Building Condition Home Buyer Surveys

Olympic Surveyors are Chartered Building Engineers. Our detailed Building Condition Surveys go above and beyond standard 'Homebuyer' surveys.

When considering purchasing or selling a property, it's essential to have a thorough understanding of its condition to make an informed decision. Many buyers misunderstand the purpose of a "Homebuyer Survey" or "Pre-Purchase Survey," assuming that it provides a comprehensive inspection of the property. However, these reports are primarily intended to assess the property's value and protect the lender in case of mortgage default.

Whether you're buying or selling, our expert team ensures you receive a detailed assessment of the property, including its boundaries and outbuildings (additional costs apply).

The Homebuyer Report is limited to a visual inspection only. This means it highlights only potential issues and gives an estimate of the property's value. It is designed to inform the lender and may miss crucial details that could lead to costly repairs. To cover the surveyor’s liability, you will be advised to seek further inspection or advice.

Olympic Surveyors Building Condition Survey provides a far more in-depth analysis of the property's overall condition.

Why Choose Olympic Surveyors for Your Building Survey?

Our comprehensive Building Condition Survey covers all aspects of a pre-purchase inspection, but in much greater detail. We assess everything from structural movement to damp issues, offering recommendations for necessary repairs and maintenance.

Our report includes:

• Condition Ratings for key parts of the property, using a 1–3 rating system, alongside HS (High Safety) or NI (Not Inspected), to provide you with a clear understanding of what action is needed.
• Visual Documentation: Where necessary, we provide photographic or schematic drawings of areas of concern, so you can see and fully understand any defects or issues.
• Expert Diagnosis: Our surveyors utilise specialist tools and equipment to determine the cause and extent of defects, with recommendations for repairs or further exploratory work (e.g. foundation excavation).

What Is Covered in Your Building Survey?

Our survey process covers the following key areas:

External Inspection

• Roofs, chimneys, and gutters are closely examined, often using drones (subject to weather conditions and legal restrictions).
• External elevations are inspected for structural movement or defects that could cause water ingress, such as defective pointing, cavity tray omissions, or issues around windows and doorways.
• Wall tie inspections using endoscopes to inspect the condition of wall ties within the wall cavity. (This is not undertaken but recommended in a Homebuyer Report.)
• Lower elevations are checked for potential issues with the damp-proof course, blocked wall cavities, and obstructed subfloor ventilation.

Drainage System Check (Where accessible)

• We evaluate rainwater or foul water drainage systems to ensure they are functioning properly, without leaks, waterlogging, or floor and wall flooding.

Sub-Floor Void Inspection (Where accessible and only recommended in a Homebuyer Report)

• Using crawler drones equipped with video and photographic capabilities, we examine the subfloor for flooding, leaking pipes, fungal decay, woodworm, condensation, and blocked subfloor ventilation. These issues are often misdiagnosed as dampness on internal elevations.

Physical Inspection

• If necessary, our surveyors may remove skirting boards (with permission) to check for bridging of the damp-proof course by plaster when moisture readings indicate a potential issue.

Diagnostic Testing (Where permission is granted)

• We may remove plaster or masonry samples for gravimetric testing and chemical salt analysis.
• This testing allows us to distinguish between free and hygroscopic moisture content, helping us accurately pinpoint the cause of dampness.

Services

Electrical Inspection

• A visual inspection of the electrical services will be carried out. Using a socket tester, we check the safety and correct wiring of wall sockets, identifying issues such as reversed or missing connections.

Heating & Hot Water Systems

• We perform a visual inspection of the heating units to verify they are functioning properly and have been serviced.

Ventilation Assessment

• Correct ventilation is crucial to reduce condensation, mould, and ensure a healthy internal environment. We inspect background ventilation, flow rates, and ducting of mechanical ventilation in accordance with Approved Document Part F 2022 – Ventilation.

Why Choose Olympic Surveyors?

At Olympic Surveyors, we pride ourselves on providing detailed, accurate, and thorough building surveys to help our clients make well-informed decisions. Whether you are buying or selling, our survey services offer the comprehensive insights you need to assess the condition of a property and avoid costly surprises down the line.

Contact us today to schedule your Building Condition Survey and ensure peace of mind throughout your property transaction.

Olympic Surveyors: Your Trusted Partner for Building Surveys