A survey is a detailed inspection of a property’s condition and should be conducted by a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). A RICS level 3 building survey is the most comprehensive of the residential property surveys available. A RICS level 3 building survey was previously known as a full structural survey and provides a detailed assessment of a property’s condition.
When should you have a level 3 building survey?
Although it can be used for any property it is more appropriate for:
Properties older than 150 years
Listed Buildings
Buildings of unusual construction
Properties bought for renovation
Buildings already subject to renovation or remodelling
What is a level 3 building survey?
A Level 3 full building survey provides a detailed evaluation of the property’s structure and condition. It also includes an estimate of the cost of any necessary repairs. The level of information in this type of building survey will ensure you have a thorough understanding of the condition of what you are buying.
Choosing a surveyor who is regulated by RICS is critical, as they set the guidelines for surveyors. Using a local surveyor is always advisable, so if, for example, you need a surveyor for a home building survey Birmingham visit Sam Conveyancing – they have RICS surveyors throughout England and for a fixed fee you also have the benefit of a Sam team member working with you taking care of every detail. This will ensure that the advice you receive is independent and from appropriately trained professionals.
What is included?
There is no set format for a building survey report as each one will be tailored to the type of property being assessed but typically it will include the following information:
A building inspection
A comprehensive survey report
A property appraisal
All visible and accessible parts of a property will be surveyed including walls, roofs, windows floors, doors, chimneys, cellars, garages, and outbuildings. Surveyors are legally obligated to find and report any issues so they will go to great lengths to discover any defects and potential problems.
The survey can take an entire day and usually a full report will be provided within two weeks. The final report will detail any major or minor problems discovered during the investigation and identify their causes. It may state the consequences of not resolving the issues and suggest further to identify repair costs. A level 3 building survey can cost between £500-£2000 depending on the size of the property, but it could save you thousands of pounds or stop you from buying a property with serious issues.
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