Surveys for Home Buyers, Landlords & Property Investors
Understand the property before you commit to buying it.
Sheffield Estate Agents can help buyers, landlords and property investors arrange professional property surveys across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
A property may look perfectly fine during a viewing, but problems with the roof, damp, structural movement, electrics, drainage or previous alterations may not always be obvious.
A professional survey can help you understand the condition of the property, identify potential problems and make a more informed decision before completing your purchase.
Whether you’re buying your first home, moving house or purchasing an investment property, we can help you arrange the appropriate level of survey.
Our Surveying Services
Depending on the property and your requirements, surveying services can include:
- Home Surveys
- Level 2 Home Surveys
- Level 3 Building Surveys
- Property condition assessments
- Surveys for older properties
- Surveys for properties requiring renovation
- Investment property surveys
- Buy-to-let property surveys
- Structural inspections where required
- Defect investigations
- Damp and moisture investigations
- Roof inspections
- Subsidence and movement investigations
- Advice on property alterations
- Reinstatement cost assessments
- Specialist surveys where required
We’ll help you understand the different options so you can arrange a survey suitable for the property you’re purchasing.
Which Property Survey Do I Need?
The right survey will depend on the age, construction, condition and type of property you’re buying.
Level 2 Home Survey
A Level 2 Home Survey is generally suitable for conventional houses and flats that appear to be in reasonable condition.
The survey can help identify significant issues that may affect the property.
It can cover areas such as:
- Roof condition
- Walls and ceilings
- Windows and doors
- Damp
- Insulation
- Visible defects
- Drainage
- Services
- Outbuildings
- General property condition
The report can highlight areas that may require attention or further investigation.
Level 3 Building Survey
A Level 3 Building Survey provides a more detailed assessment of the property.
It may be particularly suitable for:
- Older properties
- Larger properties
- Properties requiring renovation
- Unusual construction
- Properties that have been substantially altered
- Buildings in poor condition
- Properties where major works are planned
The survey provides more detailed information about the building’s construction and condition and can help identify defects and areas requiring repair.
Buying an Older Property?
Sheffield has a large number of older properties, including Victorian and Edwardian terraces, traditional semis and properties that have been extended or altered over the years.
Older properties can have issues that aren’t immediately visible during a viewing.
These may include:
- Damp
- Roof deterioration
- Chimney defects
- Cracking
- Structural movement
- Timber decay
- Poor ventilation
- Outdated services
- Drainage problems
- Previous alterations
- Inadequate insulation
A suitable survey can help you understand the condition of the property before you become legally committed to the purchase.
Surveys for Properties Requiring Renovation
Buying a renovation property can provide an opportunity to create a home or add value, but it’s important to understand what you’re taking on.
A more detailed survey can help identify potential issues before you purchase.
These could include:
- Structural repairs
- Roof replacement
- Damp treatment
- Timber repairs
- Window replacement
- Drainage work
- Internal defects
- External repairs
- Previous poor-quality alterations
- Areas requiring further specialist investigation
Knowing about significant problems before completing can help you plan your refurbishment and budget more realistically.
Surveys for Property Investors
Property investors often assess a property differently from an owner-occupier.
As well as considering the purchase price and rental income, it’s important to understand whether significant repairs or maintenance could affect the investment.
A survey can be particularly useful when purchasing:
- Buy-to-let properties
- HMOs
- Auction properties
- Tenanted investments
- Renovation projects
- Older properties
- Commercial or mixed-use buildings
- Development opportunities
Identifying potential repair costs before purchasing can help you make a better-informed investment decision.
Buying at Auction?
Arrange your checks before bidding wherever possible.
Auction purchases can move quickly and the buyer may become committed to the purchase once a successful bid is accepted, depending on the auction method.
If you’re considering buying an auction property, it can therefore be particularly important to investigate the condition of the building before bidding.
Depending on the property, this could include:
- Property survey
- Structural inspection
- Damp investigation
- Roof inspection
- Drainage survey
- Electrical inspection
- Gas inspection
- Other specialist reports
You should also ask your solicitor to review the auction legal pack before bidding.
