1. Q. I already have a mortgage valuation report. Why do I need another survey?
A. A mortgage valuation report is not a survey. It is prepared for the lender, not for you and it is intended to advise them whether the advance is secure.
2. Q. Are you able to provide a report for me personally at the time you prepare a lenders report for mortgage?
A. Yes, we can normally combine the mortgage valuation report with a private survey and save you some costs.
3. Q. What's the difference between a Building Survey and a Homebuyer Survey and Valuation?
A. A Building Survey is far more detailed and gives a comprehensive report on the property's condition and an estimated cost of remedial works recommended. A Homebuyers Survey and Valuation is an economic report suitable for properties of traditional construction built after 1875. (for an easy to follow guide and a table comparing the different surveys go to 'Which Survey').
4. Q. The property I want surveyed is old and of non-standard construction and not suitable for a Homebuyers Survey and Valuation. I don't want to incur the cost of a full Building Survey, is there an alternative?
A. Yes, we can prepare a Limited Building Survey Report, tailormade to your requirements. It can focus on certain elements of the building, say the structural walls, roof and floors, or it can report upon one type of fault, say structural movement. This type of report is ideal if you are happy with the overall condition of the property, but concerned with one aspect ( go to 'Which Survey')
5. Q. I understand that a Homebuyers Report and Valuation is an economic service which is not as detailed as a Building Survey, but I am particularly concerned with one aspect of the property, can you help?
A. Yes, it is normally possible to provide an agreed addition to the Homebuyers Report and Valuation. This is incorporated into the main body of the report. It normally involves an additional fee.
6. Q. I'm planning to convert or extend the property I want to purchase. Will your survey offer any advice on the feasibility of the conversion/extension?
A. Yes, we can normally incorporate this within the report, provided you tell us in advance of our inspection. In the case of a Homebuyers Report. This is an extra service which will be in the form of an accompanying letter. There is normally an additional charge for this service.
7. Q. I am buying a new property, do I really need a survey?
A. Your property should have been built according to Building Regulation requirements and may incorporate a 10-year warranty. These standards are helpful but they are not comprehensive and often do not cover the quality of construction, legal aspects, its value or insurance reinstatement cost. A private survey, tailored to your requirements, can give you all this information and peace of mind.
8. Q. There is an increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and other green issues. Does your survey cover this aspect of a property?
A. In most cases yes, both the Homebuyers Report and Valuation and the Building Survey style of report include comments on insulation and energy efficiency. Where an Energy Performance Certificate has been produced we can give advice on this. If you are particularly concerned about this issue, then please contact us so that we can discuss your specific requirements.
9. Q. I am buying a period property. Will this require a specialist survey?
A. A Building Survey would be suitable. A Homebuyers Report and Valuation is not satisfactory for this style of property. Where you don't wish to pay for the detailed information in a Building Survey Report, then we can agree a Limited Building Survey style of Report which will focus on specific elements of the construction. A specialist surveyor able to undertake this form of Report can discuss with you your particular requirements.
10. Q. I am particularly concerned that the central heating and other services are safe and operating correctly. Can you include comment upon these within your Survey Report?
A. No, these are areas where specialists' reports are necessary. Our inspection is limited to brief observations. We do not run services and cannot report upon their safety, efficiency or overall condition. If you are concerned about the condition of services we recommend you obtain a specialist report; we can arrange this for you. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
11. Q. Do all firms of Surveyors offer the same standard of service?
A. No, Surveyors specialise in different branches of the profession. You should take care when choosing a firm of Surveyors that they have expertise in the field you require. At Pearcy Blackman, we have Surveyors who specialise in various fields.
12. Q. Is it important to use a local Surveyor?
A. Yes, only a local Surveyor has the knowledge necessary to report fully upon your property.
13. Q. How do I instruct you to proceed?
A. There are various ways. You could follow the links to 'obtain a quote' on this website and we will contact you. Alternatively, you can contact us by the methods on the 'Contact us' page. We are happy to discuss the appropriate service which suits you without obligation. Once you have settled on a suitable report, we will write to you to confirm this. This will normally include our fee invoice. We require a copy of the letter to be signed by you and returned to us before we undertake the inspection of the property. Once you have signed and returned the copy letter there is a binding contract between us, for us to provide the service and for you to pay our agreed fee.
