Land & Architectural Survey Blog

Category: Construction

  • What do you get in a topographical survey for a property?

    A topographical survey is used to produce a detailed map of all man-made and natural features within a given area. Also known as a land survey, they are used to inform a variety of property management, development and redevelopment projects. In addition to planning purposes, a survey might also be needed for record keeping. Data collected from a survey is used in variety of plans, from standard drawings or plans on paper to advanced 3D digital models.

    Purposes of a Topographical Survey

    A survey might be needed for a variety of record and planning purposes. Surveys are then used by architects and builders to develop or redevelop the land or property on the site. They can also be used for modelling and visualisation purposes, or simply for maintaining historical records for the site. A survey might also be used to help manage and monitor a site, for example to help manage and mitigate land erosion.

    Surveys might be needed for various projects, including designing a road or highway, railway, airport, housing estate, or commercial development. Surveys may also be needed to obtain the location of neighbouring properties and boundaries when dealing with the placement of a party wall or the sale and acquisition of land. Surveys are also helpful for locating specific details about an area, such as the location of trees and tree canopies or any surface features and services that might affect a property or the development of the land.

    Surveys might be needed for various projects, including designing a road or highway, railway, airport, housing estate, or commercial development.

    Surveys may also be needed to obtain the location of neighbouring properties and boundaries when dealing with the placement of a party wall or the sale and acquisition of land.

    Surveys are also helpful for locating specific details about an area, such as the location of trees and tree canopies or any surface features and services that might affect a property or the development of the land.

    What’s Included in the Survey

    A topographical survey measures the boundary, height and features of an area of land including the area around an existing structure.

    Typically, a survey will include measurements for any existing buildings and structures on the site.

    It will also include details on the boundary of the site.

    Information on the terrain will also be included, such as a grid of levels, ground surfaces, and the position of shrubs and trees.

    A typical survey also includes all utilities and services on the site such as drainage details and the position of service covers or manholes.

    A survey may also include additional detail beyond the boundary of a site, such as the location of utilities including utility poles and manholes that might affect the site being surveyed.

    The survey might include the location of nearby trees and buildings that could also affect the project.

    Additional details can be included depending on individual needs, such as details and measurements on any features next to the site or underground services and features.

    Generally, surveys with a higher level of detail will cost more than one with less information.

    Determining the Level of Detail

    The amount of information included in a land survey often depends on individual project and client requirements.

    The details included in the survey are informed by the area that is being surveyed as well as the detail and accuracy required.

    For example, a survey based on a scale of 1:100 will be more accurate than one done to a scale of 1:200 or 1:500.

    The information that is presented in the survey will also depend on how the data will be used and how the survey relates to the pre-determined grid and datum.

    Clients should always speak with land surveyors about their requirements before the survey is undertaken, including the extent of the survey area and the level of detail required.

  • What is a homebuyers report and when do you need one?

    What is a homebuyer’s report and what does it include?

    When buying a house, it’s essential to make an informed decision. A mortgage valuation report is the minimum required, but it’s not a survey. It’s a quick assessment to ensure the property is adequate security for the mortgage loan.

    A homebuyer’s report provides independent expert advice to help avoid unexpected repair bills. Problems like dry rot, subsidence, or other structural defects can cost over £5,000 in repairs.

    A Homebuyer’s Report: What to Expect

    Independent expert advice is provided to avoid unexpected repair bills, which can run to over £5,000 due to issues like dry rot, subsidence, or other structural defects.

    Estate agents, although able to offer general advice, are not specifically trained or qualified to inspect and evaluate buildings, which can affect their impartiality.

    Homebuyers’ reports are produced by quantity surveyors who are members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

    For large or old, non-standard buildings, a full (structural) survey will be required. Statistically, only about one buyer in five usually requests this level of inspection.

    For modern homes or older buildings with normal construction and reasonable condition, a homebuyer’s report will give ample information and usually suffice.

    The fees for a homebuyer’s report are considerably lower than those for a full structural report.

