Case 1 – Roof defects

A home buyers pre purchase structural inspection provides the potential buyer with independent survey & report on the current condition of a property. The survey report serves to inform the home buyer(s) if the property is fit for purpose in its current condition. The structural inspection survey report highlights areas of short and medium term maintenance or aspects that will require complete replacement either in the long term or immediately. Costs associated with the defects can also be noted in the survey report to allow the home buyer make an informed decision.
As an example defect & it’s financial implications on your offer. The house you have chosen and have gone ‘ sale agreed (subject to survey) ‘ with the agent has a pre purchase structural survey carried out on your behalf by Conspect Engineering – :

A three bedroom semi detached house circa’ 1960’s has been surveyed by our engineer and amongst the findings are a lengthy list of repairs to the main roof through lack of general up keep and maintenance throughout the life time of the house (damaged slates, loose and missing lead flashing, leaking guttering and damaged pointing). 80 years of little or no repairs have left a list of repairs that will be required to be undertaken upon occupation by the new owner in the short term. However the repairs (detailed in our survey report) are a ‘stop gap’ measure that will extend the life of the roof for a maximum of a few years and complete Reroofing or total roof replacement will be necessary within less than a decade. [Unfavorable factors as part of our surveys findings] 1.As a rough guide the costs for short term roof repairs will cost approx. €3 – €5,000, 2. Within five to ten years the reroofing project will become unavoidable with cost’s approximately €25 – €50,000, 3 The lack of maintenance to the roof will likely deny most insurance claims under your ‘bricks & mortar’ policy as it will be clear to the loss adjuster that the cause of any damage is wear and tear due to upkeep on the roof. (Also worthy of note a roof is a key component of the homes ‘envelope’ and protects all materials below and within the property against the elements & water ingress – if an insurer denies liability with non maintained roof as cause all subsequent damage and loss is also voided )


Case 2 – Apartment balcony defects

In this example defect it’s financial implications are only part of the considerable future problems & headaches the apartment the buyer had chosen and have gone ‘ sale agreed (subject to survey) ‘ with the agent. The client had a pre purchase structural survey carried out on your behalf by Conspect Engineering – :