Category “Buildings”

Grade B Mundic content

Sunday, 22 October, 2017

We were recently asked to re-attend a property which was previously confirmed to containt to an isolated area of the property. The building owner had removed the wall and required confirmation that the mundic content had been removed for reclassification. Upon taking additional samples to the previously affected area, these samples were returned as A1 … Read More »

A Building Survey of Stone Built Cottage

Tuesday, 10 October, 2017

A building survey that we undertook this week was a stone built cottage which probably dates back to about 1850 with a rear tenement type extension which was probably completed around 1900 along with further additions in the 1960s. The main original roof appeared in reasonable overall condition with no slates notably slipped or missing. … Read More »

‘Unique Selling Point’ (USL) and Building Survey in 2010

Friday, 29 September, 2017

We started undertaking “look see” drain scans on properties in 2010 initially as a ‘unique selling point’ (USL) but have long since realised the benefits of these scans to find very significant defects even when there are no blockages evident. This was certainly the case on a recent property where we undertook a Building Survey … Read More »

Descriptions of Building Materials Services and fittings for Properties

Friday, 29 September, 2017

It is important for surveyors to be accurate in their descriptions of building materials along with services and fittings within properties. To this end, it was noted recently that some composite slates look extremely similar to natural slates as can be seen on the Photograph. The first thing to notice is that all of the … Read More »

How Can You Protect Your Home From Japanese Knotweed?

Monday, 25 September, 2017

Japanese knotweed, a huge perennial plant of the buckwheat family Polygonaceae is native to China, Japan and Korea. The herbaceous plant comprises of big heart-shaped leaves exhibited in a criss-cross way with hollow stems.  The plant grows in dense clusters and bears cream coloured flowers which attract various birds and bees alike. It has varying … Read More »

Looking for a property in London, mind these aspects!

Friday, 14 July, 2017

Well, it is certainly a difficult thing to rationalize the property market of anywhere. Especially, places like London which are always on the radar of property buyers, local and global factors put a tremendous impact. You talk to anybody in London (native or immigrant), and the discussion will ultimately come to the properties and property … Read More »

Building Survey on a mid-terrace house in Truro

Wednesday, 24 May, 2017

We recently undertook a Building Survey on a mid-terrace house in Truro. The property was probably built around 1900 and was of brick and stone construction with double pitched man-made slate covered roofs. The property had a typical two storey rear tenement which had a brick side elevation with a brick and stone gable end and … Read More »

Taxes and Brexit reduced the charm of London Property Market

Wednesday, 12 April, 2017

What do upmarket estate agents feel about the overall property market scenario in London? Well, the majority of them believe that the EU (European Union) referendum and increased taxes brought incredible pessimism in the property markets of the capital city. Last year, sellers had to accept realistic offers as people did not want to spend … Read More »

Survey in Newquay

Friday, 20 January, 2017

Colin Cockram recently undertook a survey on a detached former farm house tucked away in a rural location between Newquay and Chiverton Cross. When inspecting the rear left bedroom it was noted that there was very significant penetrating dampness evident between the junction of the ceilings and walls part of which is formed in a … Read More »

Survey on an 1890 property

Wednesday, 11 January, 2017

Cockrams Surveying Ltd recently undertook a survey in Falmouth. The property is likely to have been constructed around 1890 which most likely included a single storey solid brick and stone scullery to the rear. This was extended to the side in the 1950s or 1960s and most likely under government grant assistance that was available … Read More »