Pre-Purchase Building Survey
Know what you are buying – before you sign.
A property can look flawless at first sight, but its true technical condition only becomes clear through a thorough expert survey. I help uncover the hidden faults and the likely risks so you can decide with confidence before you buy.
Why does a pre-purchase survey matter?
A property is more than what you see at first glance
What do I examine?
You get a complete picture of the property’s technical condition
01
Condition of the load-bearing structures
02
Signs of damp and water ingress
03
Roof structure and façade
04
Drainage arrangements
05
Comparison of documentation with the actual condition
06
Technical consequences of earlier alterations
07
Options for upgrading and extending
08
Assessment of the surroundings
A transparent process,
with professional support
Getting in touch and arranging a date
Preliminary review of the available documentation
On-site technical inspection
Preparation of the architectural review documentation
Professional summary and recommendations
What do you get at the end of the assessment?
Not just faults – real reference points for your decision
- An objective professional opinion
- An overview of the problems identified
- A summary of the renovation work likely to be needed
- An evaluation of the risks
- Where needed, help in judging a realistic purchase price
- Further recommendations for the long-term maintenance of the property
- A more confident basis for your decision or your negotiating position
Who is it for?
This service is for you if…
01
you want to buy a house or a flat;
02
you would rather not decide on looks alone;
03
you want to know the property’s technical condition in advance;
04
it matters to you that there are no unexpected costs;
05
you want to put your buying decision on firmer ground;
06
you want an expert opinion before signing the contract.
Frequently asked questions
What people usually ask about pre-purchase surveys
Depending on the property and the people involved, the date of the survey has to be agreed with the owner, with the estate agent handling the sale, and where necessary with other professionals too.
Because several people’s schedules may need to be coordinated, arranging a date is not always quick or straightforward. It is therefore worth flagging the survey early in the buying process so that a suitable time can be found for everyone involved.
The aim is to hold the inspection at a time when the property is fully accessible and the rooms, outbuildings, plant spaces and other areas needed for the survey can all be viewed.
The duration depends on the size, type and condition of the property and on how detailed the survey is. An on-site survey of an average family house typically takes 1–1.5 hours.
The aim is not to get round the property as quickly as possible, but to allow enough time to review the important structural, mechanical and other technical aspects.
The service is primarily for buyers of residential property – houses, terraced and semi-detached homes and flats.
For other property types it is worth checking in advance, as the content of the survey can be adapted to the building’s use and technical characteristics.
You do not need any special equipment for the on-site survey. If you have them, it is worth bringing along or sending in advance the property’s floor plans and drawings, documentation of earlier renovations, the energy performance certificate, the title deed and the map extract.
If you already have specific questions or concerns about the property, it helps to raise those in advance too.
Yes. I record the findings of the on-site survey in a written professional summary. It sets out the more important faults found, the risks, the renovation work likely to be needed, and any circumstances that could be relevant to your buying decision.
We discuss the problems found during the survey and, where possible, I assess their significance from a technical point of view, their likely consequences and the ways they could be remedied; if necessary I recommend involving other specialist engineers (a structural engineer, for example).
A more serious fault does not always mean the property is not worth buying. The more important question is what it would cost to deal with, by what technical means and over what timescale.
Yes – indirectly, certainly. The faults identified and the likely renovation costs can be an important consideration when judging the purchase price.
A survey is not a valuation, but it can give you objective technical information to weigh up more soundly whether the property really is a good decision at the price you find acceptable.
My services are available in Pécs and throughout Baranya County.