Independent Chartered Surveyors

Valuation & Survey

I was so impressed with your team - the surveyors werequick and very professional.

Mr. P. Edwards, Ipswich

All inspections are carried out by our Chartered Surveyors, with the highest level of professionalism from the support team, so that you can be confident that you’re in safe hands.

Why choose Watsons?

As one of the East of England’s leading property firms, Watsons have a first-class reputation for providing the very best in people, expertise and experience, whatever your property needs.

Established since 1890, Watsons are one of the region’s leading firms of property professionals. We are experts in all aspects of property ownership in both the residential and commercial markets.

We have been helping homeowners, investors and professionals with their property needs for almost 130 years. Our reputation for high-quality service and first-class expertise has grown as our business has developed. And we continue to grow.

We offer a broad range of services to give you peace of mind when it matters. We offer a personal service tailored to the individual homeowner, business owner or commercial property owner throughout the property purchase process and beyond.

We have the expertise you need to be confident you’re receiving the very best advice. Our experience and knowledge means you can trust us to conduct a reliable and accurate review of any property, quickly and efficiently.

Our talented team of Chartered Surveyors and Registered Valuers are all members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

We are quality assured via the British Standards Institution, a member body of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), under ISO9001:2015, which sets out the criteria for a quailty management system. Being certified helps ensure that our customers receive a consistent, quality service.

Providing peace of mind since 1890

A personal service, tailored to you

We work throughout the East of England, covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, County Durham and Tyne & Wear in the North East.

We are proud to be an independent company. This independence means we are able to offer you the personal and bespoke service you deserve.

Founded in 1868 in London, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a global professional body with over 125,000 members worldwide, active in promoting and enforcing the highest international standards in the valuation, management and development of property, land, construction and infrastructure.

Regulation also extends to companies, as well as their employees who are professional members.

There are a number of reasons why it’s important to work with an RICS-accredited firm. This should give you the confidence that you are working with a firm whose employees have gone through the best possible training and been awarded the highest possible accreditation.

Accreditation means Watsons is held to a higher standard, in areas such as:

• Staff Training.• Continuous Professional Development (CPD).• Client Money Protection.• Complaints Handling.• Professional Indemnity Insurance.

RICS Accreditation

Why is RICS accreditation so important?

By working with us, you can expect a working relationship that mirrors the core principles of the RICS, and that as a firm we have been recognised by the most trusted and respected professional authority within the property industry.

By using the industry respected ‘Regulated by RICS’ designation, we convey to the marketplace that our firm:

• Practises to globally recognised standards.• Behaves ethically, and acts with integrity and honesty.• Has the required skills and competencies to do the job.• Manages conflicts of interests transparently.• Safeguards the security of client money.• Manages its finances appropriately.• Provides appropriate indemnity for our work.• Handles complaints and disputes fairly. By following these standards to the letter, Watsons delivers high standards of service and a consistent message of confidence and quality to all of our clients.

If you have questions about any of our processes, please feel free to call our team on 01603 751577 or email: survey@watsons-property.co.uk

Buying a property is an exciting time, but it’s important to know if you’re making the right decision. At Watsons, we have the right survey for your property type, and at the right budget.

What is a survey?A survey is a health check for a building. We strongly recommend you include a home survey as part of your buying process, and that this work is carried out before you enter into any type of contract. The correct type of survey will answer your queries and give you the confidence you need to proceed with the purchase. In some cases, identifying repairs can lead to a negotiated reduction in the purchase price.

How can Watsons help?Our Chartered Surveyors will report on the parts of the property that we can easily see and reach. If you have any specific concerns about the property you’re keen to buy, we’re more than happy to talk them through with you and help you decide what type of survey is right for you.

Buying a homeIt is important to remember that your mortgage lender’s valuation report is not a survey. It merely tells your lender whether the property is reasonable security for your loan.

Buying a Residential Property

The team were very knowledgeable in every sense possible. Impressed.

Mrs H, Sheffield

A home survey will tell you the actual condition of the property. This information can be invaluable during price negotiations, and will help you avoid costly surprises after you move in.

Selling a homeA home survey can also help you prepare for selling your property. It will show you any problems that may delay your sale or cause price reductions later in the process.

