When you are in the process of buying a new house or apartment, you will need to get a survey carried out on the one that you’ve got your eye on. This survey will be carried out by a building expert who will have a good idea of what kind of problems and issues to look out for in properties. They will flag any issue up so that you are aware of it. If there is a major issue that could be expensive for you to fix, it could be worth starting your search over again and looking for a different property that doesn’t need quite as much work doing to it.
Not sure what you need to look out for in your survey report? Here are some of the major issues that should cause you some concern.
Damp And Mold
Lots of old homes have problems because of their poor ventilation. These issues are usually all to do with damp and mold. Because a lot of moisture will build up in the air due to the lack of ventilation, mold and damp is a lot more likely to occur. If the damp isn’t too bad, then you should be able to easily remove it. If it is quite extensive, then you might need to completely damp proof a room, which could end up very costly.
Subsidence
Lots of guide to homebuyer surveys will warn you about the potential of subsidence in properties. This occurs when there is movement in the ground below the house and this causes the foundations to move. Even though all properties will experience some movement, it can cause a problem in houses that have poor foundations, or the movement is excessive. Most people will start again with their house search if the subsidence is quite bad as it is one of the most expensive house repairs.
An Old Heating System
The property survey should also flag up an old heating system. Even though it might still be in good working order, it’s still something you will need to know about as it might need quite a few repairs in the near future. It might also need to be completely replaced within a couple of years, which can also end up being very expensive.
Poor Electrics
As well as a poor heating system, you should also be notified about any old or damaged electrics in the house as well. This is more just to make you aware that there might be a safety issue that you need to be aware of. Thankfully, most electric work isn’t too expensive and an electrician should be able to take care of it all for you.
Roof Problems
Most people forget to check the roof of a property when they view. The surveyor won’t forget about this, though, and will take a good look at the roof to make sure you are aware of any potential issues.
As you can see, there are quite a few things to take note of in a property survey when buying a house!
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