If the vendor (seller of the property) is at home when the surveyor inspects then we are likely to ask questions about the property to understand factors that may not be easily determined from a visual inspection, or to save time and make the inspection more efficient.
Typical questions a surveyor may ask will include some of the following:
- If you know the history of the property? – Although usually not crucial it is useful and often interesting to understand the exact date the building was constructed and its original purpose, along with any other significant factors. Quite often vendors will not know the early history of their property, which is not a problem. For more modern buildings such questions are unlikely to be asked.
- If the property has been altered and if so when these alterations were carried out? – Although this can usually be ascertained by a visual inspection of the property it is useful for the surveyor to fully understand the original layout and arrangement of the property and when subsequent alterations were undertaken. Such information is provided in the survey report and this helps the buyers Legal Adviser with their enquiries.
- If any significant repair works have been undertaken to the property and if guarantees for the works are available? – Often structural repair works, such as underpinning following subsidence, are not apparent from a visual inspection. Legally vendors must declare whether such repairs have taken place in the past and this will allow the surveyor to provide the buyer with appropriate advice.
- If an asbestos survey of the property has been carried out? – An asbestos survey is not carried out by the surveyor, however they will note in the report the presence of any visible and accessible materials which they suspect may contain asbestos. Asbestos can be found in hidden and inaccessible areas, for example beneath carpets and behind plaster finishes, which are not removed during a typical home buyer or building survey inspection.
- If the property has been affected by flooding in the past? – Any past issues of flooding may not be immediately apparent if adequate repairs have been undertaken. Legally the vendor should advise whether such issues have occurred, as this may have an impact on building insurance.
- If any invasive plants have been found within the grounds of the property such as Japanese knotweed? – The presence of such plants can affect mortgageability if present and untreated. The surveyor will carry out a visual inspection of the grounds for invasive plants. However, the presence of such vegetation can be difficult to identify during its early growth cycle, or during the winter months when such plants die back. Furthermore, where the plants are concealed in dense vegetation or deliberately concealed by property owners, they may not be visible during the inspection. Enquiries of the vendor are therefore important in this respect.
- Is the property currently affected by any neighbourly or boundary disputes? – Without speaking to the neighbours, which is not normal practice, the surveyor is unable to determine if there are any disputes. Such information is useful for the buyers Legal Adviser to follow up on.
- It is also useful to know the location of services to the property such as the internal water stop valve, the gas and electricity meters etc. – These are often difficult to locate without searching through a variety of cupboards etc. For example, stop valves are often located in hidden areas, such as beneath floorboards or access hatches. Information from the vendor is therefore very helpful and saves time searching around.
- Decluttering the cupboards in which hot water cylinders, boilers, stop valves, etc are located.
- Clearing and enabling access into any roof spaces.
- Making available keys to windows and door locks.
- Arranging for the central heating and radiators to be turned on at some point during the survey.
