PROPERTY SURVEYS ON THE COSTA BLANCA SOUTH, COSTA CALIDA - MURCIA AND ALMERIA, SPAIN

Quick Spanish Property Surveys

SURVEY SPAIN - CHARTERED SURVEYORS - COSTA BLANCA SOUTH - COSTA CALIDA - ALMERIA What is a property Survey? It is a proper check of the general state of a property, carried out by a Chartered Surveyor which certifies and indicates the general conditions of the property you are purchasing. Why have a property Survey? It's essential to get a survey carried out when you have an offer accepted on a property to find out about the condition of the building and make sure that it's worth the price you have offered. It can help you negotiate money off if there is costly work that needs to be done and also help you to budget for any future repairs that might be needed. Many construction techniques in Spain are quite different to those used in other Countries and the survey will point out the benefits, disadvantages and implications of various build methods and allow you to evaluate one property type against another. Defects which are more prevalent in Spain than other Countries include:- insect attack (including termites), steel reinforced concrete decay, water pipe decay and slope subsidence to name just a few. The Survey will assess the building for signs of these and many other possible defects and includes damp meter inspection. CCTV camera inspections are also available where required. While surveyors in Spain may be rare, defects in buildings (new and old) are very common. For new build properties, an interim inspection of the structural elements (prior to completion and final payment) can be highly valuable, in order to highlight any significant omissions or defects which might be covered up later and to help ensure that the constructor addresses any issues, essentially before they have received all monies. Works vigilance is also a common surveyor function, as architect control can be poor in Spain. A snagging service on completion is also available. Are Building Surveyors the same as Architects or Engineers? Building Surveying is a specialist 'stand alone' profession. While Building Surveyors train in design, draughtsmanship and structural calculations, importantly they undergo specialist training in the recognition and understanding of building structure and fabric related defects, remedial solutions and materials. Building Surveyors therefore predominantly specialise in structural condition surveys, while Architects generally specialise in new build and reformation design and specification issues (see link below for architectural services), and Engineers specialise in structural calculations and structural specification for both new build and reparation works. While the professions share some common ground, Engineers and Architects are not Building Surveyors, just as GP's are not Dentists, so it's important that the client consults the right professional for the right task or stage of works. In Europe, Building Surveying is very much a British profession, which is why some estate agents may tell you that 'they don't do surveys in Spain', while it is correct that surveys are less common, there are a hand full of English Surveyors in Spain that offer their services, predominately catering for the demand from UK buyers and producing reports in English such that these buyers can fully understand what they are purchasing. (NB:- there are 19 different and diverse types of surveyor, from Arts and Antiques to Mineral Surveyors. 'Building Surveyors' are the ones that specialise in Structural Surveys. Always check that your surveyor is degree qualified in Building Surveying, belongs to a recognised chartered professional body and holds professional indemnity insurance.Their qualifications should also be officially recognised and registered in Spain. Is a survey a guarantee of condition? A survey is not a guarantee, but a present time assessment of a building, which can be likened to a personal medical or car MOT inspection. Just as a medical or MOT is obviously not a guarantee that illness or breakdowns won't occur in the future, the survey is not a guarantee of future property condition and clients are required to sign a legal disclaimer to this effect.  Will my estate agent be happy with a survey? Most professional estate agents will welcome your request for a survey, though you may find the fact that the service is available locally comes as a surprise to them. A few agents use independent surveyors as part of the whole purchase process, much like in the UK. Normally, in the unlikely event that the survey causes the buyer to seek another property, the same agent will be able to demonstrate alternative properties and therefore a good agent will rarely have a problem with a surveyor giving a property a full inspection (normally 2hrs on site), however in the rare event that an agent actively discourages you from carrying out a survey you should exercise special caution, as they may be worried that you will be made aware of significant defects already known to them. While a few agents and developers wish that surveyors did not exist, most understand that the surveyor has to act entirely in the interests of the prospective buyer and therefore that the survey may occasionally deter them from a purchase. The independent assessment is designed to give the client a completely unbiased third party opinion, paid for directly by the client and without any financial links to any agencies. The Surveyor's remuneration is therefore unaffected, whether or not the buyer decides to progress with the purchase in question. The surveyor will act solely in the interests of the client at all times. for more information please contact us at: Spanish Best Surveyors Team Web: www.spanishbest.com Email: propertySurvey@spanishbest.com Tel: 0034 968 80 84 25 / 0034 648 504 971 / 0034 620 200 823

Spanish Best has employed a qualified Chartered Property Surveyor, highly experienced and registered to provide our customers with the right advise. We provide a fast, personal and simple way of booking your Proeprty Survey. Our assessors will then be in contact within 24 hours to arrange a convenient day and time. How much is the Property Survey? Depending on the size of your property. From 200 € + IVA