Welcome to Cockrams Surveying Blog

It’s worth doing your sums before embarking on any renovation project. There are more costs than you might otherwise imagine. House-buying fees Stamp duty bands Renovation costs House-buying fees Your buying costs include more than just the cost of the house. For example, the typical fees on a purchase of £250,000 are as follows: Survey: … Read More »

How much should you pay for a renovation project? A useful indicator is how much houses sold for in the area you are looking in. It is now much easier to research these prices thanks to the Land Registry who publish this information on the internet. All you have to do is input the postcode … Read More »

Top ten tips on how to negotiate when buying a renovation property, and save thousands of pounds It’s stating the obvious, but when you walk into a newsagents and want a Mars Bar you pay the price on the sticker. 50p last time I looked. It would look a bit odd if you said, “Sorry … Read More »

To apply for either post please download and complete the application form below, and email it to careers@cockrams-surveying.co.uk with a covering letter. Business administration and accounts Qualifications: We are looking for a graduate to help us setup and run our new office in Truro. Must have a degree or at least A level grade B … Read More »

The Work Building surveyors advise clients about the design and construction of new buildings and the maintenance, repair, renovation and conservation of existing ones. Clients can range from home owners to large commercial and industrial companies with property assets. Your work as a surveyor would usually focus on three main areas – surveying, legal work, … Read More »

the Government have now officially announced the following changes to the EPC rules · The main points are the EPC will be required within 7 days of commencement of marketing for property marketed after July 1st. · Trading Standards Officers are to be given more powers to request and enforce the EPC from agents and … Read More »

If you have trouble selling your house, you should consider giving it a name rather than a number, according to a survey. The name “Rose Cottage”, “The Lodge” or “Woodlands” conjures up images of a rural idyll and property full of character, far more than if the same house merely had a street number, according … Read More »

What next for house Prices? Last week The Telegraph asked a panel of industry experts if they agreed confidence in the housing market had strengthened. RICS Chief Economist Simon Rubinsohn said, “I think that confidence has improved since the end of the year but it remains fragile and has a strong regional dimension. Our headline … Read More »

In general terms since mid 2007 the buying and selling of houses has very much reduced. Around 2006 and 2007 the number of houses exchanging hands each month was approx 110,000 but then dropped quite quickly towards the end of 2007. By mid 2008 the number had halved. If we only look back over the … Read More »

House prices edged upwards in March, according to the latest Rightmove House Price Index, although activity is largely limited to the upper end of the market. According to the company’s research, the need for larger deposits means that purchases are heavily focused on owners with equity already built up in their properties. Meanwhile, first-time buyers … Read More »