Overview of Building Survey of a Characterful Detached Home
The property was an attractive and distinctive detached home with considerable character. Despite being of relatively modern construction, its design incorporated more traditional architectural features and a varied external arrangement, including boundary structures and sloping areas of ground.
For a purchase of this nature, the client wanted more than a general overview of condition. The Level 3 survey was therefore used to assess the building internally and externally, together with the grounds and other elements falling within the property boundary, with particular attention given to defects, areas of risk and likely future maintenance. Level 3 surveys in Kensington frequently involve properties like this, where traditional detailing and varied grounds call for a closer look.
Our Response
Our inspection identified defects affecting sections of the boundary walls, sloping ground and surface-water drainage.Drainage defects were also noted elsewhere around the property, together with an internal water leak and a number of more minor maintenance items that required consideration. This RICS building survey in Kensington gave the client a clear account of these issues before exchange.
A detailed drone inspection was completed to the main roof coverings and chimney stacks. Our surveyors operate in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority requirements and hold the appropriate competency, registrations and insurance for commercial drone operations. High-resolution 4K imagery allows roof coverings, chimney details and other high-level areas to be examined much more closely than is normally possible from ground level. This forms part of our standard Level 3 inspection where conditions permit, with no additional survey fee.
Method in Brief
- Detailed Level 3 Inspection: A comprehensive inspection of the building, its internal accommodation, external elevations, grounds and accessible elements within the property boundary.
- Drone Roof Survey: High-resolution aerial imagery was used to inspect the roof coverings, chimney stacks and high-level details that could not be adequately assessed from ground level.
- Drainage & External Assessment: Surface-water arrangements, boundary walls and the sloping grounds were reviewed, with defects and associated maintenance requirements identified.
- Defect-Focused Reporting: The report concentrated on defects that were relevant to the purchase, their implications and the practical steps required to investigate, repair or monitor them.
Outcome & Deliverables
The client received a detailed Level 3 report setting out the existing defects, key risk areas and anticipated maintenance requirements. The purpose was not to produce a generic list of warnings, but to give the purchaser a clear and proportionate understanding of the property and the matters that genuinely required consideration before exchange.
Why It Matters
A property can present extremely well while still containing defects that are difficult to identify during a viewing. A thorough Level 3 survey provides the purchaser with an independent assessment of condition and helps distinguish between routine maintenance, matters requiring further investigation and defects that may have a more significant bearing on the purchase. A building survey of this depth is what turns a good first impression into an informed decision.
