water vapour that then cannot condense on your clothes and walls). You loose heat during this process and so you need to learn how to achieve these goals intelligently without icicles forming on your nose.

For more information on me, my CV etc… – click here and scroll down. Alternatively, look me in the eye by watching a short VIDEO – CLICK HERE. TheHouseSurveyor at YouTube will also deliver several important messages for those looking to purchase or those you wish to become Residential Surveyors and/or Valuers.

Those who have kindly provided testimonials for me say that I can be considered a safe pair of hands, somebody who is a real communicator and a provider of detailed and robust opinions.

Good reasons for using me in the central south coast area include that I take the time to listen to you and then help you make the right choice of survey product and have it completed at the right time. After this I genuinely communicate with you and don’t simply mail a report to you and that is it. No, I am always available for questions and meetings because you need to be re-assured your purchase is both a wise investment and you are not buying a problem.

I protect the biggest investment you’ll ever make in your life – your home – and I work with you every step of the way…..

I’ve brought together a lot of valuable information to help you organise property problems, alterations, private surveys and other services surrounding ownership, maintenance, sales, purchases and Expert Witness Reports.

CALL ME for a free chat and advice on 078 3636 3040 —

• THE GOLDEN RULES OF SELF-PROTECTION DURING HOME BUYING =

1. When your “offer” has been accepted make sure you already have a loan deal secured in principle
2. Make sure you DO NOT agree to a combined Loan Valuation and Private Survey
3. Actually speak to a Surveyor (PROinspect down south) – do not accept an Assistant or a Secretary
4. Find out your Survey Product options, fee costs and the manner in dealing with any special concerns you have
5. Do not fall for quick deals or “linked” services often packaged by costly middlemen Agencies.

STUART PARRETT

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Browse the site and when you’re ready to ask for advice give me a call or fill in the Form on the right. To get the best out of us you need to be briefed as to your options, survey costs and a lot more. As a starting point be as specific as you can as to what you need from us – use the CONTACT FORM (top right on your screen): EG: Detached house – perhaps 50 years old – £400,000 agreed – Building Survey with Valuation needed – being sold by XXX Estate Agents.

PROinspect are led by Stuart Parrett who has an unrivalled pedigree as a specialist Home Surveyor of over 35 years Hampshire experience.

If you wish to read even more of my views on a host of house and survey matters go to ezinearticles.com by clicking of the above icon. Or follow me at Twitter (@SurveyAuthority).