Staying at homeA home survey of the current condition of your home will warn you of defects and help you avoid escalating repair and maintenance costs in the future. We cannot emphasise enough the importance of having a survey carried out. While this may add to costs, it really is an investment for the future, and can avoid the need for significant unexpected expenditure at a later date.

A Clear Guide to Home Surveys

There are effectively four main types of survey to choose from. Reliable and cost effective, these reports carry the full weight of the RICS, the industry’s most respected authority on surveying.

Choose an RICS Condition Report if you’re buying, selling or living in a conventional house, flat or bungalow built from common building materials and that’s in a good condition. This report focuses purely on the condition of the property by setting out the following:

• Clear traffic light ratings of the condition of different parts of the building, services, garage, out-buildings, showing problems that require varying degrees of attention.

• A summary of the risks to the condition of the building, and other matters including guarantees, planning and building control issues for your legal advisors.

• An RICS Condition Report does not include a valuation.

• An insurance reinstatement figure for the property.• A list of problems that our surveyor considers may

affect the value of the property.• Advice on repairs and on-going maintenance.• Issues that need to be investigated to prevent serious

damage or dangerous conditions.• Legal issues that need to be addressed before

completing your conveyancing.• Information on location, local environment and

recorded energy efficiency (where available).• Includes a more extensive inspection of the property.

RICS Condition Report

RICS HomeBuyer ReportChoose an RICS HomeBuyer Report if you would like more extensive information whilst buying or selling a conventional house, flat or bungalow, built from common materials and in a reasonable condition.

The report includes:

• All of the features in a Condition Report.• Our surveyor’s professional opinion on the market

value of the property.

You should choose an RICS Building Survey if you’re dealing with a large, older or run-down property, if the building has been significantly altered or if you are planning major renovation works.

This is a more in-depth report and includes details of the structure and fabric of the property.

The report includes:

• A thorough inspection and detailed report on a wider range of issues.

• A description of visible defects and potential problems caused by hidden flaws.

• An outline of repair options and the likely consequences of inactivity.

• Advice for your legal advisors and details of serious risks and dangerous conditions.

• An RICS Building Survey does not include a valuation. • Estimated costs of repairs may be included as an option.

RICS Building Survey

This is a survey that is tailored to meet your precise needs. The report is similar to an RICS Building Survey but is presented as a free-text report with photographs; especially useful for older or larger properties. This is our most in-depth report and includes details of the structure and fabric of the building.

Our Building Survey examines all accessible elements, but you can request that specific areas are included to cover any particular concerns you may have.

The report includes all the features in an RICS Building Survey, plus a more extensive inspection. In addition to this, a valuation and insurance reinstatement figure are provided, and if requested, estimated costs of repairs.

A Watsons Building Survey will aim to provide you with all the information you need in order to make a purchase decision and will suit any domestic residential property in any condition.

Watsons’ Building Survey

There are also additional reports we can help with:

Valuations

Watsons can provide a valuation of your property which may be needed for a variety of reasons, including secured lending purposes, sale, probate, litigation, property development or taxation.

With our property expertise and local knowledge, you can be sure that the valuation you receive is a true reflection of the current market.

Both a valuation of your purchase and a Rebuilding Cost Assessment (for insurance purposes) are normally, but may not be, included in an RICS HomeBuyer Report.

Not only do we provide valuations for mortgages but many other purposes:

• RICS Red Book Valuations.• Insurance/Tax• Matrimonial.• Probate.• Commercial.• Help to Buy.• Shared Ownership.• Rent Review.

A snag is a small defect or problem that remains in your property after the building work has been completed. It is typically something that is damaged or broken; not fitted properly or looks unfinished - think of a scratch on a window or a missing hinge on a door.

If you’re buying a brand-new property, we can assist with a snagging, or Schedule of Outstanding Work report, once the sale has been completed. It is your housebuilder’s responsibility to check and fix any cosmetic defects before you complete on the sale, but it is unlikely they are going to pick up on everything.

New Building Snagging

Our Specific Defect Analysis focuses solely on specific issues. It is particularly intended to investigate possible causes for a particular issue, as well as implications and recommendations as to remedial work.

The Specific Defect Analysis will be a relatively brief document which confirms the surveyor’s findings and outlines the remedial work(s) that will be required.