Structural Problems
Cracks don’t automatically mean a property has serious structural problems, but some signs may require further investigation.
These can include:
- Significant cracking
- Movement around windows or doors
- Uneven floors
- Bowing walls
- Roof movement
- Previous structural repairs
- Signs of subsidence
- Problems with extensions or alterations
Where appropriate, a surveyor may recommend further investigation by a structural engineer or another specialist.
Damp & Moisture Problems
Damp is a common concern in properties, particularly older buildings.
Possible causes can include:
- Leaking roofs
- Defective guttering
- Plumbing leaks
- Poor ventilation
- Condensation
- Penetrating damp
- High external ground levels
- Defective pointing or render
Rather than simply treating visible symptoms, it’s important to understand the likely source of the moisture.
A professional inspection can help identify areas requiring further investigation or repair.
Roof Inspections
The roof is one of the most important and potentially expensive parts of a property to repair.
A survey may identify issues such as:
- Missing or damaged tiles
- Deteriorated roof coverings
- Defective flashing
- Chimney problems
- Guttering defects
- Signs of water penetration
- Roof structure concerns
- Poorly completed alterations
Where access is limited, further specialist inspection may sometimes be recommended.
Surveys for Flats & Apartments
Buying a flat can involve different considerations from purchasing a house.
The survey will primarily consider the property being purchased, but buyers should also understand the condition and responsibilities relating to the wider building.
Important considerations may include:
- Roof
- External walls
- Windows
- Communal areas
- Building maintenance
- Planned major works
- Service charges
- Leaseholder responsibilities
Your solicitor should separately investigate the lease, service charges, management arrangements and planned works as part of the legal process.
Survey Before You Buy
A survey isn’t simply about finding reasons not to purchase a property.
It can help you understand:
- What condition the property is in
- What repairs may be required
- Which issues require further investigation
- What maintenance may be needed in the future
- Whether you need specialist advice before proceeding
This gives you more information before making one of your biggest financial commitments.
What Happens After the Survey?
Once you’ve received the survey, read the report carefully.
If significant issues are identified, your next steps might include:
- Asking the surveyor for clarification
- Obtaining repair quotations
- Arranging specialist inspections
- Asking your solicitor to investigate an issue
- Discussing the findings with your mortgage adviser
- Reconsidering the purchase
- Discussing the purchase price where appropriate
Not every defect is a reason to withdraw from a purchase.
The important thing is to understand the likely seriousness and potential cost before deciding how to proceed.
Survey vs Mortgage Valuation
These are not the same thing.
Mortgage Valuation
A mortgage valuation is primarily carried out for the lender to help determine whether the property provides suitable security for the mortgage.
It should not be treated as a detailed assessment of the property’s condition.
Property Survey
A property survey is arranged for you, the buyer, and provides information about the condition of the property according to the level of survey selected.
Even if your lender has carried out a mortgage valuation, you may still want to arrange your own property survey.
Why Arrange Your Survey Through Sheffield Estate Agents?
Local Property Knowledge
We work with properties across Sheffield and South Yorkshire and understand the wide range of property types found throughout the area.
Different Surveys Available
From conventional homes to renovation projects and investment properties, we can help you identify the type of survey that may be appropriate.
Independent Professional Surveyors
Where surveying work requires professional qualifications or specialist expertise, inspections are carried out by appropriately qualified independent professionals.
Buyers & Investors Welcome
Our surveying service is available whether you’re purchasing a home to live in or adding another property to your investment portfolio.
More Than Just Property Sales
Through our wider property services, we can help buyers, sellers, landlords and investors throughout different stages of property ownership.
Arrange a Property Survey
Buying a property in Sheffield or South Yorkshire?
Get a better understanding of its condition before you complete your purchase.
Contact Sheffield Estate Agents and tell us:
- Property address
- Property type
- Approximate age
- Number of bedrooms
- Current condition
- Type of survey required, if known
- Any particular concerns you have
We can then discuss the surveying options available.
