DGB Home Surveys Ltd

14/05/2025

Question from Client:

Do the vending particulars / sales brochures show or describe any issues with the property you might buy? Focusing in on items that would like cost money or perhaps require renegotiation of price.

Answers / Considerations:

If you read through say 10 or even 100 brochures / online adverts for residential property currently for sale how many state any issues are present?

Two examples for thought; if there is no felt or membrane under roof tiles or slates which would likely be 'valued down' by lender, is this advertised? What about cracks in render? An expensive and disruptive item to attend to (scaffolding & access etc) and one that could lead to a significant bill.

Take the time to consider who is working for you, and not for themselves and their interest. Yes, business are there to provide a service, but is it to / for you?

06/05/2025

RICS Home Surveys continue in a highly analysed market, congratulations are offered to those who managed to complete before the stamp duty changes, it remains to be seen what affect(s) will be experienced by those now facing higher moving costs, hopefully having budgeted for this risk?

With the cost of moving home increasing, do RICS Home Surveys become more of less attractive? We have to be pragmatic, if budgets do not stretch to paying for a survey is there a risk of customers not instructing?

But, this is an ever present risk, based on the principle that practically every house has issues, whether it be legal, structural, damp or even asbestos, then we go into mid to later part of 2025 considering that in spending out on the single most expensive item the general population will in their life time, that the purchasing will remain with both heart and head and RICS Home Surveys remain a part of the buying process.

Trusted, independent experienced RICS Home Surveyor. We provide reliable and cost effective home buyers surveys to help you with the purchase of your property.

27/11/2023

What is an RICS Home Survey?

An impartial assessment of a residential property

Why instruct a RICS Home Survey?

English Law Principle - Caveat Emptor...…Buyer Beware.
or
Would you spend 0.002% on a RICS Home Survey for an average house price? (Plymouth 12 October 2023)

When is the best time to get a RICS Home Survey carried out?

Not an easy question to answer for all instances, but if there is a headlines issue, and you still wish to buy the property, then the earlier the RICS Home Survey is carried out the more time available to consider options.

20/11/2023

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Thank you

17/11/2023

Items you may not see or, may not be allowed to see on a viewing for a property.

Roofing is one of the most costly repair items for a home.

In this instance, following an RICS Home Survey thousands of pounds were saved on the asking price to meet the cost of these works.

17/11/2023

Why do I need an RICS Home Survey?

Caveat Emptor..........we all did Latin at school?

Because forewarned is forearmed.

Choosing the right survey will help highlight any serious problems and advise you of the specific risks before you commit to the process of buying or selling a property. RICS has three different levels of survey. These can only be conducted by an RICS qualified surveyor with local knowledge. Reliable and cost effective, these reports carry the full weight of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – the industry’s most respected authority on surveying.

When buying a home, it’s important to remember that your mortgage lender’s valuation report is not a survey. It merely tells your lender whether the property is reasonable security for your loan. An RICS survey provided direct to you, for your use, will tell you the actual condition of the property and potential vital information that could be invaluable either during price negotiations or to avoid expensive surprises after you’ve moved in.

12/09/2022

Why do you need an RICS Home Survey?

Because forewarned is forearmed.

Choosing an RICS Home Survey will help highlight any serious problems and advise you of the specific risks before you commit to the process of buying or selling a property.

RICS has three different types of survey, and these These can only be conducted by an RICS qualified surveyor.

Reliable and cost effective, these reports carry the full
weight of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – the
industry’s most respected authority on surveying.

Buying a home It’s important to remember that your mortgage lender’s valuation report is not a survey. It merely tells your lender
whether or not the property is reasonable security for your
loan.

An RICS survey provided direct to you, for you use, will tell you the actual condition of the property. That’s vital information that can be invaluable either during price negotiations, or could also help you avoid expensive surprises after you’ve moved in.

DGB Home Surveys Ltd prides itself in being responsive to client needs regarding timescales and the property chain, providing reports in understandable language, with impartial balanced surveying guidance to help you make an informed decision.

10/05/2021

The RICS HomeBuyer (Survey) Service includes:
• an inspection of the property (see ‘The inspection’)
• a report based on the inspection; (se 'The Report')

The surveyor who provides the RICS HomeBuyer (Survey) Service aims to give you
professional advice to help you to:
• make an informed decision on whether to go ahead with buying the property
• take account of any repairs or replacements the property needs; and
• consider what further advice you should take before committing to purchase the property.

The Inspection:
The surveyor inspects the inside and outside of the main building and all permanent outbuildings, but does not force or open up the fabric. This means that the surveyor does not take up carpets, floor coverings or floorboards, move furniture, remove the contents of cupboards, roof spaces, etc., remove secured panels and/or hatches or undo electrical fittings.
If necessary, the surveyor carries out parts of the inspection when standing at ground level from public property next door where accessible. The surveyor may use equipment such as a damp-meter, binoculars and torch, and may use a ladder for flat roofs and for hatches no more than 3 metres above level ground (outside) or floor surfaces (inside) if it is safe to do so.

Services to the property
Services are generally hidden within the construction of the property. This means that only the visible parts of the available services can be inspected, and the surveyor does not carry out specialist tests. The visual inspection cannot assess the efficiency or safety of electrical, gas or other energy sources; plumbing, heating or drainage installations (or whether they meet current regulations); or the inside condition of any chimney, boiler or other flue.
Outside the property The surveyor inspects the condition of boundary walls, fences, permanent outbuildings and areas in common (shared) use. To inspect these areas, the surveyor walks around the grounds and any neighbouring public property where access can be obtained. Buildings with swimming pools and sports facilities are also treated as permanent outbuildings, but the surveyor does not report on the leisure facilities, such as the pool itself and its equipment, landscaping and other facilities (for example, tennis courts and temporary outbuildings).

Flats
When inspecting flats, the surveyor assesses the general condition of outside surfaces of the
building, as well as its access areas (for example, shared hallways and staircases). The surveyor
inspects roof spaces only if they are accessible from within the property. The surveyor does not
inspect drains, lifts, fire alarms and security systems.

Dangerous materials, contamination and environmental issues
The surveyor does not make any enquiries about contamination or other environmental dangers. However, if the surveyor suspects a problem, he or she should recommend a further investigation. The surveyor may assume that no harmful or dangerous materials have been used in the construction, and does not have a duty to justify making this assumption. However, if the inspection shows that these materials have been used, the surveyor must report this and ask for further instructions. The surveyor does not carry out an asbestos inspection and does not act as an asbestos inspector when inspecting properties that may fall within the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

With flats, the surveyor assumes that there is a ‘dutyholder’ (as defined in the regulations), and that in place are an asbestos register and an effective management plan which does not present a significant risk to health or need any immediate payment. The surveyor does not consult the dutyholder.

The Report
The surveyor produces a report of the inspection for you to use, but cannot accept any liability if it is used by anyone else. If you decide not to act on the advice in the report, you do this at your own risk. The report focuses on matters that, in the surveyor’s opinion, may affect the value of the property if they are not addressed.