Getting a house survey can be both reassuring and scary in equal measure. On the one hand, you know that surveying a prospective new home will flag any problems and help you avoid nasty surprises. Conversely, you could be dismayed at everything that comes up and the required work. Houses and their owners can hide a lot of issues. Here are some that you might uncover.
10 Problems Found In House Surveys
Have you ever wondered what hidden problems lurk in the house you want to make your home? It's best to find out before you buy.
1) Subsidence
Subsidence is similar to structural problems with the house. It can go unseen until it gets bad and the building starts shifting. It's also much easier and cheaper to fix a minor problem than when the house starts cracking and sinking on one side. Having a clearer idea of the state of the property before putting in a final offer can illuminate any serious issues you might inherit.
2) Asbestos
Speaking of unseen things lurking behind walls and ceilings, asbestos is still a threat in many older buildings. Knowing what we know now, it's crazy to think this material was so common. Yet, it turns up in surveys of old buildings, and there is no choice but to bring a professional team to remove it. It's much better for buyers if the current owner handles all that stress and everything is cleared before moving in.
3) Damp and rot
The same can be said for anyone dealing with damp and rot issues in their prospective new home. These issues are easier to detect when there are obvious signs of mold on the walls, dry rot on the timbers, or a worrying odor in the air. These conditions can also be hazardous to an occupant's health, so it's crucial to get them dealt with before moving in. Get the place checked out, have the owner bring in a removal team and some decorators, and know you can move into a safe property.
4) Plumbing issues
There are two typical reasons for a house to have serious problems with dampness and rot. The first is that water comes in from the roof whenever it rains, causing prolonged issues within the building. The other is that there are some plumbing issues that the current owners haven't dealt with. Whether that is through ignorance or negligence doesn't matter at this point. You just need to know exactly where the issues are so they can get fixed. You want to move into somewhere with effective pipes and outlets, no leaks, and no sewage issues.
5) Electrics
Another basic necessity in any new home is safe access to electricity in every room. To ensure complete safety, the wiring should be up to code with effective fuses, grounding, and circuit breakers. It's easy to take it for granted that this is what we'll get when buying a property. Yet, some older homes can be a ticking time bomb. Quality house surveyors will take the time to check out the state of the home's wiring so issues can be resolved before you commit to buying it.
6) Structural issues
This first one is quite broad, but it covers a lot of reasons why home surveyors are important. A property may look great on the outside, and there may not be any obvious issues when looking around the place with an estate agent, but what might the owner be hiding? What's lurking behind the plaster on the walls or in the attic? Structural issues should be resolved before a property is sold and the property valuation determined accordingly. Don't complete a purchase and then discover that the roof is about to cave in.
7) Infestations
For the last of the issues within the property, there's the risk of infestations. A house that's been abandoned or uncared for for long periods may have additional residents of other species. Some of the most common are rodents using the building as a warm place to make their nests and raise their young. There could be mice in the walls and rats in the attic. There may even be insect infestations, such as woodworms in the timbers or hives of bees and wasps. The sooner you know, the sooner you can take care of them.
8) Utility features
Next, you must consider all the potential issues you could encounter when dealing with the property's exterior. You aren't just buying the building; you're buying the land it sits on within its legal boundaries. That means every utility feature within it that runs to and from the house. These relate to issues previously mentioned, such as the wiring, water pipes, drains, and sewers. It helps to know exactly what is under the ground and where in case you, or a utility company, need to access it. Ground surveys can provide a better picture of what's going on.
9) Property Boundaries
Speaking of legal boundaries, there is also the issue of determining the correct property boundaries on your plot of land. These issues can lead to serious disputes with neighbors if you don't have proper notifications about the precise placement of these borders. A fence a few feet on the wrong side could be a nightmare. A survey with a company like Certain Surveyors could show areas wrongfully used by the current owner or areas that haven't been claimed. Either way, knowing this in advance saves a lot of hassle.
10) Burial plots
This last one is a little out of left field, but it's worth considering. The chance of finding a burial plot on a piece of land is slim. We're not talking about old pets under flowerbeds here, although it is also nice to know about those before any major landscaping. Instead, we're talking about the rare occasions where it turns out a property was built on an old cemetery. Do you want to inherit that, and what potential issues might it bring?
The Importance Of Working With Skilled Home Surveyors
While a lot can appear on these surveys, that isn't always bad. The more you know about a property, and the more you can get owners to fix it before finalizing a sale, the better in the long run. You want to be sure of getting a property that's safe to live in with no hidden surprises. Work with a qualified house surveyor as soon as possible so you know exactly what you're dealing with.
