Home Condition Survey (HCS)

Houses can be money pits and buying a house is a major investment, so the home buyer really needs to be able to make an informed decision. This is where the Home Condition Survey (HCS) comes in.

Why should I get a survey?

In an investigation by Which? most people view their home twice before moving in. However, one in 20 doesn’t view their home at all. Overall, 40 per cent of people identified a problem while viewing their home – most often minor problems such as damaged wood or paintwork.
Even so, if you do spot a problem it could be a valuable bargaining tool – 41 per cent of those who spotted a problem themselves negotiated a reduction in the asking price and 10 per cent ensured that the problem was corrected.

Getting a survey

A survey is vital as there are some problems you just can’t confirm for yourself. Even if you suspect damp or subsidence, only a surveyor can tell you for sure.
In research carried out by Which? more than a fifth of buyers said that the survey uncovered problems they hadn’t spotted themselves. Of those whose survey uncovered a problem, 44 per cent negotiated money off and a further 10 per cent ensured the problem was corrected.

Finding problems later

A quarter of people found a problem with their house after they’d moved in.
Almost a third of people said they’d missed a problem because it hadn’t occurred to them to look, while a quarter felt that problems had been hidden from them.

What it cost

It was reported that those who missed problems spent an average of £2,500 putting them right. One in ten spent more than £10,000.

Neil Fowler, Editor, Which?, says:

“When viewing a new home, try not to let your heart rule your head and treat it as a building that needs inspecting. If you do spot faults, don’t be put off buying, but at least get a professional opinion, and use this to renegotiate the price - you could save yourself thousands of pounds.”

The HCS is a clear, concise and jargon free report on the condition of a domestic property. The surveyor gives a cost effective service and will inspect and report on the property quickly, allowing the home buyer to make a speedy and informed decision.

Delivered by specially trained and fully accredited residential property surveyors, the HCS gives the buyer a plain English, jargon-free report on the condition of the property using a simple 1.2.3 rating guide. This makes it easy to understand and prevents any risks or unforeseen expenditure that could crop up.

The HCS tells the buyer about any aspects of the property that need urgent attention or which present serious faults, as well as any longer term repairs that a home owner might have to plan for. The images below show all elements that are inspected.

An example Home Condition Survey can be downloaded by clicking on the Survey icon below.

The HCS can only be produced by fully qualified and accredited members of SAVA –an organisation which trains and accredits the work of surveyors. Homebuyers can be assured of a comprehensive report produced by a professional, trustworthy individual.

The aim of the HCS is to make the home survey process quicker, easier and more cost-effective for homebuyers – something that is now more important than ever.

Click on the Link for a Home Condition Survey Fee quote