Residential Homebuyer Survey Reports prepared with skill and care by South Cheshire’s leading firm of Chartered Surveyors.
If you are contemplating buying a home – whether it is your first home, whether you are buying somewhere bigger, or buying somewhere smaller, you want peace of mind that you are making a sound purchase. The R.I.C.S. / I.S.V.A. Homebuyer Report Service is designed to give you that peace of mind, and sound professional advice. After all, buying a house is the biggest investment most people make in their lives. Ask yourself these questions:

Why Do I need my own Survey ?
 

The best way to reach an informed decision on such an important investment as a home is to have a professional survey and valuation of the property, which interests you. Before you decide to go ahead and commit yourself legally, you can minimise the risks by asking Brooker & Co Chartered Surveyors to answer these important questions for you:
  • Is the agreed price a reasonable one?
  • Are there drawbacks to the property which I don’t know about?
  • If so, what do I need to do about them?
Commissioning your own survey is the simple, economical way to avoid unpleasant – and perhaps costly surprises after moving in. In some cases, we may even be able to help you renegotiate the price – which could save you £1000’s of pounds.

I’ve already had to pay the Mortgage Company for a Mortgage Valuation Report – why should I have another report as well ?
 

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 survey by us. The Consumers’ Association “Which?” magazine and the Council of Mortgage Lenders both recommend that you have an individual survey undertaken.

The reason is simple…. The Mortgage Valuation Report is prepared for the lender – not for you, the borrower. It answers only the lender’s questions concerning the appropriate security for your loan. You cannot rely on it to answer the questions, which concern your personal interests.

What choice of Surveys do I have ?
 

Brooker & Co. offer two forms of survey which are specifically tailored to a Home Buyers requirements:

Building Surveys (formerly called Full Structural Surveys)

A Building survey is suitable for all residential properties and provides a full picture of their construction and condition. It is likely to be needed if the property is, for example, of unusual construction, is dilapidated or has been extensively altered – or where a major conversion or renovation is planned. It is very much tailored to a client’s individual requirements. The report includes extensive technical information on construction, and materials used, as well as details of the whole range of defects, major to minor. The inspection can be fairly invasive (subject to client requirements and vendor's consent).

The HOMEBUYER SERVICE 

By contrast, the HOMEBUYER Service is in a standard format and is designed specifically as an economy service. It differs from a Building Survey in two major respects:
 
  • It is intended only for particular types of houses, flats and bungalows – those which are of conventional type and construction
  • Apparently in reasonable condition
  • The Service focuses on essentials. Defects and problems which are urgent or significant and thus have an effect upon the value of the property – although it also includes a lot more information too.


The HOMEBUYER Service, unlike a Building Survey, provides not only a survey but also a Valuation, and an opinion of value for Insurance purposes too, as an integral part of the service.

What Else Do I Need To Know About the HOMEBUYER Service ?
 

The HOMEBUYER Survey &Valuation Report is :
  • An economy package. Because of the practical limits on the type of property and on the scope of its coverage, The HOMEBUYER Service is priced at a mid range level. Whilst this is more expensive than a Mortgage Valuation Report, it is considerably cheaper than a Building Survey
  • Our main objective in providing the Service is to assist you to:
    1. Make a reasoned and informed judgement on whether or not to proceed with the purchase
    2. Assess whether or not the property is a reasonable purchase at the agreed price
    3. Be clear what decisions and actions should be taken before contracts are exchanged by the lawyers.
    4. Give our professional opinion on features of the property which affect its present value, and which may affect its future resale value
  • The Concise report covers the building inside and outside, the services and the site. It focuses on the defects and other problems which in our judgement, as Chartered Surveyors are urgent or significant. It also covers
      • - the general condition and particular features of the property
      - particular points which should be referred to your solicitor
      - other relevant considerations concerning, for example, safety, the location, the environment, or perhaps insurance.
Matters which are judged not urgent or significant are not included in the report, but we will mention matters which we think will be helpful and constructive.

How do I order ?
 

Simple – contact us by email, or telephone us or fax us - tell us where the property is, what the property is e.g. 2 Bed Bungalow, 4 Bed Detached, the approximate age, and the Proposed Purchase Price, and which service you require.

We will then telephone you or email you if you prefer, and confirm the price for the report. 

Upon your approval we will inspect the property within 3 working days and provide you with our finished report within a further 7 days. We will also mail a complimentary copy of the report to your chosen solicitor if required.

Brooker & Co. - The Service Never Stops – At Brooker & Co. we are not content just to do a fabulous job for you, we want you to be delighted with us. We are pleased to spend time with customers and will explain any part of the report which you do not understand (we try wherever we can to use plain English anyway – we won’t blind you with science or building terms). Sometimes it just helps to talk to an understanding person, who can look at the property objectively


Hidden Defects Insurance now available
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