The Key Types Of Property Survey You Might Not Have Heard Of And Why You Might Need Them

If you work in construction, quality assurance, have had a property developed, or want to purchase a property, you should be familiar with property or quantity surveys.

If you work in construction, quality assurance, have had a property developed, or want to purchase a property, you should be familiar with property or quantity surveys. A survey is an essential step in construction; the UK Govt has provided a specific guide for property surveys that surveyors and clients follow. A property survey is a general term describing different types of surveys combined to retrieve information for construction. This article discusses other types of property surveys that you might be unaware of, which you might need at some point. These fundamental types of property surveys are important for making project decisions.

Building Survey

The quality of a building is an important consideration when buying a property. A building survey describes the inspection, investigation, evaluation, and reporting of the current state and quality of a building. A building survey also describes the structure and design, the type of repairs, maintenance, and the impact a building will have on its owners. Building surveyors may be civil and structural engineers or skilled technicians trained for the job.

There are many reasons for getting a building survey. Getting a building survey provides you with expert and professional advice about a building. It is often easy to admire a building without knowing its true value or current state, but with a building survey, you can get a detailed report about the building and make a fact-driven choice about purchasing it.

Condition Report (RICS)

A condition report (RICS) is the basic unit of property surveys. RICS is an objective and professional report about the current state of a building, providing a not-so-detailed report of the current and potential problems, as well as immediate risks and dangers to occupants. RICS is a tier-one building report less detailed than the tier-two and tier-three reports.

It is often stressful to purchase a property. From searching for a suitable property, and then going around to visit your options, you might be physically tired by the time you find a fit. But you could jeopardise all your efforts if the property has underlying issues you are unaware of, and that's why you need RICS. RICS provides a brief but accurate description of the underlying issues of a property. RICS allows you to make better decisions informed by clear reports.

Homebuyers Report Survey

A homebuyer report survey is a report of the visual non-intrusive inspection of your home. It is a briefer version of the RCIS. The homebuyers survey is performed by a surveyor who simply inspects the visible parts of the property to locate any defects. However, surveyors will not lift boards or floors or remove furniture and decor while surveying. They'll only inspect the visible areas of the home to get a comprehensive report of the home's condition. The survey is reported using a traffic light coding system, where green, yellow, and red mean no action, repairs are required but not urgently, and urgent repairs are needed.

The survey report is briefer and typically less costly than RCIS. Costs depend on the size of the building. The survey allows home evaluation at a glance, and your surveyor should also offer repair and maintenance advice.

Bat Survey

Bats are protected animals in the UK and the EU at large. If you intend to put up or purchase a building or other construction that may impact bats in the area, you'll need to do a bat survey. Professional bat surveys monitor and collect data about the species of bat present in an area and the types and features of their roost. Bat surveys are done according to guidelines set by the Bat Conservation Trust. Bat surveys also help local groups to get more data for their work.

Bats are protected species, and you could be in trouble for disturbing, injuring, or killing them. Bats rely heavily on their roosts, which is why some species have lost over 90% of their population after losing roosts. Bats, roosts, and flight paths are under the government's protection to prevent bats' extinction. You could be in serious trouble if you deliberately harm or kill bats, destroy their roosts or habitat, or disturb them where they seek shelter. You could be in serious trouble. Bat surveys help reduce the risk of harming bats with your buildings and should not be trivialised. If you need a bat survey Lincolnshire service, you should contact batsurveys.co.uk for hassle-free service, same-day quotes, and detailed reports about bats.

Mortgage Survey

A mortgage survey provides accurate information about the market value of a home. The report is required if you buy a home but is given to the mortgage lender. A mortgage survey typically collects information about land boundaries, locations, buildings, natural landmarks, sheds, etc. The survey provides your lender with information attesting to the home's value as suitable collateral and that the home is built as stated in official documents.

If you are unsure as to why you need a mortgage survey, there are two key reasons why one is needed:

• It helps your mortgage lender match your mortgage request with the home's value to ensure that you are paying the right price for the home.
• It helps your mortgage lender determine the mortgage value of the home.

Hiring a Property Surveyor

Property surveyors in the UK can go through four paths but have the same jobs. Higher qualifications may allow surveyors to specialise, but you can hire any qualified property surveyor for your projects. Surveyors are under the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), an independent body that oversees the activities of surveyors. When hiring, ensure that the surveyor is RICS-certified and specialises in the type of service you want. Prioritise communication to get the best service from the surveyor. Discuss the process to know about any extra services or reports you'll need. It helps to hire a local property surveyor that is familiar with the area and can give the best professional advice.