With most firms of surveyors, the Building Survey is the most comprehensive property investigation available. However, at Gowers Surveyors, we are prepared to go one step further, offering clients our Historic Building Survey.
What is a Historic Building Survey?
In our previous post, we looked at how buyers or homeowners can determine whether a Building Survey is the most appropriate choice for their property. One of the key factors we mentioned is age of the building, with older properties – particularly homes constructed before 1919 – being especially suited to a more detailed report than a RICS HomeBuyer Report the comprehensive nature of a Building Survey.
Historic Building Surveys are specifically designed to take into account the historic nature of the building in question, providing specialist insight into the quirks of its construction that may affect its future stability. This includes a thorough look into period features, including solid walls, historic plumbing systems, thatched roofs, timber frames and faulty or non-existent damp-proof courses.
These features all have specific characteristics that will affect the structure and condition of a building, particularly as it gets older. With a Historic Building Survey, you can gain a better understanding of how to manage these as a homeowner.
How does a Historic Building Survey differ from a Building Survey?
For the most part, the structure and depth of a Historic Building Survey matches that of a standard Building Survey. However, Building Surveys are often chosen to accommodate a property’s size, unusual construction methods or extensive modifications, or to investigate a known defect, rather than due to their age alone. If the building has been constructed relatively recently, there may be little specialist maintenance or repair advice required.
With a Historic Building Survey, you will be guaranteed a surveyor with experience in homes that are of a similar age, style and construction of the property you need to have investigated. Your report will include detailed observations about any defects found in the fabric of the property, and the surveyor will include specific recommendations about maintenance and repairs to keep the building a good working order for years to come.
Whether it’s an impressive country cottage or a humble Victorian terrace, if there is a period property that you would like to discuss with our experts, please get in touch. In addition to property surveys, our team can assist with valuations, defect analysis, party wall matters and more. Simply send an enquiry via our contact page or call your nearest branch to speak with us directly.