Home Condition Report.

Click here to see an example of a Home Condition Report

Approximately 75% of homebuyers do not have a survey undertaken on their behalf and often they unknowingly rely on the mortgage valuation to assure them of the properties condition.

This mortgage valuation is not in fact a survey, it’s merely a valuation carried out on behalf of the mortgage lender.

The valuation report will only list items that materially affect the value of the property and may not detail other defects that may be of greater significance to the purchaser.

It is planned that mortgage valuation inspections will become a thing of the past in the near future and automated valuation models will be used to obtain a properties value, this means it will be carried out in an office and there will not be any form of site visit at all.

So the HCR is an objective report compiled during a detailed and careful inspection of a home and can be included with the Home Information Pack for the property.

Our qualified and licensed Home Inspector undertakes the report. The Home Condition Report is signed off by the Home Inspector and is then electronically loaded into the Home Condition Report database.

The Home Inspector and the Home Condition Report have public indemnity insurance that lasts a minimum of 6 years from the date of the inspection.

With the new system there is opportunity to determine the condition of a property before it is marketed. Homeowners and Estate agents will now be able to make informed decisions on the marketing of the property and importantly prospective buyers will now be able to proceed in confidence.

The HCR will remove the potential of re-negotiation stresses and additional expenses that are all so often presented following the results of a survey that is undertaken after an offer has been accepted.

We write the Home Condition Report in plain English without technical jargon. The inspection is a thorough assessment of the elements of the building and its grounds. The report also includes an Energy assessment (Energy Performance Certificate, EPC) of the property.

If your property is in good condition the HCR will confirm this fact to all potential buyers. Should the report highlight defects it gives you the seller the option to rectify before the property is marketed or even obtain quotations so a potential purchaser can see what the cost of repair is likely to be.

Prospective buyers can review the comments in the HCR and this way will have an overview of the condition before viewing your property, with the HCR in place potential buyers can make an informed decision to proceed in confidence.

The HCR advantage could potentially result in more viewings of your property and therefore a quicker sale.

Buyers are of course keen to ensure that their potential investment is sound. If the property you are thinking of buying does not have a Home Condition Report, either insist on one being carried out by the seller or we can prepare one on your behalf and provide you with up-to-date information so that you to make that "informed" decision.

Our sincere aim is to help make your property buying and selling experience less risky, less expensive and less of a headache.

So what's in the report? The report is divided in to 8 parts – sections A to H.

Section A

Explains the report content and the extent of the report Gives definitions of the condition rating.

Section B

General information about the property Summary of the condition ratings Insurance reinstatement cost.

Section C

Solicitor or Conveyancer matters Health & Safety risks Other risks (eg. flooding).

Section D

Chimneys, roof coverings, gutters, walls, windows, claddings and external decorations.

Section E

Roof structure, ceilings, internal walls, floors, built in fitments and internal woodwork. Section F Gas, electricity, heating, water and drainage. Section G Permanent sheds and garages Patio areas and garden walls.

Section H

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)