When you’re looking round a prospective new home it can often be difficult not to focus on the out of date decorations, or to not get carried away with amazing decorating. But it is vital to look beyond this so you can get a good idea of the condition of the building.

We’re not all property experts with years of surveying experience, but if you know what to look for you can identify problems that may need more attention. It is always advisable to have a survey carried out by a qualified surveyor, but before you do so you want to be able to establish which properties are worth a second visit and which issues in your chosen property you want to ask your surveyor about.

Check the condition of the external walls for any distortion or cracking. This could suggest a serious problem, but it is one that can often be rectified easily and relatively cheaply.

Inside the property check the walls for damp patches, flaky paint and peeling wallpaper – this could indicate a problem with penetrating or rising damp or damp due to condensation. Rising damp will usually occur below a meter and a half above ground level on the inside surface of external walls; damp above this suggests penetration damp from leaks or inadequately maintained gutters; condensation damp will be present in bathrooms and kitchens and may indicate poor ventilation and heating.

A damp proof course is installed at least 150mm above ground level to prevent damp rising into a building. It is therefore important to check flower beds and driveways have not been fitted at a higher level than the damp proof course as this could result in a serious damp problem.

If you spot any of these issues when viewing the property bring them to the attention of your surveyor and they will be able to advise you on how serious they are and whether any remedial work needs to be carried out.

Call us today on 0800 0147528 to talk to one of our friendly experts.