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Frequently asked questions...
 What sort of survey do I need?
How long does a survey or Home Condition Report take?
Is the Home Condition Report just a type of survey?
How much will the Survey/ Home Condition Report cost?
Who will prepare my survey?
When do Home Information Packs become necessary?
Is the Home Information Pack transferable between agents?
Can a Home Condition Report be used to obtain a mortgage?
How long is a Home Condition Report valid for?
If the Home Condition Report is being commissioned by the seller, how can it be impartial?
Will Home Information Packs be needed at auctions?
Can individual owners prepare a Home Information Pack?
What will be included in the Home Information Pack?
What are the advantages of including a Home Condition Report in the Home Information Pack?
What sort of survey do I need?
There are four types of residential inspection: a Valuation, a Home Buyers Report, a full Building Survey and a Home Condition Report. We will be happy to advise on which is the best for you.
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How long does a survey or Home Condition Report take?
Better Prepared Ltd aims to complete most requests and have a written report with the client in five working days. Note that remote locations, adverse weather conditions
and access difficulties can sometimes affect response times.
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Is the Home Condition Report just a type of survey?
Yes, the Home Condition Report is an entirely new type of survey and way of reporting on residential property. Apart from being a similar length, the HCR differs from the HSV in several important respects, some of which are highlighted below:
Home Condition Report
(HCR) |
RICS Homebuyer Survey
(HSV) |
| Everyone has to have one |
Optional |
| No Valuation included |
Valuation included |
| ‘Condition Ratings’ given for each main building element |
Free text |
| Factual, objective statements of condition, regardless of effect on value |
Condition reported in the context of effect on value |
| No repair advice |
Repairs form part of the advice |
| Energy Certificate must be provided |
No requirement to provide energy certificate |
| Carried out by "Licensed Home Inspector" |
Carried out by a member of RICS |
| Reports will be delivered electronically, by commercial HCR Registration organisations via secure web connections |
No standardised electronic delivery of reports |
| Report uses ‘Controlled’ mandatory and preferred text |
Freestyle text used, with some use of standard caveats and phrases |
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How much will the Survey/ Home Condition Report cost?
The cost of the various types of survey varies hugely depending on the type of survey, size and condition of the property and where it is located. We estimate that the cost of the Home Condition Report for a typical three bedroomed semi-detached house, in average condition, would be between £300 and £350.
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Who will prepare my survey?
All valuations, building surveys and homebuyers reports are prepared by qualified members of the R.I.C.S. Home Condition Reports will be produced by Licensed Home Inspectors.
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When do Home Information Packs become necessary?
The new legislation makes them compulsory from 1 June 2007. However, research has shown that sellers
will greatly improve their chances of selling quickly if they market their property with a Home Information Pack before that date.
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Is the Home Information Pack transferable between agents?
Yes – you can switch agents at any time and the detail of the pack remains valid.
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Can a Home Condition Report be used to obtain a mortgage ?
Whilst the information contained within the Report can be relied upon by your Mortgage Company, most lenders will require a valuation which isn’t included in a Home Condition Report.
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How long is a Home Condition Report valid for?
There is no stated period of validity for the Home Condition Report but it must be no more than three months old when it is first included in the Home Information Pack. The Pack and Home Condition Reports remain valid while the home is continuously marketed for sale but it would be advisable to refresh the contents every six months.
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If the Home Condition Report is being commissioned by the seller, how can it be impartial?
The Home Condition Report will be legally relied upon by buyer, seller and lender. To guarantee its impartiality, Home Inspectors will need to qualify under a Certification Scheme approved by the Secretary of State. The Certification Bodies will be responsible for monitoring and auditing Inspectors’ work and if any fail to maintain the correct standard or act in a way that is partial to one party, their certification will be removed along; with that their ability to produce Home Condition Reports.
To ensure that consumers are protected, Inspectors will need to have suitable insurance and Certification Bodies will be required to check that the Home Inspector is insured for each Home Condition Report undertaken. This system will be robustly enforced to ensure that standards are maintained.
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Will Home Information Packs be needed at auctions?
Yes. Most people selling at auction will need to prepare Home Information Packs. There are a number of transactions which will be exempt: Home Condition Reports will not apply to non-residential property, mixed commercial (or industrial) and residential property, properties sold with sitting tenants and therefore unavailable for owner occupation or portfolios of properties.
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Can individual owners prepare a Home Information Pack?
Home owners can prepare their own packs if they wish, but for most sellers it will be easier to prepare the pack with the help of their estate agent or Pack Provider.
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What will be included in the Home Information Pack?
The Pack will include the following documents which the seller provides up front:
- Home Condition Report
- Terms of sale
- Evidence of title
- Replies to standard preliminary enquiries made on behalf of buyers
- Copies of planning, listed building and building regulation consents and approvals
- For new properties, copies of warranties and guarantees
- Replies to searches made of the local authority
There are also several other documents required for leasehold properties, including:
- A copy of the lease
- Most recent service charge accounts and receipts
- Building insurance policy details and payment receipts
- Regulations made by the landlord or management company
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What are the advantages of including a Home Condition Report in the Home Information Pack?
- It will help sellers make a sensible decision about how much to ask for their home and prepare them for any work that might be necessary prior to marketing the property.
- It will help buyers make a firm offer - one based on the true condition of the property and in full knowledge of any necessary remedial work.
- There is much less risk - for both seller and buyer - that the transaction will be delayed, or fail, due to problems with the property’s condition being revealed at a later date.
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© Better Prepared 2010, All Rights Reserved
13 Diamond Court, Off Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DU
Telephone: 08456 443970
Company Reg : 5629317
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