Residential Services
London’s Surveyors and Valuers Limited offer a bespoke, personal service in a professional manner.
RESIDENTIAL
VALUATIONS
When you buy a property and need a mortgage, a lender will commission a mortgage valuation. The valuation advises you of the value of the property and of any characteristics of the property including significant defects which might affect its value as security for the proposed loan.
Mortgage Valuation
This is a brief Report prepared for Banks and Building Societies when they are considering giving you a mortgage. It tells them if the property they are planning to lend you money against is worth the price you are paying for it. Because the valuation will not record every defect, it is advisable to obtain a survey report as a valuation is not a detailed report and gives only very limited information on the buildings.
Private Valuation
There are many reasons why you may require an independent valuation as opposed to the one produced specifically for your mortgage lender. You may simply want professional advice on the true value of your home, or you may be a cash buyer wanting to make sure you are paying a fair price. You may also require a valuation when dealing with the following:
- Capital Gains Tax
- Probate/Inheritance Tax
- Matrimonial/division of equity
- Expert Witness (see below)
If you need a valuation for any other purpose, please contact us and we will tailor a report to suit your needs.
RESIDENTIAL
HOMEBUYERS REPORT
A Homebuyers Report covers the inside and outside of the building. It focuses on defects which, in the judgement of the surveyor, are urgent or significant and is usually the report recommended for new builds, flats and terraced properties.
The Homebuyers Report
This is a standard Report produced by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to highlight significant and urgent matters. It is typically understood to be the ‘economy service’.
It is most often used to survey conventional types of home of standard construction, such as houses, flats and bungalows. It is designed to flag up major defects and problems that need urgent or significant attention, because such issues will affect the property’s value.
It is the cost effective choice for the majority of property purchasers. However, for buildings 100 years old or more, or for a more detailed Report, the Building Survey will be more suitable.
RESIDENTIAL
BUILDING SURVEY
A Building Survey is more extensive than a Homebuyers Report and designed for more unusual or older properties. It can also be tailored to suit your specific needs.
The Building Survey
This provides a far more detailed picture of a property’s construction and can be carried out on practically all residential dwellings and is suitable for older or less conventional buildings. This could be because it is very old, it has been built using unusual construction methods, or it is dilapidated. Similarly, it can be very informative if a building has been extensively altered, or if you plan to do so.
The building survey is a longer report, giving more detail than the homebuyers report. For example, the Report may:
- Provide more technical information about the construction and materials used.
- Highlight further minor defects that would not have been noted in the less expensive homebuyers report’.
- Provide more photographs to give you a detailed visual understanding of the state of the building.
- We always include a market valuation in our building surveys
RESIDENTIAL
OTHER SERVICES
We also offer additional services such as Expert Witness Reports, Snagging Reports, and Scheduled of Condition.
Expert Witness Report
We can provide expert advice to be used specifically in a legal case. If you are involved in a dispute relating to property, you may need an expert from the industry to give evidence on your behalf to support your case.
Our Surveyors have acted as Expert Witnesses in court hearings and can prepare reports to be used in legal proceedings.
We can advise you on the strength of your case. We can try and help resolve disputes before they escalate into expensive court action.
Snagging Report
Many people wrongly assume that a new-build residential property will be in a perfect condition and therefore they do not have the property surveyed.
We can inspect the property for you and provide a detailed report highlighting any issues. If this report flags up specific defects, incomplete works or cosmetic problems, you can use this information to argue your point with the building contractors. The Report sets out exactly what you are entitled to expect from them and will help you to ensure that they rectify any problems.
We can also monitor the builders’ progress to make sure they complete a thorough job in bringing any defects up to standard, and re-inspect once they have finished the work.
Residential Testimonials
Read what some of our fantastic clients say about us
”I reviewed the survey with a builder who has been in the business for 20 years. He commented that it was the best-written and most comprehensive survey that he had ever read and was very impressed by the quality of work from London’s Surveyor’s & Valuers.
Jackie DorransPrivate Client
”What a fantastic company! The surveyor did an exceptional job, the report was first class, and the service was amazing. I walked away with a greater understanding and was able to ask any questions I had. I would definitely recommend this company and will use them again in the future.
Rene WilsonPrivate Client
Survey Information
For more information on how our surveys work, please download the file below.
