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Pre-purchase Building Surveys by surveyorsinfrance.com
What is a survey inspection?
Survey inspections are described in different ways by different people. Some refer to them as a 'full structural survey', a 'full building survey', 'structural survey' or 'building survey'. The term 'Homebuyer Survey' is also used.
UK banks and mortgage companies insist on a 'valuation survey' which is basically for the bank/mortgage company to check that the property exists and appears to be in a good enough condition for them to repossess it if needs be. They are frequently not done by a Chartered Building Surveyor.
Scroll down for more information about the different types of survey.
What is a surveyorsinfrance.com survey inspection?
We have tried to simplify things and to remove any confusion.
For those of you who are looking for a pre-purchase building survey inspection and report, there is simply one type of building survey inspection - a thorough one, all that varies is how we report our inspection findings to you.
What does a surveyorsinfrance.com survey inspection cover?
Our inspections cover structural matters, maintenance issues and any items that may affect the health and safety of those in and near to the building/s. We send full details to you our clients of what is included in a pre-purchase building survey inspection when we send to you your fixed price Personal Fee Proposal.
What kind of surveyorsinfrance.com reports are available?
After your chosen property has been inspected, we can report to you in various ways to suit your budget and requirements. The report options available to you are...
- A Verbal Report
- A Bullet Point Report
- A Full Written Report
- Any combination of the above to suit your budget and requirements.
Regardless of which kind of report you decide on, the inspection of your intended purchase is the same thorough survey, undertaken by an experienced Chartered Building Surveyor (to understand the difference between a 'Chartered Surveyor' and 'Chartered Building Surveyor' - Click here.
Surveys can usually be carried out at short notice if you have a particular deadline to meet, such as the 7 day cooling off period after signing the first purchase document (which is standard in all French property purchases).
Once the inspection has been carried out you can usually telephone your surveyor for a same day verbal report, with a written report following on and emailed to you later.
To obtain your no obligation, fixed price Personal Fee Proposal for your pre-purchase survey, click here.
More information about surveyorsinfrance.com reports, just scroll down.
A surveyorsinfrance.com Verbal Report
Ideal for those of you who are wishing to know the major defects and problem areas of a property for the minimum of cost. Some clients use this type of report narrow down their choice from a short list of a number of properties.
A decision as to which property they prefer based upon their building surveyor's verbal report can then be made and followed up with either a Bullet Point Report or Full Written Report being produced if needed so that there is a formal record of the inspection findings.
A surveyorsinfrance.com Bullet Point Report
Simply lists in writing, as bullet points, the significant defects found during the pre-purchase building survey inspection.
It does not describe the causes of the building defects in any detail nor does it prioritise remedial works etc that may be considered necessary by the Chartered Building Surveyor.
It is a format of report that is most suitable for those who have a good understanding of building structures and construction and those who are generally familiar with building maintenance and renovation techniques. Our engineering, building contractor and architect clients typically chose this report option.
A surveyorsinfrance.com Full Written Report
A surveyorsinfrance.com Full Written Report - will provide you with a description of the defects found, our opinion of the causes of the defect and broadly speaking what you need to do to solve the problems. Remedial works are prioritised into basic categories.
It comprises three or four sections, the first being a general text report on the property and any defects found, the second and possibly third being a series of digital photographs each with some descriptive text and a final document being a set of Appendices containing further explanatory information.
Some of our clients have found that mortgage lenders will demand a full written report. If applicable, you should verify this before choosing which report option you ask us to produce for you.
In what is language is a surveyorsinfrance.com report written?
Reports are in English but written translations can be provided (at additional cost) into various languages such as French, German, Dutch and Russian.
Some information about other kinds of surveys
Valuation Surveys
Valuation Surveys - are usually instructed by a lending institution and therefore it must be remembered that they are NOT commissioned for the benefit of the purchaser - it is undertaken for the lending institution because there is to be mortgage on the property. It is basically to establish that the lender's risk is reasonably secure in the event of the borrower defaulting on the loan.
This limited 'check' normally works out the property's value and pinpoints only the really obvious major factors that may affect the mortgage offer. Often this type of 'check' is not even done by a Chartered Building Surveyor and they can not be considered as a substitute for a thorough inspection.
You may be sent a copy of the report but inherent defects, high maintenance cost items, structural problems and non-compliance with health and safety issues that could be critical, but don't concern the mortgage lender, won't appear in the report. As a side note, a mortgage valuation is not the same as an estate agent's valuation.
Your surveyorsinfrance.com report will not give a valuation for the property. Because we are completely independent of any estate agents (immobiliers) and we do not sell properties, we do not have access to a reliable database of information concerning the actual prices of recent French property transactions. Such transaction information is essential to be able to value a residential property.
Your Chartered Building Surveyor can, of course, discuss his/her personal opinions on value. However, these opinions must be considered informal and should not be relied upon as legally binding in any way. If you require such a valuation, an independent specialist valuation should be commissioned from the Notaire involved in the transaction.
Structural Surveys
Structural Surveys - by strict definition a Structural Survey only looks at issues pertinent to the structure of the building. Such a survey inspection would not include scrutiny for issues such as rising damp, the presence of asbestos, etc and would provide little information about how safe and habitable a property is - but you would know it was not going to collapse!.
This type of survey inspection is appropriate where extensive remodelling of the property is intended. A process sometimes referred to as a 'complete strip out' or 'gutting' of the building.
At surveyorsinfrance.com we are able to provide this type of survey inspection should you so require. Contact us with your details and requirements and we will be able to tailor a Personal Fee Proposal accordingly.
A Homebuyer Survey and Report
A Homebuyer Survey and Report - is a service carried out by a surveyor (often not a Chartered Building Surveyor) to a standard format devised by the RICS for the UK residential property market.
It is primarily designed for conventional, 'run of the mill' more modern properties in reasonable condition. It is not suitable for older properties that may have unique features or those that are extensively dilapidated and/or are in need of renovation, alterations, or extension. In our opinion, it is not an appropriate format for the French residential property market.
Please be aware that just because a surveyor uses this prescribed RICS format, it does not mean that he/she is a Chartered Building Surveyor.
What is a Full Building Survey?
This is we feel a more appropriate description of what most of our clients are looking for at the pre-purchase stage but it is still very much open to interpretation and this is why at surveyorsinfrance.com when we send out a Personal Fee Proposal for a pre-purchase building survey/inspection and report we include a schedule that sets out what we do (and do not) include within the inspection.
Pre-purchase building surveys by surveyorsinfrance.com...
To obtain your no obligation, fixed price Personal Fee Proposal for your pre-purchase survey, click here.