A House / Apartment Pre-Purchase Survey gives a potential buyer an impartial evaluation of the overall condition of a property prior to purchase. It provides peace of mind, drastically reducing risk associated with what is for most people the largest purchase that they will make.
Its primary function is to identify structural failure or defect, and significant damp issues. It also provides information on items that may need to be maintained, repaired or replaced. It identifies issues that could or will incur significant cost to remedy. This inspection will help you to avoid a ‘Money Pit’ type property, or at least make you aware of issues if you proceed.
The survey and detailed report provides the information that you need to make an informed purchasing decision on the property.
A Pre-Purchase Survey also assists your solicitor with title issues.
It identifies evident alterations that may require Planning Permission and / or a Certificate of Compliance. We frequently check vendor Opinions and Certificates of Compliance to ensure that they match the scope of the extensions or alterations that are described. It is amazing how often certification is inaccurate or inadequate.
If a Title or PRA (Property Registration Authority) Land Registry Compliant Map check is necessary, then this can also be carried out for an additional fee if a map is provided by your solicitor.
We also make you aware of evident potential boundary issues and breaches as part of inspection.
There are two types of property inspection:
- House / Apartment Pre-Purchase Survey for second hand properties.
- Snag List for new houses / apartments.
Quite simply by reputation, referral and rates. At Perri & Associates Registered Building Surveyors we get approximately 90% of our business through referral from Brokers, Solicitors, Lending Institutions and most importantly, our Customers. Also, we have some of the most competitive rates in the Dublin area. So Why Choose Us?
One of the most important factors to consider is whether the Registered Surveyor specialises in Pre-Purchase House and Apartment Surveys.
At Perri & Associates Registered Building Surveyors, Pre-Purchase Surveys form the core of our business and are our speciality. We inspect any type of property of any age and evident condition.
As residential surveyor specialists we can offer a comprehensive service including:
- House and Apartment Pre-Purchase Surveys
- Mortgage Valuations
- BER
- Opinions / Certificates of Compliance
- PRA / Land Registry Compliant Maps
Registered Building Surveyor status is considered the highest and legally required standard.
State Registration for Building Surveyors is now a Legal Requirement. You should only engage a Registered Building Surveyor to Survey your new home.
Most Registered Building Surveyors are Building Surveying Division Chartered Members of CIOB ( Chartered Institute of Building), SCSI (Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland), or CABE (Chartered Association of Building Engineers) Members.
Many Registered Building Surveyors are Chartered Members of more than one of the above organisations.
These three institutions are the main recognised bodies for Building Surveyors under the legislation. Suitably qualified state assessed members of these three institutions, CIOB, SCSI, and CABE are considered as being competent to practice as Registered Building Surveyors.
It is ultimately Registration that determines eligibility and fitness to practice as a Building Surveyor. Registered Building Surveyors have had to undergo rigorous scrutiny under both Institution and State Registration process, during which relevant qualification, training and experience is assessed.
A Registered Building Surveyor must act in accordance with strict Code of Conduct of The Institutions mentioned above, and the State Registration Board.
A Registered Building Surveyor must also carry adequate Professional Indemnity Insurance.
This is why you should only choose a Registered Building Surveyor.
The Register is maintained by the Society of Chartered Surveyors.
You can use the following links:
https://www.scsi.ie/registration/registration
https://registrationbody.scs.ie/public_register/building_surveyors
Our Registration Number is B0169
https://registrationbody.scs.ie/public_register/building_surveyors?start=p
Simple. It’s a Survey – Choose a Surveyor specialising in this area.
A specialist Registered Building Surveyor has vast experience in carrying out Residential Surveys, and is suitably trained and specialises in this area. We have carried out over 10,000 Surveys since establishment as private practice surveyors in 2002.
There are many cross over’s in the work carried out by Surveyors, Engineers and Architects, however normally each specialise in certain areas.
As Registered Building Surveyors we specialise in House and Apartment Surveys and have vast experience in this area.
Pre-Purchase Surveys are a core competency of Registered Building Surveyors. That’s why its best to choose a Registered Surveyor for this type of work. Building Surveyors also specialise in relevant related areas, such as Compliance Certification, Land / Boundary Issues and Mapping and have a comprehensive understanding of many other areas that arise as part of a property purchase.
You also have the added protection of State Registration of Building Surveyors. There is currently no similar state registration for Engineers.
PS: We are also Engineers so you are getting the best of both when you choose us!
Buying a new home may be the biggest single investment you’ll ever make. While the house you have selected may seem ideal, how can you be sure there aren’t potentially serious hidden defects, which may make your dream home a costly one indeed! To avoid unpleasant surprises, you should learn as much as you can about the property’s condition and need for repairs before you buy. Having your future new home inspected by a Registered Building Surveyor as early as possible in the buying process could save you a potential fortune on unexpected maintenance and repairs of evident defects.
