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Buying a one or two bedroom conversion
from a larger house which is leasehold or
shared freehold
We are skilled in carrying out surveys on residential properties that have been converted into one or two bedroom apartments from larger properties
As experienced Surveyors we are expert in dealing with all types of property related problems and are pleased to help you with property issues. We have carried out surveys over many years all types of properties. We do not sit on our laurels and are constantly looking to improve our building surveys also known as structural surveys. |
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Lateral damp |
Have a building survey
Our structural building surveys and property reports have over the years identified rising damp, lateral damp, penetrating damp as well as black mould, condensation, thermal bridging, roof problems and structural problems amongst many other issues and believe saved our clients money. |
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Victorian conversion properties Red oval indicates top floor conversion to two bedroom apartment |
Caveat emptor
Caveat emptor means buyer beware and is why you need to have a building survey to find out if there are any problems within the property; the estate agent certainly will not advise you of any.
Remember the building Surveyor that you employ will be the only person working for you with your interests at heart.
The good, bad and ugly survey
We would also like to introduce to you what we call our good, bad and ugly survey which is a building survey which is sometimes known as a structural survey which we have developed over many years, in fact several decades. We have listened to feedback from our clients and amended and altered our surveys to make them easy to read and describe issues clearly. The key factor we believe is our surveys are easy to understand in plain English but do not take our word for it call us on free phone 0800 298 5424 and ask for an example of one of our surveys to be emailed to you.
We have normally carried out a building survey similar to the property you are considering buying and therefore we can show you an example of the type of structural survey you will be receiving. We would recommend that you do not just book a survey but with whoever you decide to have your independent building survey with you talk to them, receive an example survey as well as meet with the surveyor at the property. |
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Rotting sliding sash window |
There are various ideas we have developed over the years to make our surveys more readable everything from 16x optical zoom digital photographs next to the problem which show and explain what the problem is to sketches that clarify any issues particular ones that we cannot photograph but know are present. We have commissioned our own sketches to explain property issues which you will not find with any other Surveyor. |
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Victorian sash window |
For example this is a Victorian sliding sash window of several types used during the Victorian era used to explain the property that you are looking to buy.
House conversionsProbably the most common conversion we come across is a large house conversion to smaller properties such as one or two bedroom apartments which are typically Victorian or Edwardian properties and sometimes Georgian. If this is what you are considering then please see our articles on:
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Edwardian property converted to flats
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However it is worth reading this article as many characteristics are similar when purchasing a converted property. We would say that buying a converted property is a specialist type of property where you need to have a Surveyor who is experienced in this type of work. |
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Victorian property converted to one or two bedroom apartments |
Our building surveys of leasehold and shared leasehold properties
With our building surveys of one and two or even three bedroom converted properties we are conscious you have a liability, albeit a percentage liability for the property as a whole (which is written into the leasehold or shared freehold) and as such we not only look at the particular one or two bedroom property that you are buying we also look at the bigger picture i.e. the property that this is part of and specific problems that may occur.
For example it could be a large rear flat roof extension which you may have a liability for or there could be parapet walls and other known problems that we could help give you advice on. Particularly problems relating to high level work can be costly requiring scaffolding so a structural building survey is essential when buying a property. |
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Problems with parapet walls |
Why not call us on free phone 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat about the property you are looking to buy.
If looking for your first property look out for these property problems
Estate agents do not work for you they work for the seller of the property
We could give a long list of things to look out for but we believe it is most important to understand who is on your side and who is working for the seller such as the estate agent.
Your own Independent Building Surveyor
You need someone who can give you good, honest advice such as your own independent building Surveyor. Without doubt buying your first property is a chief step and a very expensive one also. We find most people by and large look forward to buying their first property in the first few weeks and generally enjoy the process although we would say that as time goes on people can get very irritated with the process of buying a property and always seem to under estimate how much time it will take. We would also say that without doubt people say that it is more expensive than they anticipated. |
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Ceiling light and extract fan Whilst these look neat and tidy they do not extract air effectively; we generally recommend large humidity controlled extract fans
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What to look out for on a converted propertyWith a converted property not only are you taking on all the charm and character of an older property you are also taking on the quality and standards that the building was originally built to in years gone by. Older buildings are built very differently to today although they make look the same the other factor that has to be borne in mind is the quality and standards when it was converted to a one or two bedroom property which are often very different to today's standards. Bear in mind you are living in a building that may have been built a hundred or so years ago when the standards where very different with the latest inventions being drainage and electricity or possibly gas dependent upon the age of the property there is a lot to consider. |
Black mould to ceiling |
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Of course you can open a window but we find that a good extract fan is usually much better particularly during the winter months |
The building Surveyor needs to know what they are looking at
This feature looks at large houses that have been converted into one or two bedroom properties that you may see and representative items that Surveyors will spot for you although we do have to say that nothing is as good as getting your own structural survey and meeting your own Surveyor at the property. We are evidently promoting our services 1stAssociated.co.uk call us for a friendly chat on 0800 298 5424.
Please see our surveying articles on:-
Why have a residential survey?
Structural survey, what does a surveyor do?
What is a Schedule of Condition?
Useful tips for purchasing a buy to rent property
Or call us for a friendly chat it costs nothing to talk to us on
free phone 0800 298 5424
or at the very least take a look around our website
1stAssociated.co.uk
Always make sure when you have a survey your meet your Surveyor at the property.
Why not ask us to email you examples of our structural surveys
If we can help by providing a structural building survey on a one or two bedroom converted property that you are wishing to buy why not call us on free phone us for a friendly chat on 0800 298 5424. If you are a landlord please contact us as we would be delighted to help you with Schedules of Condition or Structural surveys on one or two bedroom properties.
Phone us for an example of a property like yours
Whilst we cannot guarantee it we believe we have carried out surveys on nearly every type of property so contact us on 0800 298 5424 and we are sure that we will be able to send you an example survey of a similar property to the one that you are looking to buy so you can see what you will receive from us before you purchase.
No matter who you commission to carry out your structural survey we always recommend that you go along to the survey to have a chat with the Surveyor.
We would also be glad to email you several examples of our tailor made reports, Schedules of Condition, Structural Surveys and Property Reports. We also find that Specific Defect Reports can be use where there is one problem or issue that needs resolving between the landlord and tenant.
We hope you found the article of use and if you have any experiences that you believe should be added to this article that would benefit others, or you feel that some of the information that we have put is wrong then please do not pause to contact us (we are only human).
The content of the website is for general information only and is not intended to be relied upon for specific or general decisions. Appropriate independent professional advice should be paid for before making such a decision. Why not free phone 1stAssociated.co.uk on 0800 298 5424
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