Seeking a Surveyor for a Level 3 survey on a Victorian property? What do I need to ask?

[VoniePonie]

Have never sought a surveyor before. And with the added complication of property being Victorian, with a cellar, I'm unsure what questions to ask to find someone appropriate. Can anyone advise?

I'm not sure what questions you think you need to ask... they all do the same job and check the same things.

They should have example reports you can look through which will show you how the report will be laid out.

If you mean which level should you book then a Victorian house with a cellar I would go for level 3.

I just emailed him a list of things I’d specifically like him to check/ look at, and he did. Also flagged a few other things. May be worth asking locally for recommendations of a surveyor who specialises in period properties.

Just go to the RICS website … ? Not sure what is so difficult.

'What is so difficult' ClementineChurchill is that I am assuming that not all surveyors are equal and some have more experience than others re Victorian properties. It's how to get an honest answer re this experience that is an issue for me.

They're much of a muchness. Google surveyors in your area. If your area has lots of Victorian properties then they'll be well used to them.

"Just go to the RICS website … ? Not sure what is so difficult."

Fkins mumsnet.

Join the Facebook Group: Your Old House UK - Repair and Conservation.

You are already asking the right question so you will do fine :)

We went by recommendations locally as we are a conservation area and I wanted somebody who understood what that meant. He has surveyed the property (and honestly, he was worth every single penny) but he also suggested that we speak to a company called Heritage House if we proceed as there are damp issues that need to be rectified and HH are specialises in period properties. It seems that they are also surveyors so they may be an option.

www.heritage-house.org/

Nope they all do the exact same job and all have to be familiar with all standard housing. It's a controlled and registered area of work where they follow specific set our rules (and face legal repercussion if wrong) so not just any Tom, Dick, and Harry can claim to be one on Facebook.

Victorian houses are the standard, they are not unique, unusual or special. If you where going for a legitimately period property thats listed or unusual like the ruins of a castle etc... then I would skip the survey and go straight to an structural engineer.

Google surveyors in your postcode and look at the Google reviews. You can also ask the estate agent for a recommendation.

The important thing to ask is not to the surveyor but to the sellers. You need to ask them to move any belongings and rugs from the floor. Our survey said he couldn't find evidence of any issues, but had disclaimers about not being able to see some areas due to the owners having boxes etc on the floor. Which just happened to be the part of the room that turned out to be riddled with woodworm....

@VoniePonie There are several areas that might be expensive if wrong in a Victorian house. In no particular order.

Roof timbers. Are they sound? Ditto roofing materials. Any leaks?

Is chimney sound? Any damp issues?

Floors. Level and no slopes. Have any alterations affected integrity of the building?

Any signs of subsidence or heave? What’s the condition of the brickwork and guttering?

Is the cellar watertight? How is it used? Is it damp? Is it tanked?

Any signs of damp anywhere? What condition are the windows in? Original ones or new ones?

What insulation is there? Is the drainage and beverage working properly.

Obviously a good survey report will cover all of this but you need to know the extent of expensive faults. Hopefully there aren’t any! Just look at local surveyors who will have experience of local housing.

Based on your viewing of the house, do you suspect anything specific?

The surveyor will, of course, know what to look for, but it’s a good idea to have a good look at the outside of the house yourself, the roof, chimney, flashings, guttering and pipe work, windows, doors and pointing, and if possible the airbricks/ventilation, and see if there is anything that doesn’t look good. If it’s terraced or semidetached you can easily compare with neighbouring houses.

I have never done this, but it might be worth asking sellers to make sure the surveyor can see properly into the loft.

Surveyors are not all the same so well done @VoniePonie for looking for a surveyor who is used to surveying period properties.

SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) may be able to help, periodrproperty forum also.

If you are able to contact your local conservation officer they may know of some.

A L3 survey will still get you reams of paper and backside covering from surveyors but you should ask the surveyor the question, would you buy it. If they say yes there will not be too much wrong with it!