Homesurv Chartered Surveyors
Incorporating Russell Francis & Co, we are a firm of long established independent Chartered Surveyors, covering the areas of Northamptonshire, north Cambridgeshire, south Lincolnshire, south Leicestershire and Milton Keynes. As Chartered Surveyors we specialise in Building Surveys, Homebuyer Surveys and Valuation Surveys and are well known in the region for our professional approach and quality of service. As Chartered Surveyors we aim to provide a fast, friendly service with concise jargon free home survey reports. Not all firms of Chartered Surveyors are Regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Homesurv are Regulated by RICS which means that we are monitored on a regular basis to ensure we comply with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors requirements for Professional Indemnity Insurance and Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP). We offer a full range of property survey reports including Building Surveys (formerly known as a Structural Survey), Homebuyer Surveys and Valuation Surveys.
Why do I need a home survey such as a Building Survey or a Homebuyer survey?
Buying a house is possibly the largest single transaction that you are likely undertake. Houses in this country can span centuries, be of differing forms of construction and exhibit many different types of defects such as subsidence, rising dampness, timber decay, as well as having design faults or inferior workmanship to name but a few. The problems can be wide ranging and if overlooked can potentially be very expensive to rectify. That is why it is important for you to arrange for a Chartered Surveyor to carry out a property survey. Many people wrongly believe that a Mortgage Valuation is a property survey, but this is purely for the benefit of the lender and you cannot rely on it to fully protect your interests. The following advice is given by both the consumers association Which? Magazine and the Council of Mortgage lenders: Even if you are seeking a mortgage and may be paying for a Mortgage Valuation report it is still advisable and prudent to arrange a property survey by your own Chartered Surveyors. The best way to reach an informed decision on such an important investment is to have a professional property survey before you decide to go ahead and commit yourself legally. You can minimise the risks by asking a Chartered Surveyor to answer these questions: Is the agreed price reasonable? Are there any drawbacks I don´t know about? Are there any significant defects or urgent repairs? If so, what do I do about them? Commissioning your own home survey is the simple, economical way to avoid unpleasant and perhaps costly surprises after moving in. In some cases homebuyer surveyors will identify that the price you are paying is possibly a little high or does not adequately reflect the repairs that have been pointed out by the Chartered Surveyor, giving you the opportunity to renegotiate the price and save you money.
Which home survey do I need a Building Survey or a Homebuyer Survey?
There are two types of home survey report available depending upon the age and type of property you are purchasing:
Building Surveys
Commonly referred to as a Structural Survey, the name was changed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors some years ago to Building Survey which is the most detailed survey out of the types of home survey available. Building Surveys are particularly suited to very large, very old or unusual properties and can be tailored to the needs of the client and type of building. In contrast to a Homebuyer Survey, Building Surveys are more detailed inspections providing a comprehensive and detailed report. A Building Survey enables you on confirming instructions to us to draw to our attention any particular concerns you may have prior to the home survey and also allows you to have a post report consultation to clarify any aspect of concern. The Building Survey inspection includes the appraisal of the main structural components such as floors, walls and the roof and an assessment of the condition of the fabric of the building. It will include testing for dampness with an electronic moisture meter, a roof space inspection (providing access is available) and lifting of inspection chamber covers to the drainage system. A visual inspection will also be undertaken of the services such as the electrical, plumbing, gas and heating installations but surveyors are not specialists in this area and we do not undertake any testing, however, if there are any aspects of concern in respect of the services, recommendations to consult the appropriate specialist tradesmen will be made. A photographic inventory of the main defects and other issues will be provided. Unlike the Homebuyer Survey a Building Survey is tailor made with a particular property in mind and when contemplating purchasing a very large or very old property which may have latent defects the benefit of having such a report can more than repay the cost of unforeseen repairs or provide you with the opportunity to renegotiate the price to reflect those repairs. In other words a Building Survey can save you money. Our Building Survey will also tell you what we think the property is worth. Once the Building Survey report is prepared and you have had the opportunity of assimilating the advice offered, we will be pleased to offer any further clarification on any aspect of the report or the property.
Valuation Survey
Our Valuation Survey Report is carried out by a Chartered Surveyor and is suitable for buyers or sellers and on houses where you are completely confident that the property´s condition is not an issue eg new or nearly new properties, but you require advice on its current value. It is not a Building Survey (formerly known as a structural survey) or Homebuyers Survey but is intended to advise on the property´s value in the current market. This format can also be used for a variety of other purposes such as lending, probate, relocation, matrimonial settlement and tax purposes. The Valuation Survey Report unlike the Building Survey and Homebuyer Survey is based upon a limited visual inspection of the interior and exterior and is similar in level to that required by the major Banks and Building Societies. As Chartered Surveyors we undertake this type of report for many lending institutions.
Areas of Operation
Surveyors Northampton cover the post codes NN1 to NN5 inclusive. Surveyors Northamptonshire cover post codes NN6 to NN18 and NN29. Surveyors Peterborough cover post codes PE1 to PE6, PE7 to PE9, PE19, PE26 to PE29. Surveyors Cambridgeshire cover post codes PE19, PE26 to PE29. We also cover CV21 and CV22 as well as LE16 and most MK post codes. We undertake our complete range of services across these post codes which include Building Surveys, Homebuyer Surveys and Valuation Surveys.
