Pre-Purchase Drain Surveys Explained
When buying a property, the drains may not be the first thing you think about. This type of inspection is often overlooked but it’s still advisable to carry out a pre-purchase drain survey just like roof, plumbing, electrical, and central heating surveys. The optimal function of your new property’s drains is not just important for your home, but it can also save you money as a fault in the drainage system can be expensive to sort out after a property purchase goes through.
What are the advantages of a pre-purchase drains survey?
The biggest advantage of obtaining a pre-purchase drain survey is that should a problem arise before you move into your new home, any costs involved can be covered by the current homeowner’s insurance policy. Once you’ve signed the completion papers and moved into the property, you’ll be responsible for raising the costs yourself. It is advantageous to pay a one-off price for a drain survey in order to avoid potential problems later on.
Spotting potential problems prior to a purchase
The performance of drains can be compromised through cracked pipes, root ingress, or blockages. These kinds of problems are a nightmare to fix by homeowners, especially when left neglected. Drainage repair can be costly and as such, the new purchaser may be forced to default on their mortgage.
Pre-purchase drain survey cost
The standard pre-purchase drain survey cost usually falls between £100 and £400. It usually depends on the size of the property being surveyed, the drainage system and other factors.
The average cost without additional services (mapping, video materials, etc.) is £95 + VAT.
Pre-purchase drain surveys identify the exact location of any possible problems, as well as the cause. These surveys allow our specialists to estimate the cost of the necessary repairs, which could affect real estate costs. Our goal is to save your money, time and disruption.
What is involved in a drains survey and who conducts it?
When it comes to drains, the surveyor cannot inspect the condition below ground unless they use special equipment. This is why it’s important to contact a drains specialist who has access to CCTV equipment in order to carry out the inspection. When buying a new home or selling it, the mortgage company or a structural surveyor will most likely request to see a pre-purchase drainage report at short notice. This report is often required prior to exchanging contracts.
To book such a survey, you can simply contact Express Drainage Surveys and arrange a suitable time. A homebuyers drain survey doesn’t take much time to carry out, as we use a non-invasive technique of passing a CCTV drain survey camera through the drainage system.
The innovative CCTV technology allows our specialists to view and identify the signs of damage, cracks, or debris buildup in real time. A DVD recording will be provided which is proof that a thorough inspection of the drains system has been carried out by professionals on behalf of the homeowner.