Trusted Home Surveys

27/04/2023

Something we see now and again during our surveys is Dry Rot. Dry Rot is caused by the Serpula Lacrymans fungi and is part of a group of fungi which feed on timber including timbers in housing. The discovery of Dry Rot in a property during a survey is a concern but the extent of this concern depends on many factors including how advanced the decay is and what the causes are.

Where Dry Rot is advanced in its lifecycle identifying it is usually straightforward, provided you look in the right places. Unfortunately, those places are often inaccessible or hard to view, and therefore it can be easy for it to be overlooked. This is where surveyor experience comes into play. The extent of infestation can also be difficult to determine, and very often invasive inspection is needed before this can be confirmed.

Despite its name, Dry Rot needs moisture as part of its lifecycle however unlike other rots including wet rots it can travel significant distances away from this initial moisture source to different locations. The reason it does this is to search for ‘food’ in the form of wood. In searching for nutrients Dry Rot can travel significant distances including travelling through walls, sub floor spaces and lofts.

Diagnosing and dealing with Dry Rot often needs specialist inspection and repair work. Like damp treatment and work, Dry Rot is ‘big businesses’ for some companies. This is not surprising because very often the two come hand in hand. The range of opinions on the cause and treatment of Dry Rot has historically resulted in hugely contrasting and in some cases incorrect or unsuitable ‘repairs’ being sold by inadequately trained surveyors or those with a vested interest in selling them.

When selecting a surveyor or company to inspect a property you should ensure that they are properly qualified, such as being a member of the RICS, and that they have the knowledge and experience needed. This is where Trusted Home Surveys can help, we can be trusted to give you the advice you need!

Contact Trusted Home Surveys today for more information on how we can help with Dry Rot or any other problem you may have at your property or one you are thinking of buying!

22/03/2023

RICS Survey Report Series – Chimneys

Section D1 of the Trusted Home Surveys RICS report will cover chimneys on the property. Chimneys are inspected visually externally from ground level or using a drone camera where required on a level 3 survey.

Common problems identified with chimneys include eroded pointing, spalled brick, cracked flaunching and defective flashings. Chimneys can have structural problems, have been altered inappropriately or can be the source of significant internal problems. This is why it is so important that they are inspected properly.

On an attached property, chimneys are often shared between neighbours as part of the party wall. This can bring specific problems including difficulty in maintaining the chimney or neighbours making inappropriate alterations.

A thorough inspection of chimneys on any property is essential. This is why at Trusted Home Surveys we always take special care to locate and inspect all chimneys. If you want to find out more about this or any service we offer, get in touch now!

22/02/2023

A critical piece of equipment which we always carry with us during level 3 surveys is a drone camera. In the past there were restrictions in place which made drone photography almost impossible to undertake on buildings however recent legislation changes free us up. This means we can now use a small but mighty drone to access so many of those high-level places which were previously out of reach.

If you are thinking of buying a property, always make sure your surveyor will have a drone to view any inaccessible external areas.

Get in touch with Trusted Home Surveys now to arrange your level 3 survey with drone camera inspection!

12/02/2023

At Trusted Home Surveys we are licenced to provide the RICS format reports. We choose to use these in most cases because they are familiar to our clients and the various stakeholders involved in the property purchase.

The format of the RICS survey was refreshed recently but has been similar for several years. Whether you are having a level 1, 2 or 3 survey undertaken you will find the format and structure to be largely familiar across the range. In total there will be around 14 sections in the report, some of these such as sections A and C are relatively introductory in nature while sections D-G are where the elements, services and grounds of the property are described. Section B is largely summative as are sections H and I. The remaining sections provide a range of further details depending on the survey level.

The home survey report will include a colour coding system which uses green, amber, and red to summarise the urgency of repair needed or seriousness of an issue on the property at an elemental level. At Trusted Home Surveys we include these in all the RICS reports we offer, and a summary of the ratings can be found in section B of the report.

If you would like to find out more about reports offered by Trusted Home Surveys or for a sample of the report format, get in touch with us today!

31/01/2023

One of the most common things we see during our surveys is damp and its associated problems. In our experience damp and moisture problems are rarely the major concern which purchasers fear. Sadly, in some cases incorrect or unsuitable ‘repairs’ can be recommended to unwitting owners and purchasers who engage inadequately trained surveyors.

When selecting a surveyor or company to inspect your damp problem you should ensure that they are properly qualified, such as being a member of the RICS, and that they are aware of the latest guidance recently issued by the RICS and PCA.

Contact Trusted Home Surveys today for more information on how we can help with damp or any other problem you may have at your property or one you are thinking of buying!

24/01/2023

We firmly believe that anyone buying a property should have a survey completed. At Trusted Home Surveys, we are licenced to provide level 1,2, and 3 RICS home surveys (formerly known as Condition, HomeBuyer, and Building Survey reports).

The format of the RICS home survey report is familiar across the range. All reports use the colour coding 'traffic light' system to summarise the key sections.

If you would like to find out more about reports offered by Trusted Home Surveys or for a sample of the report format, get in touch with us today.

Trusted Home Surveys from your local trusted surveyor! We will guide you through the home survey process. Our qualified local home surveyors’ services will help guide you through the survey process with our expert advice and understanding of the local area. We will support you with detailed insigh...

24/01/2023

Trusted Home Surveys - Regulated by RICS.

This means that we have chosen to meet national standards and levels of service to meet the needs of our customers. We believe you should always choose a surveyor who is regulated.

24/01/2023

Why use Trusted Home Surveys?

Our customers trust us and they also recommend us! You only need to look at our google reviews to know that we can be trusted to do a good job.

★★★★★ · Surveyor

23/01/2023

So what do Trusted Home Surveys do?

We offer RICS and bespoke home surveys - usually to people buying a new home. The three survey levels we offer are Level 1, 2 and 3. If you want to find out more about these and for a free quote please contact our friendly team now.

We are the local surveyor you can trust!

23/01/2023

We finally did it... Trusted Home Surveys is on Facebook!