Home Buyers Drain Survey
What is a Home Buyers Drain Survey?
So, let's explain about this home buyers drain survey thing. It's basically a thorough check you can do on a property before you buy it. We take a close look at your drainage pipes that handle water and sewage. Now, you don't really have to do this survey unless your lender insists on it, but it can actually help you spot potential issues with the pipework, drainage, pests, or even the structure of the property meaning you avoid huge costs down the line.
Normally, drain surveys aren't included in the standard home buyers survey, which is like a general health check for the property before you move in. However, your mortgage provider might ask you to get one done before they give you the green light.
If you do decide to go ahead with the survey, it usually happens after your offer has been accepted but before you sign any official documents. This way, you have enough time to back out of the sale or negotiate your offer if any major problems pop up during the survey.
Should you get a Home Buyers Drain Survey?
Now, here's the thing: doing a home buyer drain survey is not a must. It might be tempting to skip it to save some cash, especially since you've already had your offer accepted. However, keep in mind that mortgage lenders might require a pre-purchase survey before approving your mortgage, and surveyors and conveyancers often suggest doing a drain survey on top of the standard house buyers survey.
Ultimately, the decision is yours, but there are some pretty good reasons to consider getting a drain survey. First, it could help you negotiate a lower price if the survey reveals significant repair costs. Second, it helps you avoid unpleasant surprises in the future by giving you a better understanding of the property's condition and any potential issues that may need attention later on. Third, it provides clarity about what you own and your responsibilities as a homeowner, which can be useful for future renovations. Plus, some home insurance companies may require a drainage survey before covering your property, so doing it before you buy can save you some hassle later.
What Does It Involve?
Now, let's dive into what a drainage survey involves. Essentially, drain surveyors (companies like us) use CCTV equipment to thoroughly inspect the pipes that connect the property to the water network. We're on the lookout for two main things: potential problems and the size of your drainage system.
When it comes to potential problems, we're checking for things like pipe blockages, leaky or broken pipes, tree roots invading the pipes, pests like rats, poorly connected pipes, outdated pitch fibre pipes (from the 1950s), and other faults in the drainage system. While these issues may not be a problem right now, they could definitely cause headaches down the road. So, drain surveys help ensure everything is in working order before you make any commitments.
As part of the survey, we will provide you with a map or plan of your drains. We know it doesn't sound like the most thrilling document, but it can actually be quite handy to understand your legal responsibilities as a homeowner. For instance, if there's a drainage problem in the future, this plan can tell you whether it's your responsibility, your neighbours, or your water supplier's.
Booking a Home Buyers Drain Survey
So, if you decide to go for a drain survey, here's what you can expect. The survey is usually conducted before you move into the property, but after the seller has accepted your offer. It's one of the final stages before you seal the deal.
To get started, you can contact our friendly team by email, contact form or phone. The cost normally varies between £250 and £500 depending on your location, property size, if the drains are currently blocked, and any associated land, so it's a good idea to get a few quotes to compare, but we’re a nice company with plenty of 5 star Google reviews so you know you can trust us to do a good, fair job.