RICS Homebuyer Survey and Valuation

The Report provides the Surveyor's opinion of those matters,
which are urgent or significant and need action or evaluation
by the Client before contracts are exchanged. It includes
some or all of the following:

• urgent repairs (e.g. gas leak; defective chimney stacks)
  for which the Client should obtain quotations where appropriate
  
• significant matters requiring further investigation where
  essential (e.g. suspected subsidence) for which the
  Client should obtain (and may have to pay for) reports
  and quotations from suitable contractors
  
• significant but not urgent repairs and renewals
  (e.g. new covering for flat roof before long)
  
• other significant considerations (e.g. some potential
  source of inconvenience) which the Surveyor wishes
  to draw to the attention of the Client
  
• legal matters (e.g. a possible right of way) which the
  Client should instruct the Legal Advisers to include
  in their inquiries.

Matters assessed as not urgent or not significant are outside
the scope of the HOMEBUYER Service and are generally not
reported; however, other matters (such as safety) are reported
where the Surveyor judges this to be helpful and constructive.
If a part or area normally examined is found to be not
accessible during the Inspection, this is reported; if a problem
is suspected, advice is given on what action should be taken.

The Report is in a standard format arranged in the
following sequence:

• Introduction & Overall Opinion
• The Property & Location
  
• The Building
  
• The Services & Site
  
• Legal & Other Matters
  
• Summary
  
• Valuation
  
• In the case of leaseholds, the Report is accompanied
  by a standard appendix called Leasehold Properties.