Residential Services
Residential Services
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REACH US VIA THE LANDLINE, PLEASE CALL / TAP ON 07710 009930
Eyesurvey Chartered Surveyors provide a comprehensive assessment service for our clients. Covering a large range of residential services and with over 30 years of experience we will ensure a professional service throughout the whole process.
*Please note that we do not carry out valuations for any kind of lending, Mortgage, or Financial work.
A Valuation is not a survey!
House prices can be affected by seasons, the economy and dare we say it, politics too! And can change numerous times within a couple of months so no wonder selling a property is a difficult task.
To provide a trustworthy value, local expertise is essential. You can be confident your appraisal is correct and dependable since it will be carried out accurately using our expert knowledge and we will take into account all of these aspects.
Is it a leaky pipe or something more?
Overlooking small discrepancies in a house is a common occurrence, whether you are buying a house for the fourth time or the first. That is why it is always best to have a Building Survey or Condition Report carried out so the entire house is looked over and not a single detail is missed out. This way you are able to sort out any problems before you either move into the property or make an offer. Some issues can worsen overtime and as a result costs you more money.
Selecting the appropriate survey can present a daunting task, whether you’re downsizing, buying property for business, or entering the housing market for the first time. Making an informed choice is crucial to prevent unnecessary expenditure on an extensive survey when those funds could be allocated elsewhere. On the other hand, opting for a more affordable survey that might overlook potential property issues, which could lead to future problems, is also not the ideal route. To address these concerns, our organisation provides three essential surveys specifically designed to assist our clients.
1. RICS Condition Report
Based on a traffic light system, the RICS condition report focuses on the condition of the property only and flags up any areas that need attention. It does not give advice or a valuation.
Suitable for: Fairly recently built, small properties, such as new builds or conventional homes in good condition that you’re not planning to do any extensive work to.
2. RICS Homebuyer Report
The RICS Homebuyer report is more detailed and gives you a valuation of the property. It includes an extensive inspection and highlights defects or anything which may affect the property’s value with the traffic lights system, but the Homebuyer report doesn’t look beyond the floor coverings, boards or behind the wall finishes, but does give advice on further inspections or investigations needed. Does include loft areas, damp checks, any signs of building movement found.
Suitable for: Most conventional properties built around 1900 onwards, in a reasonable condition and/ or on which you are considering small scale alterations but does not include advice on the alterations or extensions to be made.
3. RICS Building Survey
The RICS building survey gives an extensive inspection of the property condition including detailed information about the fabric of the property and its structure. The report also includes descriptions of visible defects and warns of potential hidden flaws together with an outline of additional investigations and repair options.
Suitable for: Unusual, older or non-traditional buildings or those that have been significantly altered. Buildings that are conventional but in poor condition or that you are planning major alterations to – but does not include advice on the alterations or extensions to be made. If you are unsure if a Building Survey is what you need, please ask.
Below is an at-a-glance feature list to consider when choosing your report:
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WE COVER ALL ESSEX AND SOUTH SUFFOLK POSTCODES, IP, CO, CM, SS, RM & IG
(IPSWICH, COLCHESTER, CHELMSFORD, BRAINTREE, SOUTHEND, ROMFORD, ILFORD, ETC.)
Do I really need a survey?
Of course, you could purchase a property without carrying out a survey, but may later find out the entire roof needs a complete rebuild, landing you with a bill of around £15,000. Consequently, once contracts have been exchanged, the vendor is then no longer liable. If you are paying £400,000-500,000+ for your next home, would you risk not having a survey carried out for the sake of around £500? It really isn’t advisable.
Home Buyers should not always be advised to pay for a “full” Building Survey – some limits on inspection always exist, including what the property owners will allow or make possible, so no survey can ever truly be “full”. It is incorrect and misleading to suggest otherwise.
It is necessary to describe the range of what is typically done in each situation and what is not. Before the project is accepted and the inspection is conducted, formal Terms & Conditions of Engagement must be provided.
The customer must be informed if any ordinarily standard aspect of the inspection is deemed impractical or unsafe. In most cases, it will not be acceptable to suggest that a Building Survey be conducted in the case of a new or relatively recent construction.
A Homebuyers survey (Level 2) is the most basic survey we provide to assess a property for sale or purchase. We would normally recommend this on some new builds. A Building Survey (Level 3) is sometimes the better option such as for a very large or unusual property, as it will give peace of mind, being more thorough and technical in its content. NO mortgage lenders insist on this level of detail. It can also show up any issues that may affect the selling price. Our team can help you decide which survey is best for your needs.
Homebuyers’ Survey News
A homebuyer’s survey, commonly known as a homebuyer’s report, provides information about significant, apparent issues with the house, such as rot, dampness, or subsidence.
It also assesses the property’s value and its reconstruction cost for insurance purposes. This type of survey is non-destructive and non-intrusive, involving a visual inspection where no items are relocated, no holes are drilled, and no floors are uncovered.
When making a property purchase, numerous crucial aspects often go unnoticed. Our expert team conducts Homebuyers Surveys tailored to “standard properties” or homes that are recently constructed. Following an evaluation of older properties, we present you with the most suitable survey option that aligns with your requirements. This ensures you have comprehensive information essential for proceeding confidently with your property acquisition, including the appropriate survey choice.
