The term survey covers several meanings which overlap and are often confused.  Banks and Building Societies will ask you to pay for a survey on a house when you are seeking a mortgage, this is primarily for their benefit to establish the value of the property (and therefore how safe their loan is). This is a strictly called a valuation survey. This will only look at the structure of the building to ensure there are no obvious major defects which might have an effect on the building and therefore affect the security of their loan.

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At J G Adair we undertake building surveys for our clients, that is you the buyer and not the lender. This will look at the building in detail and whether there are also likely to be any problems in the future and what the implications of these are. Often small problems over time have major consequences.

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While the cost of an extra survey seems a burden at the time of purchase; it is looking at, and safeguarding, what is likely to be your biggest purchase. The cost is even likely to be less than the cost of a new sofa for the house. Often the cost of an inspection on a second hand car costing a few thousand pounds is several hundred pounds, yet a survey on a house costing hundeds of thousands is only slightly more. Also being alerted to defects may well save you in the offer you make and the price you agree with the seller.

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At J G Adair we have extensive experience of carrying out surveys and inspections to a wide range of commercial, residential, industrial and other buildings. This includes a full building survey, that is carrying out a detailed examination on an existing property and diagnosing any existing or potential defects.

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Inspections can also be carried out on an existing or suspected defect. Advice then be given on the cause with recommendations for remedial action.

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Schedules of Condition can be carried out on all types of property; these record the present condition and construction of the building. We are pleased to carry out these inspections as part of maintenance inspections, at the beginning or end of a lease or prior to construction work on adjoining property (where piling or other on-site activities may cause damage to existing properties).

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Full details on what is covered by a building survey is on the site under ‘The Survey’ and forms the basis of our terms and conditions for this type of work.

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