Where issues are identified, you may be able to adjust / reduce the purchase price accordingly with the vendor. This is becoming increasingly common.
The cost of even small repairs, which can run into thousands of euro, far exceeds the minimal cost of a Building Pre-Purchase Survey.
Don’t leave it until the last minute!
In the case of a Second Hand House or Apartment, it is vitally important to have as much information about the property you are proposing to buy as early as is possible in the buying process and therefore you should have a Pre-Purchase Survey carried as soon as is possible (ideally as soon as possible after paying a booking deposit to the agent) to help make an informed decision on how to progress.
In the case of a newly built House or Apartment, inspection is normally carried out when the builder informs you that the property is ready to have a Snag List completed.
Very few houses are perfect. When problems or defects are identified, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t buy the house, only that you will know in advance what to expect. A seller may make repairs or adjust the purchase price if any major problems are found. If you are working within a fixed budget, or if you do not wish to become involved in significant renovation or repair work, having this information will be very important to you.
We do not scaremonger. We will only advise against your proceeding where significant issues are found.
A more important question is how long it should take.
For most people, this is one of the most important purchases that you will ever make. It is essential that you take your time. Many issues that can arise over time may be missed if your team are in too much of a hurry to take the appropriate time required. Inspection findings often take time to consider, with issues such as evident boundary breaches and planning / compliance certification for alterations requiring time to assess, including further discussion and documentary evidence to be requested and considered. Often title issues will need to be referred to your solicitor for assessment and confirmation.
It is important that you engage a Registered Building Surveyor as early in the purchase process as possible, ideally immediately a booking deposit is paid to the estate agent.
As a rule, the inspection is generally within a week of booking, we will discuss findings with you directly after the inspection, and a formal written report is generally about 3 – 5 working days from the date of inspection.
Note: Work on your own timescale as much as possible. Purchasers are under increasing pressure to hurry, from Estate Agents, Vendors, Banks, and even their own Solicitors. Take your time. If a mistake is made due to undue haste, none of the aforementioned people will pay the price, you will.
As stated earlier, don’t leave it until the last minute. It is vitally important that you engage a Registered Building Surveyor as early in the purchase process as possible, ideally immediately a booking deposit is paid to the estate agent.
Having relevant information as early as possible can help to prevent unnecessary delays.
Note that it is also becoming increasingly common to engage a Surveyor to inspect the property ahead of making an offer. This is completely acceptable.
Of course you can, that’s no problem at all. If you wish to come along, we suggest that it be towards the end of the inspection, so we have had a chance to look at the property for some time with minimum distraction, and will be better able to answer any questions that you might have.
The only thing that we ask is that you confirm that it is okay to come along with the Estate Agent, as they are responsible for the property and any attendance can only be with their permission.
There is no standardised format of survey reporting in Ireland. Surveyors have generally developed their own form of reporting, therefore report format, type and content varies greatly between Surveyors, Engineers and Architects.
- Our report format works.
- It is brief, easy to understand, and to the point.
- It covers all relevant matters appropriate to the property type, age, condition and relevant findings.
- It has been developed over a decade, and is tried and tested.
Our reporting format is preferred by Solicitors and Banks. It eliminates confusion and minimises issues with banks that can lead to unnecessary delays.
Our reports are tailored to each individual property and focus on the issues that we know matter to you as a purchaser, based on our vast experience with previous clients.
NOTE: We avoid unnecessarily long types of reporting, littered with needless photographs. It is our experience that this type of reporting can lead to issues with banks due to common issues looking more serious than they actually are, and confusion created simply due to too much content. Also, relevant items / content can get lost or be overlooked due to the sheer volume of this type of reporting.
We do not promote recommendation by Estate Agents due to this issue. If you are taking a recommendation by an Estate Agent, we recommend that you proceed with caution.
At Perri & Associates Registered Building Surveyors we get approximately 90% of our business through referral from Brokers, Solicitors, Lending Institutions and most importantly, our Customers.
We maintain a list of estates and developments with known or suspected Pyrite.
Also, many buyers find it difficult to remain completely objective about the house they want, often affecting their judgement. Our home inspection gives the buyer a clear, impartial, professional evaluation of the overall condition of the house or apartment, and items that require attention.
At Perri & Associates Registered Building Surveyors, we operate daily in the entirety of Dublin, and surrounding counties. We are used to carrying out inspections in all areas.
We also provide a Nationwide Service at request.
Our rates are quite competitive, and you can rest assured that you are not receiving any added value by paying another Surveyor more.