Useful Links
Below we have some useful links if you are considering purchasing or selling a property. These are not direct recommendations from Eyesurvey but you may find the information and services useful.
Building Defect Diagnosis
If you have had problems with cracks, bad installation or building works, damp areas and condensation. Eyesurvey can assist. Contact us with your issue and we will advise, including our fees.
Property Valuations – Probate/Inheritance Tax (IHT)
What is Probate?
‘Probate’ is the name generally given to the process of administering a will on someone’s estate when they die. If there is no Will, the process is called Administration under a Grant of Representation, but is similar. This process can include making an Inheritance Tax return to HMRC, finalising income tax affairs and pensions, collecting in the estate from banks, building societies and selling assets including properties, paying money due to beneficiaries, making any gifts of items to beneficiaries and preparing accounts for the estate. Your local estate agent cannot deal with that kind of property valuation.
How long does it take?
Depending on a number of variables, such as whether the person left a will, the amount of the estate, and if the will is being challenged, the duration of probate can range from a few weeks to a year. In the UK, probate is necessary for anybody who has to settle the business of a deceased person and needs to have access to their bank accounts, investments, and other assets in order to pay their obligations, inheritance tax, and divide their estate.
How do I deal with it?
It is normally advisable to hire someone like us to help you because few people are familiar with dealing with probate. In order to ensure that you receive the correct amount of money at the conclusion of the procedure, we can provide accurate assessments of the subject property, which we may then give to your legal counsel.
How do Probate Valuations work?
When a loved one dies, you will need any property assets valued for the Application for Probate, or if there is no Will – “Intestate” – for the Letters of Administration, now known as the Grant of Representation.
The overall value of the Estate may become subject to Inheritance Tax or Capital Gains Tax, requiring an assessment beyond the capability of your local estate agent. The figures will be subject to scrutiny by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to ensure accuracy, preventing manipulation for tax avoidance purposes.
In cases where the deceased held only a partial ownership in the property, their share will be proportionately reduced, for example, by 10%. This adjustment takes into account the inherent challenges in selling such a share, even if it is intended to be inherited by a relative through a Will or intestacy. We fully comprehend the intricacies inherent in probate administration and empathise with the profound personal emotions experienced by our clients during the loss of a loved one. Our dedicated approach involves investing time to provide a professional and compassionate service, ensuring your needs are met.
Property Valuations – Matrimonial
The aim of a matrimonial valuation report is to establish the market value of a property, which can then be used to determine how to divide joint assets that are help by two parties involved in divorce proceedings. We understand that this can be a very difficult time and will take the time to provide a professional and caring service.
Property Valuation for Insurance Purposes
Building Insurance Reinstatement
The amount of insurance cover you will need to arrange for fire, flood, subsidence and other building movement damage, to rebuild the property.
Purchase
How much is a fair figure for purchasing this property?
Surveys before purchasing.
Existing Investments
If remortgaging or simply renewing the buildings insurance on your Buy-to-Let, you may need a figure to arrange insurable cover.
Expert Witness Reports
Litigation is on the increase everywhere. Where there are civil litigation matters involving property, it is of utmost importance that local professional surveyors used as expert witnesses in such matters can do so with complete confidence and accuracy.
Fighting a civil case can be tricky at the best of times but is especially hard when you don’t have the correct facts and figures to back up your arguments. To ensure you have the best chance of winning the case our Essex and Suffolk Surveyor team can advise as well as carry out any valuations or surveys that could be used as evidence. We have been in the property business for over many years so the work carried out is always accurate.
We are fully versed in what is required in terms of being an expert witness in a property related matter, be it residential or commercial. We are governed by our RICS membership, and expected to provide sound and accurate professional opinions, in an appropriate format.
Types of disputes
- Matrimonial disputes
- Building disputes
- General Valuations
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for an informal chat.
For more information on our full services please contact us here
WE HAVE DONE IT AGAIN!
We are celebrating being voted one of the top three Chartered Surveyors in Colchester Seven years running!
Three Best Rated is an independent scheme which uses a 50-point inspection process to assess local businesses including reputation, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence.
This is recognition for providing consistent high quality services across Colchester, Essex.
NO VAT FEES
WE COVER ALL ESSEX AND SOUTH SUFFOLK POSTCODES, IP, CO, CM, SS, RM & IG
(IPSWICH, COLCHESTER, CHELMSFORD, BRAINTREE, SOUTHEND, ROMFORD, ILFORD, ETC.)
Case Studies
Here at Eyesurvey we keep our website up to date with regular projects that we are currently working on or have recently completed.
By showcasing our recent case studies it allows our clients to understand the type of issues that we are able to deal with, how we deal with them and the swift and professional manner in which our team go about it.
No job is too big or too small for our team, each case will be handled with care.
Read more about our case studies here
IN FOCUS THIS WEEK
No matter what the property issue is our team will always be the best ones to deal with the problem. We have encountered many different issues over the years, all ranging in severity and have dealt with them as quickly as possible. So no matter if you are a property owner or tenant you can get back to your daily routine. We pride ourselves on never failing to give anything but the best service to all customers for the best price.
What our clients say
MORE AT 
EYESURVEY
The security and value of your home or business is important to you. At Eyesurvey we understand this so provide a personal touch to all the services we offer. Your home or business is important to us too. Read more about the Residential and Commercial services we provide.
We are the local experts you are looking for so please give us a call to see how we can help you today.
