Although the housing market has experienced a difficult period it appears that sales are on the increase, as are prices. However, if you’re looking to invest in a newly constructed property you’ll want to take a serious look at the quality of the construction before signing on the dotted line.
Choosing the proper commercial surveyor for your project is a crucial step in ensuring that your project gets off on the right foot.
Don’t forget, the building and construction industry security of payment act is worth looking at, it’s there to help ensure your property reaches industry standards and gives you a means of readdressing if the construction isn’t up to scratch.
There are 4 simple things you can do to check the quality of the construction.
- Look At the Soil
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It’s a good idea to look at the soil where the property has been built. The soil type makes a big difference in how stable the property will be. For example, clay soils are not generally a good option for building as they will expand and shrink depending on the amount of water available. This creates movement in the soil which places a strain on the building and is likely to make it sink.
You don’t need to conduct your own soil test, just request a copy of the one the builder has done.
- Structural Survey
If you have any concerns regarding the structural integrity of your new property then get an independent structural survey completed. This is an easy way to verify that the property has been built to the specifications on the plan.
At the same time, the survey will highlight any areas of concern, allowing you to take them up with the developer and builders.
- Quality Of Finish
When a property moves it will cause small cracks to appear in any painted or plastered finishes. By taking a careful look at the finish of the property you’ll be able to determine if there are any cracks or similar issues.
These indicate a deeper issue that will need to be investigated before the property can be signed off and you accept it.
Of course, fine cracks in plastering can simply be a sign of poor workmanship as the materials dry out too quickly, this doesn’t mean there is an issue with the structure of the building.
- Safety Features
Finally, take a look at the plans and see what safety features are supposed to be included. Then, take a look at the property to see how many are and what type of quality these features are.
We’re not talking about safety rails here! Many new buildings have to include earthquake resistance or stairs that are a certain width to aid in a fire. Check that all the features that should be there are and that they have been completed correctly. If they haven’t it suggests that the developer has tried to cut corners. Of course, that means they have probably cut corners elsewhere. You’ll need to decide whether the building is a good investment and what other checks need to be done regarding the quality of construction.
