How do I do a property survey and can I do a property survey myself.
If you are asking yourself how do I do a property survey? You have come to the right place and particularly if you are looking at properties in Portugal.
There is no need to be an Structural Engineer or a Surveyor if you want to carry out your own assessment of a house in Portugal for instance.
The less background knowledge and experience you have of course makes it more difficult but not impossible and if you think about it. We all do this informal “Survey” when we are looking at buying a home.
The thing is to get the basics right.
You need to know what the property structure is made of Stone (Pedra) or hollow brick and concrete.
Then think “GRAVITY” when you carry out your personal survey.
Starting at the top of the house and work downwards like gravity. Walk around the outside of the property and if you can’t see all sides go onto adjoining land to make sure that you can.
We have covered the top floor previously
Go down the stairs. Are they too steep?
Do they bounce under your feet.
Are the treads wide enough to put your foot on properly.
Are they crumbly underfoot with wood worm.
Do the stairs lie straight (horizontal) or are they twisted. If one side of the stairs is lower why is that.
Have they sunk into the floor or has the first floor move, sagged.
Any signs of wet or dry rot in the stringers.
Are there banisters if there are do they function or just flop around when you hold on to them.
Are there gaps in the banister railings that little ones could fall through.
What is the landing floor like is it spongy under foot or are there holes in the flooring.
The above is your list to get started on a survey and we are only at the top of the house!
If you would like a bigger check list please get in touch.info@casteloconstruction.com
If you would like Castelo Construction to take a look on your new home or a home that you are interested in buying we can do that even if you are not here in Portugal. Our written reports with lots of photographs enable you to make a quick decision on the purchase price and weather to buy or not.