We all know that once you are buying property you have to obtain a survey from a qualified surveyor. This obviously costs quite a bit, but there are a few things you can look out for so you don’t waste your money.

Starting with the outside of the property you wish to buy, check the foundations, are there any cracks? If you see earth banked up a wall that could be an indication that someone is trying to cover up a crack.

Look for potentially malicious roots.
Also look out for large trees outside they could be interfering with the foundations of the property and undermine the structure. Other things to look out for are the downpipes and overflows they should be channelled away from the house.

After you have checked the downpipes you should take a look at the drains. You should make sure that the drain is accessible and that the concrete around the drain isn’t cracked. Also if the water pools just below the cover this could mean it’s blocked.

Next up look at the walls, are they standing straight if they’re not you should see bulges at the corners. Also look for cracks in the stone or brickwork. Another tell tale sign is loose mortar between the bricks, try and touch the mortar and see if comes away.

Always look up at the roof
Probably the hardest thing to look at from the outside is the roof. But there are a couple of things you can look for. Does the roof look like it has been renovated or replaced recently? Can you see loose slates or lots of moss on the slates themselves, this can be an indicator that it needs replacing or is coming to the end of its usefulness. Other things to look at are cracks in the joints of the chimney.

Check for cracks
Moving on inside the property you are buying, look at the walls and ceilings, you should be looking for cracks down the walls and in the corners and also across the ceiling. Also you should be determining what condition are the surfaces of the walls and ceilings and are there any gaps between the walls and the skirting boards? If you do find any of the above you should ask the vendor if the house has any subsidence or had any underpinning (supports placed under an existing wall to provide added strength).

Another indicator of possible severe problems with the structure of the property is if the floors slope, or if the doors do not shut properly. If the property has a basement try and take a look if it smells musty, this could be a sign of dry rot. Look for ventilation in the basement and check and see if the metal grills that provide the air circulation are covered over, if they are this could cause damp.

When thinking about purchasing a house you should always check the attic. If you can see light through the roof this is a bad sign. Also check the insulation in the attic. Where possible also take a look at the plumbing of the property, if you see rust and crusting on the pipes this means that it has or is leaking. Another plumbing test you should carry out is flushing the toilet and running the taps, if you hear a knocking noise this could mean a blockage.

Check the boiler
You should also check how the property is heated. You should be asking how old the boiler is and when it was last serviced. Also ask if all the radiators are in working order and if they heat the rooms to the same degree if not, why? When you are walking around the property check all the light switches are working and do the lights flicker, if they do this could be down to poor wiring. Also ask where the meter is and how easy is it to access?

In rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom always look for damp and adequate ventilation. You can check for damp in these rooms by looking under the sinks and in cupboards. One more tip is to look at all the windows do they have mildew (bacteria or fungus)in the corners this could be a sign of condensation and poor ventilation.

If you are observant and find multiple problems it can aid your negotiations when buying a property, it is sometimes possible to get thousands off the value.

If you decide after checking out the property using Padzo’s DIY survey method that you are interested in buying, we have included a link to The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Find a Surveyor database. This site will provide you with contacts of regulated surveyors and additional information about surveys.