J.J. Dell & Co. Estate Agents carry out property surveys and valuations coveringOswestry and into the Welsh Borders and are qualified by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. J.J. Dell has practiced in the area for many years and has extensive knowledge and expertise in all types of property in the area. J.J. Dell & Co. is a completely independent practice and is not owned by a building society or bank, maintaining a sole allegiance to you, our Client. Great care is taken in the quality and content of our considered property reports and will always take time to discuss the property survey findings with you, so that you can make an informed decision about your purchase.

In the unlikely event of a problem, we have a strict complaints procedure and, being members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, we are fully insured.

A good property survey can save you money and will provide you with considerable peace of mind.

There are different types of property Valuations and Survey available and our summary below explains what you can expect from each type of Property Report. For more detailed information, please do not hesitate to contact one of our Surveyors.

Property Valuations

A Property Valuation is an inspection carried out on behalf of your Mortgage Lender to determine the amount and terms of a Mortgage offer. We act for numerous Lenders and are electronically linked to most, to enable a quick turnaround of reports, thus avoiding any unnecessary delays.

A Valuation is not a Survey, and should not be used as the only basis for deciding whether or not to buy. A property can have defects that are critical to a prospective Buyer, but are not of concern to the Mortgage Lender, and therefore, will not appear in a Valuation Report. Some Mortgage Lenders do not release their reports for you to see. It is advisable and prudent to arrange a Survey by your own Chartered Surveyor, providing independent advice.

Both The Consumers' Association publishers of Which? Magazine and The Council of Mortgage Lenders advise you to arrange a survey before buying a property - don't just rely on a Valuation.

Property Surveys

Buying a home is likely to be the largest single purchase you may ever make. It therefore makes good sense to find out more about the property you propose to buy, before being committed to it.

You can minimise the risks involved by asking a Chartered Surveyor to answer these questions for you:

Is the agreed purchase price reasonable?
Are there drawbacks I don't know about?
If so, what do I need to do about them?

Commissioning your own independent Survey, is the simple, economical way to avoid unpleasant - and perhaps costly - surprises after moving in.

Depending on the seriousness of any defects and the cost of necessary repair work identified, you could try to renegotiate the purchase price to reflect the cost of repairs in your offer, or decide not to purchase the property at all.

Different Types of Survey

There are two main types of survey:

The Homebuyers Survey and Valuation (also known as HSV, HBSV or Homebuyer Report)
The Building Survey

The Homebuyer Survey and Valuation Report (HSV)

The Homebuyer Survey and Valuation Report involves a more detailed inspection of the property than the Mortgage Valuation and is a service designed to provide the Client with useful information in an easily read and understandable format at a mid-range cost.

The HSV is a service designed for properties which are of conventional construction and in apparently reasonable condition.

An HSV includes the following information:

The Property's general condition
Any significant defects which may affect its value
Urgent and significant matters that need assessing before exchange of contracts, including recommendations for any further investigation by specialists
Results of testing walls and floors for dampness and timbers for damage, including woodworm and rot
Comments on the existence and condition of damp-proofing, insulation and the services (although the latter will not be tested)
The recommended reinstatement cost for insurance purposes (the anticipated costs of rebuilding a property in the event of damage by fire or other insured risk). This is not the same as the market value of the property
The value of the property will be assessed in the light of its condition, as found on the day of inspection

The main objective is to assist you, the prospective purchaser, in making a reasoned and informed judgement on whether or not to proceed with the purchase and to be clear about what decisions and actions should be taken before Contracts are exchanged.

The Building Survey

This is a comprehensive inspection, suitable for all property types, but especially recommended for:

Listed buildings
Property built before 1900
Property which you plan to renovate or alter
Property which has already had extensive alteration/extension
Property which has been neglected and poorly maintained

The Building Survey involves a detailed examination of all accessible parts of the property and can be tailor-made to suit your individual needs and concerns.

Other Services

We have other services and reports available, such as, Valuation Reports for cash buyers. If you are a cash buyer and do not require mortgage finance, we are able to prepare an individual valuation report to a format approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, where obvious defects are drawn to your attention, but should further assurances be required, a more detailed survey would also be recommended.

Insurance Valuation and House Re-building Costs

It is important that your home is adequately insured, to ensure that you are covered in the unhappy event of partial or total loss by a fire or other insured risk, but also to ensure that you are not over insured and paying excessive premiums.

Probate Valuations, Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax

J.J. Dell & Co. Estate Agents are able to offer this additional service where valuation of assets are required for Inheritance Tax/Capital Gains purposes.

The open market value of any relevant property's assets will be calculated, as at the date of the relevant event. In preparation for a submission of a formal valuation report for the Inland Revenue, we can therefore, handle any negotiations/discussions with the Inland Revenue District Valuers Office, as may be required and agreed, between you and our surveyors.

The Costs

The costs will depend on what type of Survey/Valuation you need. Prices will differ according to the type and value of the Property, its size, age and the likely complexity of the Survey. Contact our nearest office for a free quotation.

If a Valuation or Survey is being arranged on your behalf, perhaps by a bank or building society, they may charge an administration fee for this service. You are entitled to know the amount of the fee being paid to the surveyor and the amount being retained by the lender.

Instructing Your Surveyor

Your instruction may be placed with us at J.J. Dell & Co. J.J. Dell will be happy to discuss any specific information you would like to know about the property you intend to purchase, and to make sure you fully understand what is and what isn't automatically included in the Survey. Read the Terms and Conditions of Survey carefully and double-check with your surveyor if you are unclear about anything. Our Terms of Business will be sent to you after you have discussed and agreed the scope of the service and inspection need.

All of the services above are carried out by Chartered Surveyors who are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Our academic qualifications and training has been approved by the RICS, and we follow a strict code of ethical conduct and professional standards.