| 1.
The Service. The standard HOMEBUYER Survey & Valuation
Service which is described in Part 2 of these Terms applies
unless an addition to the Service is agreed in writing before
the Inspection. (An example of such an addition is reporting
upon parts which are not normally inspected, such as the opening
of all windows.) |
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| 2.
The Surveyor will be a Chartered Surveyor, who is competent
to survey, value and report upon the Property which is the subject
of these Terms. |
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| 3.
Before the Inspection. The Client will inform the Surveyor
of the agreed price for the Property and of any particular concerns
(such as plans for extension) which he or she may have about
the Property. |
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4.
Terms of payment. The client agrees to pay the fee and any
other charges agreed in writing.
The client will be entitled to cancel this contract by notifying
the Surveyor’s office at any time before the day of the inspection.
The Surveyor will be entitled not to proceed with the provision
of the Service (and will so report promptly to the Client) if,
after arriving at the Property, he concludes: that it is of
a type of construction of which he or she has insufficient specialist
knowledge to be able to provide the Service satisfactorily;
or that it would be in the typical Client’s best interests to
be provided with a Building Survey, plus valuation, rather than
the HOMEBUYER Service. |
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case of cancellation, the Surveyor will refund any money paid
by the Client for the Service, except for expenses reasonably
incurred. In the case of cancellation by the Surveyor, the reason
will be explained to the Client. |
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| 6.
Liability. The Report provided is solely for the use of
the Client and the Client’s professional advisers, and no liability
to anyone else is accepted. Should the Client not act upon specific,
reasonable advice contained in the Report, no responsibility
is accepted for the consequences. |
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A1
The HOMEBUYER Service comprises:
an
Inspection of the Property
a
concise Report based on the Inspection
the
Valuation, which is part of the Report
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A2
The Surveyor’s main objective in the HOMEBUYER Service is to
give Clients considering buying a particular Property the professional
advice which will assist them:
- to
make a reasoned and informed judgement on whether or not
to proceed with the purchase
- to
assess whether or not the Property is a reasonable purchase
at the agreed price
- to
be clear what decisions and actions should be taken before
contracts are exchanged
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| A3
The HOMEBUYER Service therefore covers the general condition
of the Property and particular features which affect its present
value and may affect its future resale. The Report focuses on
what the Surveyor judges to be urgent or significant matters.
Significant matters are those which, typically, in negotiations
over price would be reflected in the amount finally agreed. |
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| B1
The Inspection is a general surface examination of those parts
of the Property which are accessible: in other words, visible
and readily available from examination from ground and floor
levels, without risk of causing damage to the Property or injury
to the Surveyor. Due care is therefore exercised throughout
the Inspection regarding safety, practicality and the constraints
of being a visitor to the Property (which may be occupied).
So furniture, floor coverings and other contents are not moved
or lifted; and no part is forced or laid open to make it accessible. |
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| B2
The services are inspected (except, in the case of flats,
for drainage, lifts and security systems), but the Surveyor
does not test or assess the efficiency of electrical, gas, plumbing,
heating or drainage installations, or compliance with current
regulations, or the internal condition of any chimney, boiler
or other flue. Also, the Surveyor does not research the presence
(or possible consequences) of contamination by any harmful substance.
However, if a problem is suspected in any of these areas, advice
is given on what action should be taken. |
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| B3
Where necessary, parts of the Inspection are made from adjoining
public property. Such equipment as a damp-meter, binoculars
and torch may be used. A ladder is used for hatches and also
for flat roofs not more than three metres above ground level.
Leisure facilities and non-permanent outbuildings (such as pools
and timber sheds) are noted but not examined. In the case of
flats, exterior surfaces of the building containing the Property,
as well as its access areas, are examined in order to assess
their general condition; roof spaces are inspected if there
is a hatch within the flat. |
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C1
The Report provides the Surveyor’s opinion of those matters
which are urgent or significant and need action or evaluation
by the Client before contracts are exchanged. It includes some
or all of the following:
- urgent
repairs (e.g. gas leak; defective chimney stacks) - for
which the Client should obtain quotations where appropriate.
- significant
matters requiring further investigation where essential
(e.g. suspected subsidence) - for which the Client should
obtain (and may have to pay for) reports and quotations
from suitable contractors.
- significant
but not urgent repairs and renewals (e.g. new covering for
flat roof before long).
- other
significant considerations (e.g. some potential source of
inconvenience) which the Surveyor wishes to draw to the
attention of the Client.
- legal
matters (e.g. a possible right of way) which the Client
should instruct the Legal Advisers to include in their inquiries.
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| C2
Matters assessed as not urgent or not significant are outside
the scope of the HOMEBUYER Service and are generally not reported;
however, other matters (such as safety) are reported where the
Surveyor judges this to be helpful and constructive. If a part
or area normally examined is found to be not accessible during
the Inspection, this is reported; if a problem is suspected,
advice is given on what action should be taken. |
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| C3
The Report is in a standard format arranged in the following
sequence: Introduction & Overall Opinion; The Property &
Location; The Building; The Services & Site; Legal &
Other Matters; Summary; Valuation. In the case of leaseholds,
the Report is accompanied by a standard appendix called Leasehold
Properties. |
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| D1
The last section of the Report contains the Surveyor’s opinion
both of the Open Market Value of the Property and of the Reinstatement
Cost, as defined below. |
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| D2
“Open Market Value” is the best price at which the sale
of an interest in property would have been completed unconditionally
for cash consideration on the date of valuation. In arriving
at the opinion of the Open Market Value, the Surveyor also makes
various standard assumptions covering, for example: vacant possession;
tenure and other legal considerations; contamination and hazardous
materials; the condition of uninspected parts; the right to
use mains services; and the exclusion of curtains, carpets,
etc., from the valuation. (If required, details are available
from the Surveyor.) Any additional assumption, or any found
not to apply, is reported. |
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| D3
“Reinstatement Cost” is an estimate for insurance purposes
of the current cost of rebuilding the Property in its present
form, unless otherwise stated. This includes the cost of rebuilding
the garage and permanent outbuildings, site clearance and professional
fees, but excludes VAT (except on fees). |
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| Evening
and weekend inspections can be arranged if necessary, or if
the survey is required urgently. |
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We
will:
- Make
arrangements for the inspection and carry it out with 48
hours of being instructed (Saturday & Sunday excluded).
- Submit
our report within 4 days of the inspection. To report to
you in plain English, without jargon or un-necessary technical
language.
- Let
you know our frank and honest opinion of the condition of
the property.
- Not
recommend further inspections by others (woodworm surveyors,
damp proofing experts, structural engineers, electricians
etc). We consider it our duty to advise you of such
matters, except in exceptional circumstances.
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Monday
to Friday 8.00am – 8.00pm
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Saturday
& Sunday 9.00am – 5.00pm
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ROBERT
WHITE ASSOCIATES (Chartered
Surveyors), Mill Lodge, Mill Crescent
Westerleigh, Bristol BS37 8QS Tel 01454 311426
Fax 01454 327883
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E-mail:
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