RICS level 2 and 3 Home Surveys & Party Wall Matters

Servicing a 30 mile radius of Colchester

Over 25 years experience

All property types, sizes and age surveyed

Background & Experience

Born and raised in Colchester, my career began with Abbotts, as a Trainee Surveyor in 1982. Following successfully completing various courses at Colchester Institute, I moved on to what is now Anglian Ruskin University where I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Surveying.

The following year I successfully passed the Assessment of Professional Competence of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and was elected as a professional associate member in February 1996. Over the past 25 years, I have concentrated on undertaking residential pre-purchase RICS surveys on properties of all types, sizes, ages and condition within an approximate 30-mile radius of Colchester.

As a Chartered Surveyor, I strive to maintain the highest professional standards expected of me and obtain much of my work through personal recommendation and word of mouth. I pride myself in being thorough and professional, yet easy to deal with and am always happy to offer advice and guidance prior to and following the issue of the report.

I offer informal impartial advice on which of the RICS Home Survey reports would be most suitable for the property in question. I can tailor any report to ensure any specific concerns or issues are fully covered. I am also an RICS Registered Valuer and an experienced Party Wall Surveyor

RICS RESiDENTIAL SURVEYS

For most people, purchasing a property will be the single largest financial commitment they will make during their lifetime and therefore it makes sense to obtain the best professional advice possible prior to purchase. It is however surprising to learn that only around 20% of purchasers commission a pre-purchase survey.

It is however important to select the most appropriate type or level of survey to suit the particular property in question. This will depend on the age of the property, construction type, value and condition. The Mortgage Valuation carried out by lenders is not a survey, and is carried out by or for them primarily to ensure the property is worth what is being paid and whether this would provide adequate security for the loan or mortgage being taken out on it.

For Leasehold properties advice, please click here.

The RICS produce an information sheet on

Helping you choose the right survey

I offer two levels of RICS Home Surveys:

3 Level

RICS Home Survey - Level 3

Formerly known or referred to as a 'building' or ‘structural' survey, this is the most comprehensive report a Chartered Surveyor can produce. This is suitable for all types of property regardless of condition, but is best suited for older properties, those of non- standard construction or those that have known issues.

RICS have produced a ‘Description of the RICS Home Survey Level 3’ which provides further information on the scope of the inspection and content of the report.
Find out more in this document
2 Level

RICS Home Survey Level 2 and RICS Home Survey and Valuation Level 2

This level of survey was introduced for conventionally built, modern properties and is therefore suitable for most properties built after 1850. As the name suggests the report includes a Valuation and Buildings insurance reinstatement estimate.

RICS have produced a ‘Description of the RICS Home Survey Service’ and ‘RICS Homebuyers (Survey and Valuation) service’ information sheets which contain further information on the scope of the inspection and report content.
Find out more in this document

Help to Buy Valuations

‘Help to Buy’ mortgages have become increasingly common over the last few years, however eventually the help to buy element does need to be paid back. As part of this process, it is a requirement for a valuation to be provided from an RICS Registered Valuer. Being an experienced RICS Registered Valuer, who has undertaken RICS compliant Residential Valuations in Colchester and the surrounding area for in excess of 25 years, I am able to provide compliant valuations of this type and have done for a number of years.

If you have sold your property, or are simply paying off the ‘help to buy’ element, I am able to provide compliant valuation reports which can often be emailed within 24 hours of the inspection, or even on the same day. Please call me for a quotation, or should you require further information.

PARTY WALL ETC. ACT 1996

The above came into force in July 1997 and places an obligation upon homeowners to notify or serve Notice on their neighbours of their intention to carry out certain elements of building work that may have an adverse effect upon the condition of their neighbour's property.

The notifiable work falls into three cateories:

Adjacent excavations Section 6

Building on the boundary Section 1

Undertaking works to a shared or Party Wall Section 2

I have extensive experience in dealing with such matters and am often consulted at an early stage by homeowners, contractors, Architects and Surveyors and am able to prepare and serve the required Notices and Party Wall Awards on small, medium and large building projects and have done so for 25 years and Initial verbal advice is normally free of charge.

Insurance reinstatement estimates

Most homeowners will take out Buildings Insurance when first purchasing a property but may not in subsequent years check to ensure that this value is accurate should the worst happen. The reinstatement cost has no relation to the properties market value and is based on the size, type, age and construction type.

As rebuilding costs increase year on year, I am able to produce an up to date reinstatement cost for residential properties of conventional construction using the BCIS (Building Cost Information Service) data to which I subscribe.

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