Charters-Reid & Associates Ltd. - Chartered Surveyors

People often have questions about the surveying process and what it entails; here we hope to address some of those here in answering some of the most frequently asked questions.

1. Do I need to go with my existing bank or building society to have a survey?
No, you are entitled to obtain your own independent survey. Furthermore in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors you are entitled to ask the bank or building society what percentage of the fee the surveyor receives. Some lending institutions charge an administration fee.

2. Do I need a survey prior to selling my property?
At the moment, in theory, you don’t need to have a survey undertaken when selling your property. However the Government are attempting to introduce legislation whereby it will be the vendor’s responsibility to have the survey undertaken on their property. Vendor’s surveys will form part of the Home Condition Report. There is some speculation that at present surveys carried out prior to this legislation could be useful on all properties when the vendor’s survey is introduced.

3. “I have had a valuation and I don’t need a survey.”
A valuation is a certificate to certify that the property is suitable for normal lending purposes. It also determines the market value of the property. In many cases an independent survey from Charters-Reid & Associates Ltd is cost effective when you compare it to the price of a valuation. In fact a majority of our surveys will contain a valuation.

4. The property I am buying is only a few years old, why do I need a survey?
The purpose and need of a survey is to identify any defects in a property which may have an adverse effect on the value. Furthermore the survey offers advice on any defects which might be a potential problem in the future. As an organisation we are amazed by the number of house buyers who never commission a survey. In comparison, who would buy a second hand car without an MOT.

5. What do the different surveys contain?
Please see the different types of survey on our Survey Selector web page.

6. None of the surveys you offer meet our requirements. Do you undertake bespoke surveys?
Yes, we undertake bespoke surveys subject to a Letter of Instruction from the client. Please contact our office for more details.