The Building Survey is the examination and inspection of a commercial building and commercial services in enough depth so as to enable a qualified surveyor to suggest what effect the current condition of the building/services will have on a potential customer/owner. This type of report will be useful for the seller, the buyer, or both. It is a fundamental requirement for new buildings. For existing buildings, it is an important tool for the preparation of proposals and contracts. A good surveyor who is well versed in the principles of property law and keen to impart knowledge of their practice on clients is likely to be preferred over others for the purposes of providing a sound building survey that is comprehensive in nature. It should cover every aspect of the structure and services and the costs involved in doing it.

Image credit

One needs to understand that there are two main aspects of a building survey. One is the simple visual examination of the building in order to find any visible signs of wear and tear such as cracking plaster or leaking fissures. The other aspect is a more in-depth examination of the condition with a view to detecting hidden defects which would affect the future value of the property. Often the defects can only be detected after taking photographs or making calculations of the movements of columns or beams etc during the lifetime of the building. This will be undertaken by a company like Building Survey Manchester professionals Sam Conveyancing.

Image credit

When a building surveyor makes a visual examination of the building they are actually looking for a lot more than mere splashes of paint on the walls or windows. They are looking for evidence of neglect such as cracking and crumbling plaster or leaking roofs. Other indications of neglected conditions are signs of sub-standard ventilation and roof conditions that may be causing excess noise and creating health risks. While these inspections do not reveal all issues which would affect the future saleability of a property they are essential when preparing the property for sale.

This type of inspection is essential to the home buyers before they commit themselves to buy a home. It can also save the buyer’s money in the long run because there are hidden faults that could cause major structural issues in the future. Some sellers try to hide issues such as subsidence due to water leakage underneath the ground. When this problem is discovered, it is often expensive to remedy. This is where the building survey comes into play.

A qualified professional surveyor will carry out the survey professionally without any outside assistance. A qualified professional will ask detailed questions relating to the identified defects which need to be recorded accurately. These questions would identify any issues which need immediate attention and would suggest ways to rectify the defects so as not to devalue your property.