It is estimated on average that a quarter of all house buyers who did not have a survey face unexpected repair bills in the region of £5,000.

The best way to protect yourself against this risk and reach an informed decision on your purchase is to have a professional survey and valuation of the property.

We employ a team of Chartered Surveyors and offer a range of valuation surveys. Our team are able to take instructions from Banks, Building Societies, Housing Associations, builders and private individuals.

We offer 2 levels of valuation service which are detailed below and our staff would be happy to discuss the differences between the report types and the merits depending upon your proposed property.

RICS Home Buyers Report

This is a comprehensive report which comments on all aspects of the property and includes a valuation. The Home Buyers Report is carried out in a standard format set out by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Basic Valuation Report

This is less detailed than a Home Buyers Report and includes a valuation of the property and commentary on major defects only. It does not consider the condition of the property in detail.

Sometimes it is necessary for parties involved in property matters to require the services of an expert witness to advise a court or tribunal as to mattes in dispute.

Mike Sellers FRICS has 35 years' experience of providing these sort of reports in Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield areas.

He has regularly provided CPR compliant reports on cases relating to diminuation in value, resulting from legal or surveying negligence, alleged over-valuations and matrimonial disputes.

He has attended Court both as a single joint expert and an expert appointed by either party.

David Wood BSc (Hons), MRICS has a wealth of experience in respect of dilapidations, boundary wall disputes, Party Wall Act matters, structural defects, building disrepair and myriad of other matters requiring CPR compliant reports

Our commercial team is led by the well-respected Chartered surveyor Mike Sellers FRICS, providing extensive experience and local knowledge gained over decades of serving the needs of clients such as banks, local authorities, charities, housing associations, private clients and PLC's.

Our areas of expertise include:

• Acquisitions
• Market Appraisals
• Formal Appraisals
• Probate and Tax valuations
• Secured Lending
• Accounts Valuations
• Matrimonial Valuations
• Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
• Reinstatement Valuations

Committed to the highest professional standards all our surveyors are all members of the Royal Institution Of Chartered Surveyors.

Building surveys were originally called structural surveys (level 3), they provide an in-depth inspection of the subject property. These building surveys are generally acknowledged as the most in-depth type of report currently available and are essential if you are buying an older property, of if you're planning major works.

The acquisition survey includes inspection of all accessible elevations; flat roofs, rain water goods etc., inspection of all accessible roof voids, noting roof defects, inspection of walls and floors. It also includes an inspection of chimneys and roofs from ground level and were necessary will include arranging high level access for a detailed inspection.

A visual inspection of services will be undertaken and recommendations made for further specialist inspections or remedial work. Covers to all accessible inspection chambers will be removed to enable the condition of the inspection chamber and associated drainage to be ascertained.

We are also able to provide a Valuation with the Survey Report.

Our Building Consultancy team offer a variety of services ensuring clients satisfaction is at the forefront of all our instructions.

Our services include:

Design and Management of Building Works

From the inception of a project, we liaise with the client to determine the requirements, inspect the site and develop a brief. This can include advice upon:

• Cost, timetable and legal approvals required to ensure that quality, time and cost requirements are met.
• The selection of other consultants such as designers and engineers.
• The condition of an existing building.

Having decided to proceed with a project we can:

• Prepare design sketches and drawings.
• Advise on project costs and timetable.
• Prepare specifications of work and contract documents.
• Submit local authority applications.
• Advise on legislative issues.
• Suggest procurement routes, appropriate forms of contract and advise on tender lists.
• Obtain prices for the work.

Once the project has started on site, we will administer the contract to ensure that the project is delivered on time, on cost and to the required quality.

Our experience in this field includes barn conversions, repairs to commercial properties and office and shop fit outs with projects ranging between £10,000- £500,000 in value.

Project Management

We act as a Project Manager/Employers Agent for larger projects, coordinating the design team and providing strategic advice on all construction issues.

Our experience in this field includes refurbishment of offices with the client remaining in situ and new build industrial units, with project values between £2.6- £5 million.

Development Monitoring

We act on behalf of a number of investment funds and banks to appraise the work, contractual setup and statutory compliance before monitoring its progress and authorising payments.

Having also assisted banks on a number of schemes in receivership and administration then we are well aware of the issues which may arise and how to protect a funders interest.

Schedules of Condition

We prepare detailed schedules of condition to be appended to a lease which protects against repairing covenants both during the lease term and expiry. Our schedules of the condition have a narrative section at the front and referenced photographs at the rear to ensure the properties are recorded to a suitable level of detail.

Building Surveys

We undertake building surveys of commercial and residential properties advising on matters such as the condition, defects and remedies. Our reports include costed schedules of repair which can also be used as a negotiating tool during any purchase.

Our surveys are tailored to the client requirements and can look at a full or part of a property. We also undertake Expert Witness instructions in relation to property disrepair claims.

Dilapidations

We can advise on the extent of a tenant's liabilities under a lease and produce Interim and Terminal Schedules of Dilapidations.

We act on behalf of Landlords and Tenants and have attended mediation on behalf of a number of tenants, together with producing a number of CPR complaint expert witness reports on dilapidations claims.

We can also provide dilapidation assessments reports as part of the financial planning or company acquisitions.

Neighbourly/Party Wall Matters

We can act as Party Wall surveyor on behalf of Building Owners or Adjoining Owners under the Party Wall etc Act 1996.

We are members of the Pyramus and Thisbe Club which promote excellence in Party Wall matters.

We are also experienced in Crane Over sailing and Scaffold Licenses as well as Boundary Disputes.

Further information on Party Wall matters can be found here

http://www.partywalls.org.uk/party_wall_guides

Measured Surveys

Measured surveys can be produced to provide dimensional information on land or property, or as a preliminary service before the start of building work.

We produce plans using both AutoCAD (2D) and Revit (3D) and are experienced in producing Land Registry Compliant Title Plans.

Defect Investigation and Maintenance Advice

We can investigate specific defects and provide advice on the existing condition of a property and its future maintenance liability.

We can review the effect on maintenance of life cycle costing, comparing the cost now against the future maintenance and replacement costs to match the anticipated building life and expenditure. We can also prepare planned maintenance programmes which encourage preventative, cost-effective maintenance.

Reinstatement Cost Assessments and Insurance Claims

We can prepare assessments of the cost of replacing a building in accordance with a client's insurance policy. If you are in the unfortunate position that you need to make a claim, then we can also liaise the insurer and loss adjuster ensuring any damage is suitably repaired.

For more information about any of the services above please contact our Building

Consultancy Director Dave Wood on 07747113026