How RICS Home Surveys can help property sellers

The key to selling any home (in fact, anything at all) is making it desirable. This directly correlates with how much people are willing to pay for it and, thus, how much it’s worth.

Some of these factors are well outside your control; for example, the local area’s reputation and amenities.

However, the majority can be directly influenced by you.

For instance, a house in good condition is far more desirable than one clearly falling apart or affected by numerous issues. Extensions and renovations might add much more to its value than what you spend on the work. Even cleaning up the outside enhances kerb appeal.

Getting a RICS Home Survey before the photos are taken and listed on the market is a surefire way to identify any problems. You can then follow the surveyor’s advice on how to repair them (or leave them).

Here are a few of the most common problems that home surveys pick up on:

• Damp– improve ventilation or fix water leaks
• Rot– eliminate moisture source, cut out and replace affected timbers, treat with fungicide
• Subsidence– maintenance plan, potential reinforcement
• Japanese Knotweed– begin a treatment plan
• Woodworm– professional chemical treatment and/or replacing affected wood
• Roof problems– replace tiles, trusses or damp membrane
• Drain issues– unclog or repair
• Asbestos– professional removal
• Faulty electrics– hire an electrician to rewire affected circuits

Getting any of these faults (and anything else the survey picks up) fixed before selling increases your home’s desirability and market value.