Chawton Hill Chartered Surveyors

About

Building surveys are a very competitive market – for example just Google ‘building surveyor in Surrey’ and you will return nearly 400,000 results!

So why trust the structural condition of your next property to Chawton Hill, after all aren’t all RICS accredited surveyors the same? Surely it’s about saving as much money as possible? A HomeBuyers report is much cheaper and covers the same areas doesn’t it?

To explain the last point both a Homebuyers report and a Building Survey will describe the construction of a property and highlight any problems that require attention or may prove hazardous. They will both help you decide if any further specialist advice is required and help you understand the outline costs for any repairs. However only a Building Survey will;

establish how the property is built, what materials are used and how these will perform in the future

describe the visual defects plus expose potential problems posed by hidden defects

outline the repair options and give you a repair timeline whilst outlining the consequences of not acting

include a much more thorough inspection and consideration of the roof space, services, ground floors any outbuildings

We occasionally hear clients comment that £600+ for a building survey sounds expensive and its only when we point out the following that they see the real value of what is a fairly small investment compared to the final property price;

RICS research shows the average cost of unexpected repairs to a property can be anywhere between £5,000 and £12,000. Compare this to a £600+ investment in a building survey to fully understand any potential issues & it seems a small price for piece of mind and valuable knowledge to approach the seller about a possible discount on the asking price.

Our building survey report includes a costed section detailing a budget figure for any necessary repairs. Again this is very useful when considering the short and medium term costs of buying a new property.
As we look at the structural design and condition of the property, we can assess the potential for alterations and improvements. Our free walk around at the end of the survey is an ideal time to discuss these and seek professional advice on what is possible.

As we also have years of experience in extension planning, building approval and project management, we can help turn any plans you may have into reality.

Our RICS qualified surveyors know the wide range of property stock in and around Surrey. We have probably surveyed a nearby house and we understand the locational issues which might affect your property. We also know the areas amenities, so if you are new to an area we can advise on the surrounding location.

The building survey fee not only covers the 2 to 4 hours we spend looking at and testing where appropriate every part of the property but also;

the full administration of arranging the survey with agents/owners

a free walk around for you to discuss the property with your surveyor

a verbal summary of the main findings within 24 hours

a full written report including a complete photographic schedule within 3 working days

full access to your surveyor throughout to ask any questions via email and/or phone

a invoice that you only pay once you are happy with all of the report details

Of course many home buyers start on a programme of improvements once they have moved in and we have the experience and team to help deliver these developments. We offer a wide range of property improvement services including;

Planning Permission (for any planned extension / conversion works)

Building Regulation approval (again for any planned extension / conversion works)

Party Wall Award (again for any planned extension / conversion works)

Boundary Surveys

If you are looking at a new Surrey property this year, why not ask for a quote and we will will get back to you straightaway. We hope you will agree that a few hundred pounds for complete piece of mind doesn’t seem quite so much now you know what’s involved.

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