    Basic mortgage valuations typically have a fee in the region of £200 and the fee for a homebuyer’s report fee is higher to reflect the extra work involved, information supplied and advice offered. A report will include details of any general repairs or ongoing maintenance that may be necessary, along with any obvious defects such as rot and subsidence, although it will not give estimated costs for any work required. Also included is the estimated insurance rebuilding cost. The work to prepare the report takes between two and four hours, although the surveyor does not look behind furniture, raise floorboards or drill holes in walls to view inside or take samples. Detailed advice on specific defects is not usually included, so properties that require alterations or repairs work or older non-standard properties are not suitable for this type of report; a full structural survey is recommended instead. Turning to the purchase of apartments and flats, a mid-range homebuyer’s report is usually thought sufficient – except when the property is part of a conversion of an older building, especially a listed one.

    Basic mortgage valuations typically have a fee in the region of £200 and the fee for a homebuyer’s report fee is higher to reflect the extra work involved, information supplied and advice offered. A report will include details of any general repairs or ongoing maintenance that may be necessary, along with any obvious defects such as rot and subsidence, although it will not give estimated costs for any work required. Also included is the estimated insurance rebuilding cost. The work to prepare the report takes between two and four hours, although the surveyor does not look behind furniture, raise floorboards or drill holes in walls to view inside or take samples. Detailed advice on specific defects is not usually included, so properties that require alterations or repairs work or older non-standard properties are not suitable for this type of report; a full structural survey is recommended instead. Turning to the purchase of apartments and flats, a mid-range homebuyer’s report is usually thought sufficient – except when the property is part of a conversion of an older building, especially a listed one.

    Condition reports are also available to the vendor (seller) of the property. These are simpler than homebuyers’ reports as they exclude insurance rebuilding valuations and details of likely ongoing repairs and maintenance.

    Condition reports are also available to the vendor (seller) of the property. These are simpler than homebuyers’ reports as they exclude insurance rebuilding valuations and details of likely ongoing repairs and maintenance.

    Finally, some experts and buyer’s representatives consider that because the wording of homebuyer’s reports often contains numerous caveats and conditions, it limits the real value of the information offered.

    Finally, some experts and buyer’s representatives consider that because the wording of homebuyer’s reports often contains numerous caveats and conditions, it limits the real value of the information offered.

  • Quick Guide to financing your property development investment career

    Utilise The Common Sense Approach…

    Utilise The Common Sense Approach…Utilise The Common Sense Approach…

    For any property developer, this is no greater joy than watching a property development project come to life; building the homes from scratch, advertising and then selling the units at a profit is the ultimate ‘water into wine’ scenario.

    However, it is often the case that these development projects are either poorly funded, or the cost of the project steadily increases to a point where the initial investment has all been spent, leaving the developer with half built properties that are unsellable and cannot be progressed any further.

    A lot of new property developers forget about financing the project and calculating their ROI, and this is a fatal error.

    This guide is just for finance, and is not intended to help strategise the project itself.

    With some forward planning, the risks cannot be eliminated, but they can certainly be minimised.

    For any property developer, this is no greater joy than watching a property development project come to life; building the homes from scratch, advertising and then selling the units at a profit is the ultimate ‘water into wine’ scenario.

    However, it is often the case that these development projects are either poorly funded, or the cost of the project steadily increases to a point where the initial investment has all been spent, leaving the developer with half built properties that are unsellable and cannot be progressed any further.

    A lot of new property developers forget about financing the project and calculating their ROI, and this is a fatal error.

    This guide is just for finance, and is not intended to help strategise the project itself.

    With some forward planning, the risks cannot be eliminated, but they can certainly be minimised.

    Taking a Personal Loan

    Taking a Personal LoanTaking a Personal Loan

    This may sound like an easy option but it can be costly in the long term.

    Unlike a business loan, where liability is limited to the organisation, a personal loan taken out to service the business’ needs can backfire if the project folds.

    The individual has technically taken the loan out in their own name, and will be pursued regardless of the outcome of any business project.

    Furthermore, it is unlikely that any personal loan will provide the amount of capital required to see the project through.

