House Survey What Do They Look For

So, you're thinking of buying a house, huh? Exciting times! But before you dive in, you've got to get a house survey. Now, you might be wondering, "What on earth do they look for?" Well, grab a coffee, let's chat about it.

First Things First: What's a House Survey?

Imagine it's like a super thorough check-up for your potential new home. A surveyor comes in, looks at the property with a fine-tooth comb, and tells you if there are any hidden issues. It's like having a friend who's a secret detective, but instead of solving mysteries, they're finding out if your dream home has any skeletons in its closet.

So, What Do They Look For?

Outside: The Great Outdoors

First off, they're going to take a good, long look at the outside of the house. They'll check the walls, the roof, the chimney - basically, anything that's not inside. They're looking for cracks, leaks, damage from weather or pests. Think of it like a doctor checking your skin for moles - they want to make sure nothing's lurking that shouldn't be.

They'll also look at the garden, the driveway, the outbuildings. If it's part of the property, it's fair game. They're even going to check the boundaries to make sure you're not about to buy a house that's half in your neighbor's garden (now that would be awkward!).

Inside: The Grand Tour

Now, they're going inside. They'll check the walls, the floors, the ceilings - basically, anything that's not outside. They're looking for damp, cracks, signs of subsidence. They'll check the plumbing, the electrics, the heating. They're like a detective, but instead of solving murders, they're solving mysteries like "Why is this wall wonky?"

They'll also look at the condition of the fixtures and fittings. That means things like windows, doors, kitchen units, bathrooms. They want to know if they're in good nick or if they're going to need replacing. It's like when you're buying a car and you check the tires - you want to know if they're going to last or if you're going to have to replace them straight away.

House Survey Explained at Amelia Borchert blog

Dingbats and Doohickeys: The Technical Stuff

Now, they're going to get technical. They'll check the drainage, the foundations, the structural integrity of the house. They'll look at the roof timbers, the walls, the floors. They're like a structural engineer, but instead of designing bridges, they're making sure your house isn't going to fall down.

They'll also check for asbestos, which is a big no-no these days. They'll look for signs of woodworm, dry rot, and other nasty surprises. It's like when you're buying a used car and you want to make sure it's not going to break down on you as soon as you drive it off the lot.

But Why Bother?

You might be thinking, "This all sounds like a lot of hassle. Why can't I just move in and deal with any problems later?" Well, sure, you could. But then you might find out your dream home has a leaky roof, or the foundations are dodgy, or there's a whole heap of expensive repairs needed. And that's not fun for anyone.

House Survey Explained at Amelia Borchert blog

A house survey can save you a lot of money and stress in the long run. It's like going to the doctor for a check-up. You might not want to go, but it's better to find out if something's wrong early, before it becomes a big, expensive problem.

So, What Happens Next?

Once the survey is done, you'll get a report. It's like a school report, but instead of telling you how well you're doing in math, it tells you how well your house is doing. It'll list any problems, and tell you how serious they are. Then you can decide what you want to do - whether you want to negotiate the price, ask the seller to fix the problems, or walk away.

And that, my friend, is what a house survey is all about. It's not the most exciting part of buying a house, but it's a really important one. So, grab your hard hat, it's time to go exploring!