Whilst this report is particularly useful for establishing the extent of a specific issue without having to undertake a full Building Survey, it cannot be seen as a substitute and will not cover any defects outside the scope of the client’s instructions.

Specific Defect Analysis

Watsons also have extensive knowledge of the local, regional and national commercial property market.

We provide a wide selection of bespoke services including Commercial Property Sales and Lettings, Valuations, Planning & Development, Property Acquisition and Business Rates.

For more information about Watsons Commercial or a list of all services available, please contact our expert team on 01603 226521 or email: commercial@watsons-property.co.uk

Commercial Property Services

Other Available Services

Alongside residential surveying services we offer a wide range of additional specialist surveying services which include:

• Building Maintenance.• Damp.• Building Defects.• Dilapidation Reports.• Expert Witness. • Freehold Purchase and Enfranchisement.• Landlord and Tenant Negotiations.• Leasehold Extensions.• Minerals Surveying.• Party Wall Matters.• Property Management.• Rent Reviews.• Service Charge Disputes.• Waste Management.

A longer and more detailed visual inspection of a wider range of issues including a more thorough consideration of the roof space, grounds, floors and services.

Aims to outline the repair options and give you a repair timeline, whilst explaining the consequences of not acting.

Aims to describe visible defects, plus exposing potential problems posed by hidden defects.

Establish how the property was built, what materials were used and how these will perform in the future.

Provides market valuation.

Provides a reinstatement cost to help you avoid under - or over - insurance.

An enhanced service that includes all the features of the standard inspection plus a more extensive roof space and underground drainage inspection.

Aims to advise you on the amount of ongoing maintenance required in the future.

Aims to enable you to budget for any repairs or restoration.

Aims to help you decide whether you need extra advice before committing to purchase.

Includes the standard visual inspection during which secured panels, electrical fittings, inspection chamber. covers and other similar features are not removed.

Aims to show up potential issues and defects before any transaction takes place.

Aims to tell you about problems that may be dangerous.

Aims to identify things that need to be investigated further to prevent serious damage.

Aims to identify the problems that need urgent attention or are serious.

Service Features

Describes the construction and condition of the property on the date of the inspection.

RICS HomeBuyerService

RICS ConditionReport Service

Watsons BuildingSurvey

Surveys - At a glance

Buying, selling or extending a home is one of the most exciting things you will ever do. However, it is alos one of the biggest financial commitments you will ever make. It will certainly pay for you to seek the best advice possible from professional experts. Watsons is here to help every step of the way!

RICS BuildingSurvey

Operational Areas

Our Chartered Surveyors live and work in the following counties:

• Norfolk• Suffolk• Essex• Cambridgeshire• Lincolnshire• Leicestershire• Rutland• Nottinghamshire• Derbyshire• Yorkshire• County Durham• Tyne & Wear• Northumberland

We have a dedicated Customer Contact Team who are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm.

Contact UsCustomer Contact Team

At Watsons, we understand that your property is an important investment that deserves to be looked after.

You can contact us on any of our local numbers, and one of our specialists will give you relevant advice or prepare you a quote:

Bury St Edmunds - 01284 337180Cambridge - 01223 656290Diss - 01379 779820Derby - 01332 985120Holt - 01263 800145Ipswich - 01473 350095King’s Lynn - 01553 600860Lincoln - 01522 308054Newcastle - 0191 731 7610Norwich (Head Office) - 01603 751577Peterborough - 01733 907830Sheffield - 0114 553 9560

survey@watsons-property.co.ukHead Office, 1 Bank Plain, Norwich, NR2 4SF

The survey was comprehensive and detailed, yet very easy to understand and internalise. I found all Watsons personnel to be highly professional, friendly and approachable. I thoroughly recommend Watsons survey service.

Mr N, Norwich (Feefo, 5*)

Regulated by RICS

Valuation & Survey

Bury St Edmunds 01284 337180

Cambridge 01223 656290

Derby01332 985120

Diss01379 779820

Holt01263 800145

Ipswich01473 350095

survey@watsons-property.co.uk

King’s Lynn01553 600860

Lincoln01522 308054

Newcastle0191 731 7610

Norwich01603 751577

Peterborough01733 907830

Sheffield0114 553 9560

watsons-property.co.uk