14. Q. How are your fees for these services calculated?
A. Our fees are normally calculated on a time basis, but we recognise that you normally require an idea of our likely charge before you commit yourself. We can normally quote a fee in advance if you know the property's age, type and value.
15. Q. How do I settle your fee account?
A. We will normally send you a fee account at the time we confirm your instructions and the service we are to provide. You can then send us a cheque or pay by credit/debit card over the phone. Once we have agreed the service to be provided with you, and you have signed and returned the copy letter, we will proceed with our inspection, whether or not you have paid our bill. At that time, it is a binding contract between us and we expect settlement of our fee account within 14 days from the invoice date.
16. Q. Do you require settlement of the fee account before releasing the report?
A. Yes, In most cases the Report will be sent to you after we have received payment. However remember that you are committed to pay for the service once you have signed and returned the copy letter confirming the service we are providing to you.
17. Q. The Survey you provided for me is now of no use to me because the sale has fallen through. Can you help me?
A. Once you have signed and returned the copy letter confirming you require the report you are committed to pay our fee account. However, if the property has been put back on the market it is possible that another purchaser would require a Survey Report and we can often make arrangements to sell on the report for you. Please contact us to discuss this.
18. Q. Do you discuss the contents of my report with the estate agents, sellers or other parties?
A. No, the report is private and confidential to yourself. However, where we find a current hazard in the property, likely to cause harm to the occupants, we do have a policy of warning them of the risks.
19. Q. Can others rely on my report?
A. No, the report is personal to yourself. Nonetheless, where you are no longer in a transaction to purchase or rent the property, it may be possible to sell on the report to another party. Please contact us to discuss this.
20. Q. Can I forward copies of the report to any other party?
A. Yes, at your request we will forward copies of the report to your solicitor, the estate agent or any other party you wish.
21. Q. Are you able to give us an initial verbal report?
A. Yes. We are happy to discuss our findings with you. It is important that you do not commit yourself however until you have read the full written report.
22. Q. Are you able to provide assistance in undertaking any repairs or alterations to the property?
A. Yes, we will be happy to discuss your particular requirements and advise you generally whether these are feasible. We have a list of suitable contractors.
23. Q. Are you able to provide reports on commercial properties?
A. Yes we can report on most types of commercial properties, including going concerns.
24. Q. I am happy with the condition of the property but just need to know that I am not paying too much for it. Can you help me?
A. Yes, we can provide a Valuation Report only. This report focuses on the value and saleability of the property, rather than its condition.
25. Q. Are there any restrictions or conditions to the type of service you can provide?
A. Yes, it is not normally possible to remove carpets, furniture or to open up construction in order to provide a comprehensive report upon the condition. As a result there are limitations to our inspection and report. These will be sent to you in the form of a Conditions of Engagement at the time we confirm our service. For examples of the Conditions of Engagement go to which survey.
26. Q. Why do your surveys include an estimated rebuilding cost when I am purchasing an existing property?
A. An estimated rebuilding cost bears no relation to the market value of the property. It is the cost of reconstructing the building on new foundations. You will need this figure if you are to accurately insure the building against loss. Not all our reports include a rebuilding cost, if this is important to you please check to ensure it is included.
27. Q. I intend taking a lease of a commercial property on full repairing terms. Can you advise me what repair work I am likely to be liable for?
A. Yes, we can prepare a Schedule of Condition for this type of situation.
28. Q. I am a Landlord concerned about the condition of my property, I want to serve a Notice on my tenant to repair, can you help me?
A. Yes, we can prepare a Schedule of Dilapidations for service on the tenant. We can negotiate the work with the tenant and supervise its satisfactory completion. We can prepare a compensation cost in a terminal Schedule of Dilapidations.
29. Q. I am a tenant considering taking a new full repairing lease but want to restrict my liability to new faults only. Can you help me?
A. Yes, we can prepare a Record of Condition of the property which can be attached to the lease. It forms a permanent record of the condition of the building at the time you took the lease.

If your specific query is not covered in the above list then please contact us, or add your query to the information you give us when asking for a quote. We are pleased to help.

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