Which Property Survey? We’ll Help You Choose in Leicester

What is a property survey?

There are three main types of property surveys that are available to you. We have put together a short guide outlined with a general look at which property survey would be a more suitable option for you.

As a First-Time Buyer in Leicester, your next step after being accepted for your offer on a property is to arrange a survey to establish the sort of condition that the property is in as well as the value of it, as this will give the lender confidence that it is worth what you are paying for it.

If anything of concern is found on the survey, you are then in a position by law to approach the seller and negotiate a price for the work that will be required to rectify it.

Choosing the right survey in Leicester

Here’s a short video from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) that explains the different types available to you.

Property Survey Types in Leicester

There are 3 main types of property survey available to you in Leicester:

1. Mortgage Valuation
2. Homebuyers Report
3. Full Structural Survey

Mortgage Valuation

A fundamental valuation will be the cheapest option for a property survey, and you will be required to have one of these before you are able to receive your mortgage offer. This is not to be confused with a full survey. The mortgage valuation confirms to the lender that the property is worth the amount they are going to be lending you.

Your mortgage lender may even offer you a free fundamental valuation as part of your mortgage deal. A Mortgage Valuation will not highlight any repairs that are needed, though it may still point out any apparent defects and recommend that you take a closer look at them yourself.

Homebuyers Report

A Homebuyers report will cover structural safety and highlight any apparent problems for you, including damp, as well as anything that doesn’t meet current building regulations. This kind of survey will give you an independent report of your property by an expert in surveying.

It’s important to make sure you aren’t paying for two surveys as well. It is advisable to ask the mortgage lenders surveyor to carry out this report on your behalf – it will usually take a couple of hours for the surveyor to complete.

Full Structural Survey

A Full Structural Survey is a survey type more advisable for older properties and those of non-standard construction. Depending on how large and the type of the property in question is, a full structural survey can take up to a full day to complete.

A full structural survey provides a detailed report on the current state of the property and highlights any issues that should absolutely looked into prior to going ahead with the purchase, providing you with peace of mind about the general condition of your potential new home.

You can find a surveyor to carry out a Homebuyers report or building survey through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.