Why get a property survey?
Survey before you buy
The purchase of a property is usually the single biggest investment a family or individual will ever undertake. Most purchases are made with a mortgage and this means that, with accumulated interest, the cost of that investment increases still further.
The Consumers' Association advise you to get a survey before you buy, and not just rely on a valuation.
Source: The Consumers' Association |
Before making any such purchase it therefore makes sense to have an in-depth knowledge of the property's condition. Buildings are a complex assembly of different materials that may appear structurally sound to the untrained eye yet could harbour structural defects. Invariably, homeowners undertake alterations to extend, modernise or adapt a property, which might include removal of walls or chimney breasts. These alterations can substantially affect the structural stability of the building and if gone undetected may result in considerable expense at a later date.
In relation to the cost of purchase, the survey is therefore a very small price to pay for peace of mind which you may even recover if the survey helps you renegotiate the purchase price.
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