Why Do You Need Building Surveyors Before Buying a Property?

If you’re looking to purchase a new house, it’s important to consider more than just its location and size. While a property may appear perfect on the surface, there could be hidden structural issues or compliance problems that may lead to costly repairs down the line. This is where a building surveyor plays a crucial role.

In this guide from the experts at AMS Surveys, we’ll explore why hiring a specialist to carry out a homebuyers survey is beneficial, the types of surveys available, and how they can help you make an informed and confident property purchase.

The Challenges of Buying a Home

While buying a new home can be an incredibly exciting process, that doesn’t mean that it’s without its challenges. From finding a home that meets all of your needs to dealing with surprise costs, several steps can add stress to the overall process. To help you prepare for the challenges, discover more about them in this section.

Finding the Right Property

It can often be a lengthy process to find your dream home, taking into account key factors such as location, price and size. The search can take months, which can be especially difficult if you need to move out of your current property by a certain date. Once you have found the ideal property, therefore, often you want to believe it is as perfect as it seems. However, don’t forget that some issues can be hidden beneath the surface.

Hidden Problems

One of the key challenges homebuyers can encounter is uncovering problems with their purchase only after they have moved in. Many defects cannot be detected by sight alone, and require an expert to diagnose the defects. Hidden issues that even the current owner doesn’t know about may lurk beneath the surface, so viewing a property alone may not be enough.

Overall Costs

With so many steps included in the home buying process, purchasing a property can be costly. From conveyancing fees to the mortgage, many expected costs can be taken into account. The challenging part, however, is the unexpected costs that might arise along the way. If emergency repairs are suddenly needed after moving in, often these are difficult to afford and therefore cannot be addressed as well as needed.

What Building Surveyors Do

Building surveyors can be helpful to prospective homebuyers, providing insights into a property's true condition. This helps them to proceed with confidence in their purchase, minimising the risk of unexpected and costly surprises after everything has been finalised. Read on to discover some key ways building surveyors can help home buyers.

Identify Any Structural Issues

Structural problems are often difficult to detect, allowing them to hide beneath the surface while causing further damage or issues. Luckily, building surveyors typically have the knowledge and expertise needed to determine whether a property has any structural problems. In certain types of home surveys, they will also be able to provide expert advice on how to deal with these problems going forward, should you decide to go ahead with the property purchase.

Prevent Unexpected Repair Costs

As mentioned, the costs associated with purchasing a home can be difficult to meet and contend with. To prevent unexpected repair costs from arising after you have purchased the property, a building surveyor may give you an idea of the problems in your property, helping you from there obtain a reasonable estimate on costs from a repair company.

Support Property Buyers with Negotiations

It can be incredibly frustrating to spend a significant amount on a property purchase, only to discover hidden problems that will cost you a large amount. Luckily, a building surveyor can help you make sure the price you are paying for a house is reasonable. The findings of a building surveyor can help you negotiate a new price, for example, or even request repairs to be carried out before the purchase is completed. If the sellers will not agree to those terms, you then also have the opportunity to walk away from a bad investment.

Provide Peace of Mind

Buying a home can be stressful, with its many costs and organisational hurdles standing in the way of you moving into your dream home. If problems arise, often it can make existing stresses much bigger, complicating the process and often making it longer. Luckily, building surveyors can help you to stay one step ahead of problems that could arise, making the process of purchasing the home and moving in as stress-free as possible.

The Key Types of RICS Home Surveys

If you think a home survey could be beneficial for you, you will next need to choose a type. There are several types of RICS home surveys available to choose from, each designed to meet specific needs and provide insight to specific types of properties. Learn about some of the key types of home surveys below, helping you to decide which option is best for you.

Level 1 Home Survey

Previously called a ‘condition report’, an RICS Level 1 Home Survey is designed to describe a property’s overall condition. It will identify any risks and potential legal issues, as well as any defects that must be dealt with urgently. Generally, these surveys are designed for newer properties, where there are unlikely to be any problems beneath the surface. It’s also important to note that while this survey type will help identify issues, it’s unlikely that any advice will be given on how to proceed with them.

Level 2 Home Survey

Perfect for properties that are simple in layout, an RICS Level 2 Home Survey is designed for homes that are in reasonable condition. Including all the features of an RICS Level 1 Home Survey, the RICS Level 2 Survey will give you a more detailed description about the property, and an idea of any repairs you may need to undertake in future. You may also receive a visual inspection of the roof and any visible drainage points with a RICS Level 2 Home Survey, which is not included in the RICS Level 1 Home Survey.

Level 2 Home Survey with a Valuation

Another option you can choose from is the RICS Level 2 Home Survey with an additional valuation of the property. The survey includes all the features of an ordinary RICS Level 2 Home Survey, however, it will also include a market valuation and insurance reinstatement figure.

Level 3 Home Survey

The most comprehensive of all home survey options, the RICS Level 3 Home Survey provides a detailed structural assessment of the property and expert advice on necessary repairs and maintenance. These are great for older and more complex properties in particular, or if you want to carry out major works on the property.

Our Services at AMS Surveys

Here at AMS Surveys, we provide trusted RICS building surveys designed to give homebuyers a full understanding of their chosen property before committing to a purchase. Our team of experienced, RICS chartered surveyors conducts in-depth property condition reports, highlighting any structural issues, defects, or maintenance concerns that could impact you in both the short term and the long term.

We understand that buying a home is a significant financial commitment, which is why our building consultancy experts are here to help you make sure your investment is worth it. Visit the AMS Surveys website today to discover more about our Level 2 Home Surveys and Level 3 Home Surveys. For any further advice and support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly instead.