Blog Post

Why You Need a Pre-Purchase Survey

Simon Levy Associates • May 12, 2022

When you are buying a home, it is important to get a pre-purchase survey to ensure the home is safe for you and your family. No matter the age of the home, it can have defects that could cause long term issues. Having a professional surveyor do a building defect diagnosis will help find any issues that may arise and give you peace of mind.

Renovation Errors

When a home is renovated, supports may be removed during the process. Even if it is not load-bearing support, it can still affect how your home settles. Improperly placed beams and pillars can cause uneven settling and your home may not be square due to this.

If the missing support is load-bearing, it is likely a safety issue and needs to be rectified immediately. Poor support and instability are just some of the many issues that can arise from a poor renovation. It’s a great asset to have a professional look over the home.

Dampness and Condensation

Another problem that a pre-purchase survey may find is dampness or condensation. These could lead to mould propagation. Some moulds are dangerous to breathe in and could become a health concern for your family.

Dampness can also cause rot, which affects the structure of your home. The act of hiring a surveyor to look for issues could save you money over time. When you know what the problems are, you can fix them before they become bigger problems. If you leave water issues unresolved, the damage can become severe quite quickly.

Cracking and Distortion

Older homes can be susceptible to damage that may not be noticed by someone who doesn’t know what they are looking for. Even small cracks can be an indication of a bigger problem. Surveyors look for any sort of bulging or distortion in the walls and ceiling that could be a safety issue. A good surveyor will note any problems and give you a list of which ones need to be addressed immediately.

They will also advise you on the ones you need to keep an eye on in the future. Hiring a professional to properly survey your home before you purchase it is an important step in homeownership. Being able to walk into a purchase knowing exactly what issues you will be dealing with is so much better than finding out after the purchase.

You will be able to decide if you want to put the work into this particular home and estimate the cost. If there is more work than you are willing to do or if it will be too expensive, you know this before finalising the purchase.