Cosey Homes is a professional firm of Chartered Surveyors and structural engineers in Oswestry, Shropshire. Our experienced team has worked with countless satisfied clients providing expert advice and impartial guidance as well as first rate customer service. With 18+ years in business, we are accredited by the UK’s leading professional industry bodies including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). To discuss your needs for a property survey, report or valuation, please contact our friendly team on 0330 053 5823.
Are you looking for a Chartered Surveyor in Oswestry or elsewhere in Shropshire? Buying a property is likely to be one of the most important investments you will ever make, which is why it is so important to understand exactly what you are buying. To help you obtain a clear picture of the condition of the building in question, contact Cosey Homes and speak to one of our professional team.
As a leading surveyor in Oswestry, Shropshire and the Welsh border, we have a wealth of knowledge and the relevant qualifications to carry out residential and commercial property valuations, RICS HomeBuyer Surveys (Level 2), Building Survey (Level 3) reports and commercial surveys. From one-bedroom flats to large family residences, commercial property and industrial premises, Cosey Homes should be your first port of call.
A must for anyone buying a new home
For older or altered buildings
For a highly accurate valuation
At Cosey Homes, we offer a wide range of professional surveying and consultancy services for residential and commercial property clients. We firmly believe that a property survey should be an essential due diligence tool in the purchasing process, whether or not you have specific concerns regarding the property you are thinking of buying.
The RICS Building Survey (Level 3) delivers the greatest level of detail of any of our surveys. As such, it is recommended for homes constructed using non-standard materials or methods, historic homes and listed buildings. A Building Survey (Level 3) is also the right choice for large homes, buildings with historic alterations and fixer-uppers. The survey report comprises a comprehensive assessment of all building defects found including structural issues such as damp and timber decay, roofing defects and subsidence. We also include repair cost estimates and recommendations for future maintenance.
Our Homebuyers Survey (Level 2) is designed to deliver a reasonable amount of detail regarding the property’s overall condition and state of repair. We carry out a non-invasive site visit followed by a written report in an easy-to-use templated format. Defects are identified and ranked using the RICS traffic light condition rating system to indicate the level of severity for each issue. Features that are not building regulations compliant will also be noted. HomeBuyer Reports (Level 2) are generally suitable for modern properties (<100 years old) of standard construction that are in a good state of repair.
The purpose of a Condition Report (Level 1) is to give a brief overview ‘snapshot’ picture of the property’s general condition on the day of the site visit inspection. Areas of particular concern are highlighted but no further detail is provided. A Condition Report (Level 1) is our least detailed property investigation. As such, it is useful for new builds and nearly new homes where there are no defects anticipated and the survey report is expected to provide peace of mind for the buyer.
Since the purchase price is agreed ‘subject to contract and survey’, you are perfectly entitled to go back to the vendor and negotiate a price reduction to remedy unexpected property defects identified in the survey. In fact, the discovery of unexpected information about urgent remedial work that may need doing is one of the main benefits of having a survey carried out in the first place. While there is no obligation by the seller to renegotiate the price or offer to fix the issue before formalising the transaction, they may well be motivated to do so to keep the sale on track. Be prepared to be flexible in your negotiations and also be prepared to pull out of the purchase if no compromise can be reached.
At Cosey Homes, it is our professional advice that every homebuyer should have an independent survey carried out before signing on the dotted line. Why? A survey can help you find out whether the property is as good as it looks, or if there are any hidden defects you should be aware of. Regardless of the age or type of the property, a survey can potentially save you thousands in unexpected repairs later on, and equip you with sound factual information to help you lower the purchase price.
While it would be wonderful to think that new build homes are sold in perfect condition, this is sadly not always the case. Neither are buyers necessarily covered under the 10-year NHBC warranty, since the builder will have to accept responsibility for any building defects found. An independent RICS Condition Report (Level 1) or HomeBuyer Survey (Level 2) is your best tool to provide the necessary reassurance that there are no major problems with the construction or materials used in the build.
If you are purchasing a period home or listed building, or indeed any home built with non-standard materials or methods, a RICS Building Survey (Level 3) is going to be the right choice for your requirements. Unlike a mid-range HomeBuyer Report (Level 2), this full Level 3 investigation delivers enough depth and breadth to take the unique features of a historic character home into consideration, including specific repair and maintenance recommendations that are sympathetic to the building.
It is not surprising that many homebuyers are thoroughly confused by the different types of surveys and reports available. We totally recognise that you need professional guidance and will happily talk you through all the options including the pros and cons of each different survey. That way, you are empowered to make the best decision for your purchase. Cosey Homes are fully RICS accredited and comply with all the industry guidelines and codes of practice of this leading industry body.
At Cosey Homes, we are fully aware that our survey results are eagerly anticipated, which is why we aim to email the finished survey report to you within 5 working days after the date of the site inspection. Our team takes great pride in delivering customer service excellence in everything we do, and we will work as quickly and efficiently as we possibly can to give you the answers you are looking for. Should you require a hard copy of your report to be sent by post, this can also be arranged.