Established Chartered Surveyors
The Directors of Homesurv are Russell Francis FRICS Dip HI and Wayne Heath Bsc MRICS. Russell is a Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years experience in surveys and valuations of houses. Russell moved to Northampton in 1991 and was an Area Surveyor with a corporate surveying firm before starting up his own business Russell Francis & Co in 1995 surveyors Northampton and surveyors Northamptonshire. In the 1999 Wayne Heath a Chartered Building Surveyor joined the business surveyors Peterborough and surveyors Cambridgeshire. Wayne´s arrival enabled the Company to spread in to other areas and we now undertake Building Surveys and Homebuyer Surveys across most of the East Midlands and parts of East Anglia. The two of us have extensive knowledge and experience of undertaking Building Surveys and Homebuyers Surveys across this region. We know property and the problems associated with different types of construction. We know the problems associated with certain geographical areas, such knowledge, is all important when undertaking a property survey. We work hard to make the whole process of assessing and advising on a property as straightforward as possible. Before we carry out the Building Survey or Homebuyers Survey we will talk to you and identify your requirements and the most suitable property survey for the house you are buying. During the process we are easily contactable and always happy to talk about what is happening with your property survey. After you have received the property survey we will gladly discuss any aspect of the report with you so that you are left in no doubt as to what your next step might be.
Surveyors Northampton
If you are buying a house in or around Northampton it is important that you select surveyors Northampton based. Locally based surveyors have built up a comprehensive local knowledge of the various aspects such as local values. We have a data base stretching back 14 years with over 30000 entries relating to property values across our area of operation. Our surveyors Northampton have built up an unrivalled knowledge of the area including localised subsidence problems, knowledge of the flood areas as well as such things as radon gas affected areas. We have also become knowledgeable on the types of construction that are associated with the Northampton area. Such as rubble filled stone walls, the various thatching materials used and cob walling which crops up in one particular area of the county. A surveyor from another area will be lacking in this knowledge. So when buying in Northampton use surveyors Northampton based. If you select a Building Survey (formerly known as a Structural Survey) or Homebuyers Survey then the report will take advantage the Surveyor´s extensive local knowledge.
Surveyors Northamptonshire
If you are buying a house in or around Northamptonshire it is important that you select surveyors Northamptonshire based. Locally based surveyors have built up a comprehensive local knowledge of the various aspects such as local values. We have a data base stretching back 14 years with over 30000 entries relating to property values across our area of operation. Our surveyors Northamptonshire have built up an unrivalled knowledge of the area including localised subsidence problems, knowledge of the flood areas as well as such things as radon gas affected areas. We have also become knowledgeable on the types of construction that are associated with the Northampton area. Such as rubble filled stone walls, the various thatching materials used and cob walling which crops up in one particular area of the county. A surveyor from another area will be lacking in this knowledge. So when buying in Northampton use surveyors Northamptonshire based. If you select a Building Survey (formerly known as a Structural Survey) or Homebuyers Survey then the report will take advantage the Surveyor´s extensive local knowledge.
Surveyors Peterborough
If you are buying a house in or around Peterborough it is important that you select surveyors Peterborough based. Locally based surveyors have built up a comprehensive local knowledge of the various aspects such as local values. We have a data base stretching back 14 years with over 30000 entries relating to property values across our area of operation. Our surveyors Peterborough have built up an unrivalled knowledge of the area including localised subsidence problems, knowledge of the flood areas as well as such things poor loadbearing subsoils such as the peat areas in the fens to the East of Peterborouh. We have also become knowledgeable on the types of construction that are associated with the Peterboroug area. Such as rubble filled stone walls, the various thatching materials used and early timber framed buildings on the Peterborough/Bedford borders. A surveyor from another area will be lacking in this knowledge. So when buying in Peterborough use surveyors Peterborough based. If you select a Building Survey (formerly known as a Structural Survey) or a Homebuyers Survey then the report will take advantage the Surveyor´s extensive local knowledge.
Surveyors Cambridgeshire
If you are buying a house in Cambridgeshire it is important that you select surveyors Cambridgshire based. Locally based surveyors have built up a comprehensive local knowledge of the various aspects such as local values. We have a data base stretching back 14 years with over 30000 entries relating to property values across our area of operation. Our surveyors Cambridgeshire have built up an unrivalled knowledge of the area including localised subsidence problems, knowledge of the flood areas as well as such things poor loadbearing subsoils such as the peat areas in the fens. We have also become knowledgeable on the types of construction that are associated with the Cambridgeshire area. Such as rubble filled stone walls, the various thatching materials used and early timber framed buildings. A surveyor from another area will be lacking in this knowledge. So when buying in Cambridgeshire use surveyors Cambridgeshire based. If you select a Building Survey (formerly known as a Structural Survey) or a Homebuyers Survey then the report will take advantage the Surveyor´s extensive local knowledge.
We are here to help you with one of the biggest decisions you will have to make.
We are on hand to provide local advice on all aspects of property purchase from construction, common defects to advice on local environment problems or ground problems right through to valuation issues and local property markets. Don´t hesitate to talk our local professionals, surveyors Northampton, surveyors Northamptonshire, surveyors Peterborough and surveyors Cambridgshire.