    This may sound like an easy option but it can be costly in the long term.

    Unlike a business loan, where liability is limited to the organisation, a personal loan taken out to service the business’ needs can backfire if the project folds.

    The individual has technically taken the loan out in their own name, and will be pursued regardless of the outcome of any business project.

    Furthermore, it is unlikely that any personal loan will provide the amount of capital required to see the project through.

    Going Into a Partnership

    This is a more realistic way of raising some extra capital, especially if the partner is the ‘breadwinner’ in the team.

    However, it must be remembered that, like any financial agreement, the profits will ultimately be lessened, and creating and directional input will nearly always be limited when a second party is brought on board.

    Remortgaging

    If planning on raising a large amount of capital and are considering remortgaging, using a mortgage broker to see the best deals is a must.

    This is a source of finance that has come from the investor putting their own property on the line, so the best repayment terms, lowest interest and not forgetting the highest cash offer are of the utmost importance.

    Again, however, this is a personally driven finance option; if the corporate side folds, the debt is still payable.

    Branching Out In An Existing Company

    Branching out in an existing company can be a safer method than personal refinancing, limiting liability for the individual and utilizing funds that would normally be sat dormant.

    Selling Properties Before Completion

    Rather than sink money into a project and then try to sell the houses, a newer cash flow method involves selling properties at a slightly reduced rate to raise funds and impress potential investors with ‘early sales’.

    It is not possible to completely foresee the future, but by utilizing some savvy techniques, the road can be made significantly smoother with less financial outlay by the developer.

    Housing Investment: Navigating the Road to Success

    By utilizing savvy techniques, developers can make the road to project success significantly smoother with less financial outlay.

  • How construction companies can use CRM to increase profit!

    How construction companies can use CRM to increase profit!

    How construction companies can use CRM to increase profit!How construction companies can use CRM to increase profit!

    A company’s greatest asset is its reputation, and a reputation can only be built up by years of good service and hundreds of satisfied customers.

    A company’s greatest asset is its reputation, and a reputation can only be built up by years of good service and hundreds of satisfied customers.

    Traditionally, all professionals in the construction and building sector have been too busy working to concentrate on keeping in contact with their clients and customers.

    Architects and property developers build a great relationship with their clients and then just wave them goodbye. And many a surveying company, or group of contractors, have little more than a basic spreadsheet of contact details, and a drawer full of business cards.

    To keep customers loyal, manage data in a way that is tailored to their needs and likes, thereby vastly improving their customer experience.

    And this is done with a Customer Relationship Management system, a process of collecting all the customer data in one software package that links every aspect of your contact with them. It centralises all information, safely, and efficiently stores it.

    Staff productivity is greatly enhanced by automatic alerts built into the system to follow up instructions, and it helps target profitable areas, the software can double your profitability in a very short time.

    So much of our business life is now spent away from the office, but the system is available 24/7 wherever you are, using either a mobile app or by using cloud storage, so that you can access all data and update in real-time online.

    Every aspect of your business is stored in one simple system, contracts, projects, services, and activity information. Shared diaries and schedules allow everyone in the company to see what’s happening.

    And this data storage is safe, it remains with the company long after the staff who in-putted it have left.

    CRM does not just store contact details, every time a client has any kind of interaction with your business, an enquiry, a complaint, an appointment, it is logged in your software. It becomes easy to trace the different methods of communicating, so no more asking the customer to repeat the query, it is there, on screen in black and white.

    Gone are the days of having staff on hand to answer phone enquiries, more and more people are using email, or form filling on the company website. Social media such as Facebook or Twitter, or SMS are now being used far more frequently, so a method of collating them is essential. Personalised communications made with the background knowledge found in the CRM system are effective and easy.

    And it can be tailored to your needs, modified to alter the software to match the exact needs of your business.

    With CRM you have a massive quantity of data that can help you improve your service. By addressing your customers with a background knowledge that will impress them, and the ability to analyse and improve your customer service.

    A positive customer interaction builds the business rapidly, because the most effective advertising is personal recommendation, so keep your customers loyal and happy, keep your name on their lips.