When buying a property, can you simply purchase and move in? No, there are numerous legal issues to consider before doing so. If one or all people involved in the sale have responsibilities such as finance and employment, then conveyancing includes a survey.
The surveyor will measure all aspects of the property, including rooms, boundaries and plots of land. This post involves what you need to know about what does include in a survey and how you can have a less stressful road to your next property purchase.
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The Role of a Surveyor in Conveyancing
A surveyor is an independent expert who researches and evaluates all aspects of a property and its surrounding area. They ensure that the property you buy is legally developed and in the best possible condition.
The benefits that a surveyor can offer are many, but here are some of the most common:
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1. Property Inspection
A surveyor will look at every aspect of what’s happening with your property – from structural issues like dampness or leaks to garden problems like weeds or soil erosion.
The more detailed the report is, the better informed you will be about any health risks or maintenance issues that might affect your decision.
The role of a surveyor in conveyancing is to ensure that the property under purchase is in good condition and meets the required legal requirements for the title. That includes ensuring no outstanding debts on the property and that any defects get rectified.
A surveyor will also inspect the property itself, checking that its owner has maintained it properly and that previous owners have not neglected this maintenance.
The surveyor will also check on the condition of the land, including its soil quality and quality of water supply, so that it can be useful for future development purposes.
The surveyor may also survey the property, taking measurements and photographs of any walls and other features. They can also help assess any environmental issues with the property, such as pollution or flooding risks.
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2. Offering an Independent View
If you are buying a new home or an older property, your solicitor may recommend that you have one or more surveys carried out before signing any contracts. Such will help you to make an informed decision about whether or not to buy a particular property
Surveyors provide an independent view of the property. They can document the property’s condition, including its physical features and defects.
Such can include a comparison between the legal and physical descriptions of the property. Indeed, it may be useful in determining if there has been any change to its condition.
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3. Evaluating Standards
The role of a surveyor in conveyancing is to ensure that the property getting purchased meets the minimum standards set by law. They also have to check that all of the documents are in order before signing them, and if there are any defects, they will get noted and rectified.
The surveyor will ensure that the property complies with all building regulations, such as fire and health and safety regulations. Such includes ensuring the property got built according to current building regulations, which are regularly updated.
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4. Assessing the Property’s value
When assessing the condition of the land, they will look at things like soil structure, vegetation growth, soil type and general appearance. If there are any problems with the soil structure or vegetation cover, these could cause issues with its value later on down the line when trying to sell it.
Buyers need to check out these things before making an offer so that they do not waste their time or money.
A surveyor will be able to give you valuable advice when it comes to your property and its value. They can provide you with information on the market value of your property so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it is worth selling or buying.
They also have access to all the latest data about what is happening in the real estate market at any given time. That means they are in the right position to advise you on whether or not it is worth selling or buying your home now and how much money you should expect to get for it in the future.
A surveyor can advise on improving your home’s value to increase its resale value when it comes time to sell it.
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5. Courts Representation
The role of a surveyor in conveyancing is to be an expert witness who prepares a report for the court on the legal aspects of a proposed transaction.
The report will include details on the title to be transferred, the land, its location and other properties involved with the transfer.
The surveyor will also advise on how much compensation should get paid under certain circumstances. Such cases could be when there is a change in ownership. Or if there is a change in the use of the property.
Also read: Conveyancing Fees For Buying and Selling Your Property
6. Land Subdivision & Management
A surveyor’s role is to ensure that the plan is accurate and up to date. It involves taking measurements of all properties involved in the transaction so that they are correctly located on the plan and also checking that they comply with any planning restrictions which may apply.
The surveyor will also ensure that all relevant information about each property gets accurately recorded on the plan.
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In Conclusion
The surveyor is a key part of the conveyancing. Without his report of title, the client could face many problems. They may range from being unable to register the property to re-negotiating with all parties who own what and where.
A conveyancing solicitor will deal with most, if not all, issues which may occur and have some liability, but he would not be surprised by anything the surveyor found.
The surveyor’s role is to provide an objective view of the property. It’s up to you to ensure that your client gets presented with all the information they need to decide, not just the positive facts you want them to see.
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