Different Types of Residential Building Surveys

Different Types of Residential Building Surveys

When acquiring a new home, it is important to undertake the correct technical due diligence to ensure that the prospective property is suitable for occupation or that a purchaser is aware of all the risks and liability associated with the purchase. There are various types of house surveys which vary in levels of detail and depend on the purchaser’s requirements and complexity of the property being surveyed. 

Snagging Report 

A snagging report is undertaking when acquiring a newly built home. The snagging report will detail any outstanding issues/works which should be resolved by the house builder, prior to or in the months immediately following occupation. 

Snagging reports are only suitable for newly built homes. They may be suitable for homes which have undergone extensive refurbishment or renovation although it is recommended that a more detailed report is undertaken to pick up on pre-existing defects etc. 

Condition Report 

A condition report is the simplest of the various types of house surveys. This type of survey is suitable for relatively modern or newly standard type constructed properties which should have limited defects or have low maintenance requirements. 

The survey report will provide an over on the property’s condition and also include commentary on any risks, potential legal issues and urgent defects which may influence the prospective purchasers’ intentions to buy. 

Homebuyers Survey

A homebuyers survey is a standardised report format which has been developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The report includes of elements as per the condition report summarised above, although it will provide additional detail on the defects which are likely to the affect the property and will also include advice and recommendations on repairs and maintenance requirements. The homebuyers report can also include a market valuation and a reinstatement cost assessment (an estimate of how much it would cost to rebuild the property in the event of damage due to an insured risk), subject to the experience of the building surveyor. 

This type of survey is suitable for relatively standard properties which have been constructed in the last 50 years or so. It may also be suitable for properties up to 100 years, subject to their condition and location. 

Building Survey

A building survey is sometimes referred to as a full structural survey and is the most comprehensive of the various survey types. It will provide detailed analysis of the building’s structural integrity and condition and will also provide recommendations for remedial works. A surveyor can also include budget costs for the likely remedial works listed within the report. 

The report will also provide advice or recommendations on associated legal matters and can be inclusive of a reinstatement cost assessment, and valuation subject to the purchaser’s requirements and the expertise of the instructed surveyor. 

This type of survey is best suited if the property is older (say 50+ years), where the property is of an unusual type or character, where the property may be in a poor standard of repairs, and/or where the property is a renovation project. 

Mortgage Valuation Survey

It is worth noting that a mortgage valuation survey is instructed and undertaken on behalf of a lender. This is a separate instruction/survey to the valuation referred to above. The purpose of a mortgage valuation is to ensure that the property is of sufficient value to enable the lender to loan the value of the mortgage. 

What kind of survey do I need?

The best way to approach this question is to ask yourself what level of detail to you want from the report. If you can afford it, the more detailed surveys will always provide you with the greatest level of information about the building and enable you to make the most informed decision regarding your purchase. A property is often the most expensive investment someone will make so spending a few hundred pounds more on a survey is always recommended if in doubt. 

It is always beneficial to obtain a few competitive quotes for the survey and talk through your requirements with a chartered building surveyor as they will be able to assist with deciding on the most suitable report type. 

How much do they cost?

The cost of a building survey will always be dependent upon the size, complexity and condition of a property and for this reason it is always necessary to obtain a quotation from a charted building surveyor. As a rough guide the following rates can be applied to the three survey types referred to above. 

Snagging Report – £300-£600

Condition Survey – £400-£900

Homebuyers Survey – £450-£1,000

Building Survey – £600-£2,000

At Commercial Building Surveyors, we offer homebuyer surveys in the following locations: Homebuyer Survey Bristol, Homebuyer Survey Cardiff, Homebuyer Survey Birmingham