Expert Guidance for Your Property Journey
We are a local and reputable firm of chartered building surveyors, holding a substantial Professional Indemnity insurance of 2 million pounds. Our firm is regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and is a member of the Surveyors Ombudsman Service. Our expertise lies in providing a wide range of building survey and construction services, including Building Surveys, Structural Reports, Party Wall Awards, Specific Defect Reports, Expert Witness Reports, Dilapidations, Building Specifications, Project Coordination, Disputes, Building Regulations & Planning Applications.
Our Commercial Department specialises in the acquisition of Shops, Offices, Factories including premises such as Public Houses. If you are considering buying or leasing a commercial unit, our surveyors can conduct a survey or schedule of condition to ensure that you are fully aware of the condition of the property before making a financial commitment.
If you are a Managing Agent, we can inspect and provide a specification on pre-decoration repairs and painting to blocks of flats or converted houses, including common parts and grounds. We incorporate the latest legislation, such as having an Asbestos register, Emergency lighting, and more.
Our Opinion of the Market as at November 2022
We have noticed a downturn in the property market, attributed to rises in interest rates and the increased cost of living index, together with increasing inflation, which is predicted to increase significantly by the end of 2022 and into 2023. The Bank of England has also confirmed a possible recession, and we see the property market turning into a buyer's market. This is reflected in current price adjustments, reductions, and renegotiations, with more stock coming onto the market.
The affordability criteria of lenders are restricting the amount they are granting on a mortgage, which will restrict the buying power of many purchasers. Even if they are prepared to pay a high price to secure a house, if the mortgage funds are not available, they cannot proceed unless the price is renegotiated accordingly.
We also consider that proposed changes in the EPC rating could force many Landlords to sell their buy-to-rent flat investments rather than improve them. Again, with more stock coming on the market and increased costs to purchasers, prices would be expected to fall.
The Market as We See It at June 2022
In some locations, we have noticed that due to the shortage of stock, there have been some price increases. However, there are concerns due to the rise in interest rates and the rise in the cost of living index, including the Russian conflict, which could all affect the property market. We usually recommend expert valuation advice.
Covid-19 is still with us, but without a lockdown situation. However, the risk of a recession with an increase in unemployment could also affect the housing market, and independent valuation advice should be obtained. The economic uncertainty and the challenging market environment could reduce demand, and prices could fall, as we have recently recorded some purchaser's resistance in the current climate and seen some adjusted prices due to the likes of repairs.
Structural Movement
We sometimes identify structural movement, which can be historic or longstanding but in some inspections progressive and ongoing. In the latter, we often recommend that a structural engineer reports due to signs of structural damage. We advise that trees and vegetation close to a property on shrinkable clay can increase the risk of damage, and an arboriculturist report is sometimes recommended due to tree root action or ground heave if trees have been removed.
In some cases, common findings like shrinkable clay or structural repairs in the postcode that you are buying are known. If structural movement is identified, a more detailed and invasive investigation is needed on factors that cannot be seen from the visual inspection, such as soil analysis and the condition of the drains. We advise that sometimes cracking or defects identified to a building are not always structurally related, for example, distortion to a window head could be a decayed timber bressummer, where remedial repairs would resolve. Therefore, it is important to know the condition and what you are buying.
The building condition inspection we offer is between an RICS level 2 and 3 report and usually provides enough information to determine whether to proceed or not. The average report on say a three-bedroom house produces around a 35-page report of A4 text and contains a photographic schedule of around 65 photographs. Please note our reports are dictated and typed from the inspection, and enquiries made
Review Highlights
Professionalism and Expertise
Reviews from Louise Convery and Bexx praise the expertise and professionalism of Peter Tasker and Adams, respectively. They highlight the detailed and thorough nature of the building appraisals and reports, demonstrating a deep knowledge of the subject.
Communication
Both positive reviews also commend the excellent communication skills of the surveyors and office managers, keeping clients informed throughout the process.
Negative Experience
On the other hand, Craig Elliott's review tells a different story, citing a faulty report that was struck out by the court, with the judge criticizing the surveyor's conduct and instructions.
Comparison with Competitors
Bexx's review also mentions that while the service was slightly more pricey than others, the level of knowledge and passion for the job made it worth the extra cost.
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