Prepared in an easy to read jargon free standard ten page format designed by the RICS and ISVA covering important defects which need to be attended to as a matter of urgency to protect the property or are likely to have an effect on the properties future saleability. The report includes special sections covering:

• Significant movement of external walls and suspected foundation failure
• serious timber defects such as dry rot and woodworm
• Condensation, penetrating, and rising dampness.
  

These three factors have been found to cause potential purchasers most concern.

Other sections of the report cover: -

Construction, accommodation, location, chimney stacks, roofs, gutters, external joinery, external decoration, roof voids, ceilings, chimney breasts and fireplaces, internal walls, floors internal joinery, decoration, cellars, electric's, gas, water, drainage and heating, external buildings, grounds and boundaries.

Urgent repairs, matters requiring further investigation and maintenance matters are summarised in a handy list.

There is also guidance as to legal matters that you solicitor should be investigating such as right of way, rights to light and maintenance responsibilities for shared service, drives and walls etc.

There is also a summary as to whether the property is a good prospect for purchase, a valuation and estimate of rebuilding costs for insurance purposes.

This type of survey is suitable for most one to four bedroom properties built after 1850 and constructed of brick or stone walls with slate, clay or concrete tile roofs.