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What else should I know about the HOMEBUYER Service?
This is an economy package. Because of the practical limits on the type of property and on the scope of its coverage, the HOMEBUYER Service is priced mid-range - more expensive than a Mortgage Valuation, but less than a Building Survey.

The surveyor's main objective in providing the Service is to assist the prospective homebuyer to:
  • make a reasoned and informed judgement on whether or not to proceed with the purchase
  • assess whether or not the property is a reasonable purchase at the agreed price
  • be clear what decisions and actions should be taken before contracts are exchanged.

The surveyor also gives his or her professional opinion on the particular features of the property which affect its present value and may affect its future resale.

The concise report covers the building inside and outside, the services and the site. It focuses on the defects and other problems which in the judgement of the surveyor are urgent or significant but it also covers:
  • the general condition and particular features of the property
  • particular points which should be referred to the client's legal advisers
  • other relevant considerations concerning, for example, safety, the location, the environment or perhaps insurance.

Matters which are judged to be not urgent or not significant are in general not included in the report, but the surveyor will mention matters judged to be both helpful and constructive.

Where the client has a particular concern - perhaps whether the property is suitable for a disabled person - the surveyor will keep this in mind during the inspection. Or, a specific addition to the Service - perhaps to the standard inspection - may be agreed between client and surveyor.

Where necessary, the surveyor may also be able to provide some extra service which is outside the scope of the standard package - perhaps providing a schedule of minor defects (for later discussion with a contractor), or arranging for the testing of mains services by suitably qualified specialists.

Where the client should take some action before deciding to proceed with the purchase, this is signalled clearly in the text of the report and included in the summary of action and other key considerations.

HOMEBUYER Survey & Valuation compared with Building Survey



HOMEBUYER Survey & Valuation

Building Survey

Type of property

 Conventional houses, flats, bungalows, etc., in apparently reasonable condition Any residential or other property, in any condition

Type of service

 Economy package in standard form Custom-made to client's individual needs

Objects of service

 To assist client to:
  1. make an informed judgement on whether or not to proceed;
  2. decide whether or not property is a reasonable purchase at agreed price; and
  3. assess urgent and significant matters before exchanging contracts
 To provide client with:
  1. assessment of construction / condition of property; and
  2. technical advice on problems and on remedial works

Special features

 Focus on urgent and significant matters Details of construction / materials / defects

Valuation

 Integral part of HOMEBUYER Service Provided as an agreed extra
Compact, fixed RICS format Usually much longer, in surveyor's format
© copyright RH BENWELL & ASSOCIATES 2004