This book was written in 1989-95 with text only it was recommended by certain publishers that the book be
upgraded to include photographs.
During the following years in the author’s travels many photographs have been taken and included in the book
which was finalised in September 2002.
At the time of writing the first manuscript the author was a member of all the institutions as detailed in the
background of the author.
Now retired, he still holds membership of the Architects and Surveyors Institute and still carries out the occasional
arbitration surveys regarding specialist work and property surveys for past clients.
His main occupation now is as Senior Partner with the family partnership R.M. & S. Partnership being Farmers,
Surveyors, Agricultural Engineers and Contractors.
The Architects and Surveyors Institute was offered amalgamation with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
at the end of 2002, but the institute declined the offer and accepted amalgamation with the Chartered Institute of
Building. However the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors offered independent membership to our institute’s
members and I took up the offer from 1st January 2003. Now being a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered
Surveyors, I have accepted the offer of membership of the Chartered Institute of Building which was successful
in taking over the Institute of Architects and Surveyors.
House purchasing, either for the first time buyer or otherwise is a very important step, whether buying for cash
or through a loan from a bank or Building Society.
In compiling this book it is hoped that the advice therein will educate, in layperson’s terms, any prospective
purchasers with regard to the many pitfalls which generally come to light after the decision to purchase and the
signing of contracts has occurred. This can prove very expensive and usually with no redress on either the vendor
or agents acting on their behalf.
We have endeavoured to set out, in layperson’s terms, firstly the type of houses that are available today, the types
of structures to avoid, where excessive maintenance and repairs will be required in future years and to bring to
light the problems which the layperson can see during the course of viewing the property with the advice given in
this book.
Of course, certain maintenance problems occurring in many properties today, with the correct advice and
recommendations, can be alleviated, usually at the expense of the vendor with the correct legal advice, (and
subject to the repairs necessary not being included in the valuation of the property).
This book is not intended for the prospective purchaser to dispense with the services of professionals e.g., Valuers,
solicitors or surveyors in his or her final choice of property, but is to enable them to make a decision as to the state
of the property before engaging their services thereby saving them money.
After finding the property which has been scrutinised by themselves, (after being educated and advised by reading
this book), then and only then do they need to engage the services of the professionals with regard to surveying,
valuation and legal services to protect them in the final transaction, matters which this book cannot deal with.
We have also set out in this book, again in layperson’s terms, details of timber preservation and damp proofing.
The correct installation of injected damp proof courses, remedial treatments with regard to infestation, wet rot
and dry rot attacks, ventilation to sub floor areas, the reducing of condensation and elevation of same. The
treatment of penetrating dampness due to the ingress of water and, in certain instances, due to external high
ground level including drainage covering septic tank instillation.
