If you are about to instruct a chartered surveyor there are a few questions you should ask first and some following the initial inspection. Sometimes it's a little daunting so we have popped a few questions together for you to keep in mind:
1. Is your surveyor qualified and a member of the RICS?
The First thing you want to check before you instruct a surveyor is that they are suitably qualified and a member of the RICS. This provides a better quality of report that is governed by a higher body.
2. Does your surveyor have professional liability insurance and public liability insurance?
Does your surveyor have the correct liability insurances in place to a value to cover your property so that you are covered should any problems come to light in the future.
3. Is there any reason why you shouldn’t buy this property?
Once the survey has been completed, your surveyor should provide an instant summary to state whether there is any particular reason why you shouldn’t buy the property.
The issues that are immediately raised should consider whether any defects of issues for for concern are large enough or potentially too expensive to rectify that would make a recommendation that you should withdraw from the purchase.
A full building survey instead of a basic homebuyers report can save you time, trouble, stress and ultimately prevent you from making a bad investment.
4. Is the property worth the price you've offered or is there any negotiating room?
A survey can help you to negotiate a better or more appropriate price should any significant work be required and identified within the building survey.
5. Is there any reason that you wouldn’t get a mortgage for this property?
Many people's property purchase is dependent on securing finance. On completion of the inspection your surveyor shout identify whether there is any reason you may have difficulty securing a mortgage because of the property. Some non standard building techniques can make it more difficult to obtain finance, for example, if the property is timber framed, has a thatched roof, is a prefab house or is built as a log cabin.
6. Are there any local issues that may affect this property?
Something that also should be highlighted within your survey is any external local area issues such as flooding that could potentially affect your prospective property. If this isn't highlighted within the report you should ask your surveyor as is it may impact your mortgage or possibility to get insurance.