Residential Surveys
Building Surveys
Buying a house is probably the most important investment decision you can make. It is sensible to know the existing condition of a property you intend to buy and of existing or potential defects. A building survey is a comprehensive inspection and report upon a property to give a prospective home purchaser the necessary advice. John Collins Associates can undertake a building survey and provide this advice. Our client will then be in a position to make the right decision.
RICS Homebuyers Reports
This is a more concise inspection and report in a format prepared and published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. A less intense inspection than a building survey is undertaken, but sufficient to give an overall opinion on the state of repair and condition. Major defects will be briefly listed together with recommendation as to further investigations considered appropriate. The RICS format report also includes an open market and fire insurance valuation of the property.
Diagnosis of Building Defects
An important part of our Practice is the detailed investigation and assessment of building defects, proposing and specifying remedies. We are also able to organise and supervise these repair works. Defects may be due to settlement, condensation, dampness or rot. Alternatively, these could be insurable matters, such as damage by subsidence, landslip, defective drains or tree roots.
Mortgage Valuations
We carry out mortgage valuations on behalf of major banks and lending institutions. Valuations involve a brief site inspection and report to assess the security value of a property. A client will often ask us to prepare a mortgage valuation with their structural survey: there is cost saving in this approach.
Structural Engineers’ Reports
Our Structural Engineers are available to inspect and advise on known or suspected structural defects. Such reports are often required for a mortgage lender on the recommendation of a Valuer. For example, the inspection and report may be of a roof structure, which has been recovered in heavier tiles, but without any strengthing works. A report could be required on a leaning wall. It is possible the structural defect could be an insurable matter, such as damage by subsidence or landslip, defective drains or by tree roots and we are able to offer advice on making an insurance claim.
Property Valuations
We provide open market property valuations for purchase, sale, probate and other purposes. Alternatively, a client may wish for a professional assessment as to the proper rebuilding cost of a house or flat for fire insurance purposes.
Property Insurance Claims
Following our structural engineer’s report on structural defects, such as subsidence or tree root damage, we can negotiate your insurance claim for this damage with the insurance company's loss adjuster. Further site investigations may be involved such as the digging of trial holes or collecting soil and tree root samples. Once the claim is agreed, we can specify repairs and organise and oversee these works.