Our services
RJ Building Surveyors provide Home Surveys throughout the Yorkshire region. We are also available to travel further afield should our clients require.
RICS Home Survey Level 2
The RICS Home Survey Level 2 (formerly known as the Homebuyer Report) provides a detailed overview of the property's condition so that buyers can make a reasoned and informed decision on whether to proceed with their purchase.
The report is straightforward to follow, but it is not tailored to individual cases. The RICS Home Survey Level 2 is suitable for most buildings of standard construction, flats, bungalows and houses built after 1930. You may have a building which is older than 1930, listed or of non-standard construction, if so, the RICS Level 3 Building Survey will be more appropriate. If you are unsure what year or type or building you are buying then please do give us a call to discuss further. Our advice is free and you will not receive a sales pitch from our team. We are happy to help.
RICS Level 3 Building Survey
The RICS Home Survey Level 3 (formerly known as a full structural report)is the most detailed and in-depth type of survey. This type of survey gives an in-depth analysis of the properties condition
The report will detail you the types and costs of repairs that are needed and what property maintenance measures will be required. In addition, it provides guidance on environmental hazards and highlights issues that your legal advisor should look into. The information will be in-depth and tailored to the property type and your needs. Industry guidelines recommend this type of survey if your property is large, old, has some disrepair or has unusual features. Guidelines also recommend Full Building Surveys if you plan to do any significant renovations or extension.
Full building surveys provide bespoke, thorough guidance on build type, condition, structural integrity and maintenance issues. We will provide a comprehensive inspection of the property. Wherever possible, we will look over the entire property, including the attic, cellar, under loose carpets and behind furniture. Everything that can be looked at, will be looked at.
Specific defect report
Concerned about building defects? Our expert team provides comprehensive building defect inspections and reports for both residential and commercial properties. We identify defects such as cracks, leaks, and structural issues, and provide detailed reports to help you take the necessary steps to fix them.
Specific Defect Surveys are suitable if you believe that the rest of the property is sound, but you have concerns about one aspect.
For those purchasing or leasing a property, a Specific Defect Report can provide a more detailed analysis of a problem than a RICS Level 2 Home Survey, but is more cost effective than a RICS Level 3 Home Survey of the whole property.
The issues of concern may arise from a client’s viewing, such as a damp patch; from issues raised in a mortgage valuation report, such as the adequacy of alterations; or perhaps from an environmental search highlighting that the property is in an area of high risk for structural ground movement.
On the other side of the property transaction, vendors and commercial landlords can find it useful to have a Specific Defect Report on issues raised in a survey by a purchaser or prospective tenant. This can be a useful second opinion.
Either way, the detail can allay fears or enable a confident and fair re-negotiation.
Specific Defect Reports are also useful in situations other than pre-purchase and pre-lease.
A property owner may have concerns about issues that have arisen and will simply want peace of mind, for example advice on some cracking before embarking on a decoration project.
Valuations
There are numerous reasons why a valuation by a RICS Surveyor which provides impartial and non-biased confirmation of a property’s value might be required.
A RICS Surveyor’s valuation is different to an estate agent’s valuation; the purpose of an estate agent’s valuation is to obtain an instruction to sell the property in question and this often influences the valuation figure whereas a RICS Surveyor is obliged to provide properly researched, objective and impartial valuation advice.
All our market valuations are undertaken by RICS accredited Surveyors who are also Registered Valuers under RICS Valuation Professional Standards (also known as the RICS Red Book).
We offer the following Valuations:
PROBATE
Where a family member has passed away their property may need to be valued for the purpose of calculating the estate’s Inheritance Tax liability. The valuation must be prepared in accordance with the ‘RICS Valuation – Professional Standards (the Red Book)’, under the proper statutory definition of market value and in the proper format to stand up to any scrutiny from the District Valuer.
SHARED OWNERSHIP
Where a property is in shared ownership or was purchased under one of the Government loan schemes a valuation will be required when the owner wants to sell or buy additional equity in the property (often called staircasing). The valuation will be prepared under the ‘RICS Valuation – Professional Standards (the Red Book)’ and in accordance with any requirements of the Housing Association or scheme provider.
HELP TO BUY
This government scheme allows buyers to get a loan worth 40% of a property’s value which allows them to take out a 5% mortgage on the remaining 60%. This will need to be repaid when the property is sold at which point an RICS valuation is often required.
PRIVATE SALE
If you selling on the open market, you have a whole market of possible buyers. When you are selling your property privately, determining what it should be sold for is not something you want to leave to an Estate Agent. You will need a surveyor to determine an impartial value.
COMMERCIAL Building SURVEYS
A Commercial Building Survey is a detailed review and report based upon a close examination of the structure and condition of the building and undertake a visual examination of the services.
The survey focuses on all aspects of the building including the external fabric, structure, services installations, finishing's and fittings and external areas and outbuildings.
The report is suitable for pre-purchase, during occupation or prior to entering into a new leasehold agreement.