Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Guide to choosing between surveys

Good morning everyone

Please find below firstly a video which explains the differences between the types of survey available, together with a link to a PDF of our “Guide to Choosing Between Surveys”.










Link: http://www.now-survey.com/pdfs/choosingbetweensurveys.pdf



I hope you find these helpful. Remember any questions please do email us at info@now-survey.com or call the office on 0845 050 0022.


You can also get a quote for a survey here

Dan

Monday, 23 November 2009

You will like this


I feel a bit like this some days!!

Friday, 20 November 2009

BEFORE YOU BUY A NEW HOME..................

Before you buy your new home - some important points for you to consider ………………

This blog considers the importance of obtaining an independent survey report prior to purchasing a new home.

It would not be unusual when buying a second-hand car to have it thoroughly checked for hidden defects, perhaps by the AA or the RAC or a local mechanic.

The inspection may reveal a great little car that is likely to be good value for money and reliable or it could reveal the exact opposite, a vehicle which appears fine on the surface but upon closer inspection may need a great deal of repair!

Whatever the result the inspection gives the buyer peace of mind that the car that they are buying is in good working order or it enables them to either walk away or negotiate an even better price for the car to take into account the likely cost of any repairs.

Research, however, shows that when it comes to probably our greatest asset, our house, we are less likely to take the same prudent steps.

When purchasing a property most people rely solely on the basic mortgage valuation instructed by and for the mortgage lender.

Research recently conducted by the Bradford and Bingley proves that very often (in 71% of cases), an independent survey saves the client at least the cost of the report in reduction of the purchase price or through the vendor having remedial works carried out prior to exchange of contracts.

now survey has seen a substantial increase over the last few months in the levels of survey instructions, probably as a result of a slight recovery of the property market but may be also as a result in these toughened economic times of buyers wanting to be sure that they are obtaining true value for money and that they are not likely to be exposed to any future problems.

Most major lenders and solicitors do now suggest that their customers obtain an independent survey in addition to a basic mortgage valuation but astonishingly still only about 20% of the people actually commission a survey at a greater level than a mortgage valuation.

At now survey we are very aware that what people are buying from us is peace of mind and an “insurance policy” against defects being present in the property.

Many of our clients have walked away from purchases as a result of information that we have brought to their attention that they wouldn’t otherwise have had, or alternatively are able to negotiate a reduction in the purchase price to take into account defects or problems that are likely to have cost implications moving forward.


By far the vast majority of our clients however are very pleased to find that actually there are no issues with their property and they can proceed with the purchase safe in that knowledge.

For a quote visit our web site - http://www.now-survey.com/




Thursday, 19 November 2009

A treat for you..............................



What can I say?

Air tight buildings - but can they breathe?

The increasing requirement of the Building Regulations for air tight buildings, in particular in compliance with Part L of the Building regulations has seen new problems emerge and issues surrounding “building health”. Often these issues are caused because of lack of care by on site contractors not as a result of inadequate design. Even small failures on site by the builders can result in extensive problems including:
  • Rot, damp and decay of timber materials
  • Condensation leading to mould growth
  • Corrosion and possible intermittent electrical faults
  • Health concerns from indoor air quality problems
  • Odours & staining

The causes are varied but can include:

  • Missing insulation
  • Thermal bridging
  • Poor detailing resulting in water or air leaks
  • Vapour and air barrier issues
  • Membrane and water proofing failures

Example: Buildings from Hell TV program


This recent TV program showed the typical problems associated with modern construction which resulted in significant decay and health issues from mould growth not to mention significant and loss of property value.

Click here to read an associated newspaper article

Don’t forget the importance of a survey before you buy!


For a quotation go here or call the team on 0845 050 0022.

Monday, 16 November 2009

Landlord Forms, Documents, Agreements & Notices - Free Online Resource

Buy to let landlord?

This free online resource provides a selection of forms, notices and other documents commonly needed during the course of tenancies. All are entirely free to download and use.

Other than prescribed forms, and legal forms in required format, letters and forms are generally suggestions and are available in Word format so that they can be edited and personalised to meet your particular circumstances.


Click here to access this free online resource

You can also direct any queries to our property management team - call them on 0845 050 0022

Saturday, 14 November 2009

The potential of the wind

Whilst in the UK wind power remains a largely untapped source (wind supplies only between 1 and 2 per cent of our electrical needs), other European countries already generate as much as 20 per cent of their electricity from wind farms.

This free guide explains the process of fitting a wind turbine to a domestic property or other building to supplement the local electricity supply, and includes:
  • The key benefits of using a wind turbine
  • 6 steps to installing a small wind turbine
  • A wind turbine planning pack and site survey form

Click here for you free guide

Tuesday, 10 November 2009

Tell us what you want to know......................

Got a property issue or problem you want us to blog about? Maybe an issue with a property defect or a problem relating to neighbours? Do you want some advice before you market your property or about buying a new home? Property management issue?



Email us here and we’ll respond to you personally and post the query and our reply so others can benefit.





now professional team
info@now-survey.com.

Updated Guide to Moving House!





As part of our internet and web site updates we have recently updated our FREE Guide to Moving House – get your copy from our website here

now survey team
info@now-survey.com

Friday, 6 November 2009

Welcome to our new blog

Welcome to our new blog. The purpose of the blog is to share our thoughts in relation to property matters and provide items of interest to our clients and others interested in property

We hope that you will be able to come here to find the answers to questions and helpful advice in relation to property issues. These might relate to:

moving house
surveys
commercial property management
residential management
block management,
building a property
property refurbishment.

Or it may be a technical query relating to
rent review
dilapidations,
building regulation
insurance valuations
fire risk assessment
energy performance certificates


If you cannot find what you are looking for please call the team on 0845 050 0022 or email
info@now-professional.com

You will also find loads of useful advice on our web sites – see the links at the side

Regards

Dan