Pre-Purchase Damp & Timber Survey in Grindleford, Peak District
Date Published
A pre-purchase property survey is not only about identifying work that needs to be carried out. Sometimes the information it provides can completely change a buyer's decision.
Neil contacted AMPM Property Maintenance Ltd to carry out a pre-purchase damp and timber survey in Grindleford on a property he was considering buying.
On first impressions, the property presented extremely well. There was nothing immediately obvious to suggest the extent of the problems that would eventually be discovered. Following a detailed inspection by our qualified damp and timber surveyor, significant problems were identified within the roof space, including structural timber decay and evidence of wood-boring beetle activity.
For Neil, the findings ultimately played an important part in his decision not to proceed with the purchase.
What Our Damp & Timber Survey Found
One of the final areas inspected during the survey proved to be the most significant. When our surveyor entered the roof space, substantial deterioration was discovered affecting the structural roof timbers.
Significant decay was present within rafters and supporting timbers, alongside evidence of wood-boring beetle activity.
The extent of the deterioration was serious enough to raise concerns regarding the structural integrity of sections of the roof. Further investigation and potentially substantial remedial works would therefore have been required had the purchase proceeded.
It was an important discovery that was not immediately apparent from simply viewing the property.
The Outcome
After receiving the report and considering the potential implications of the roof timber defects, Neil ultimately decided that the property was not the right purchase for him.
It was understandably not the outcome he had hoped for when arranging the survey. However, discovering significant timber decay before committing to the purchase meant he could make that decision with a much clearer understanding of the property.
Potentially substantial problems with the roof structure could otherwise have remained undiscovered until after completion.
In this instance, the value of the survey was not in providing reassurance that everything was fine. It was in uncovering a serious problem while Neil still had the opportunity to decide whether he wanted to take it on.
“Having had a Damp and Timber Investigation Survey completed by Steven at AMPM, we have been left very glad we did so. Whilst we were enlightened with some difficult news, it left us informed and guided into appropriate next steps.
The report was thorough and well presented with very useful summaries and recommendations. It has been a very sound investment.”
Neil, Grindleford
Why Choose AMPM Property Maintenance?
At AMPM Property Maintenance, we carry out specialist pre-purchase damp and timber surveys across the Peak District, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.
Our qualified surveyors inspect accessible areas of the property for problems including rising and penetrating damp, fungal decay, wood-boring beetle activity, suspended timber floor defects and problems affecting structural roof timbers.
Importantly, our job is to give buyers an accurate picture of what we find. Sometimes a survey provides the reassurance needed to proceed with a property purchase. Sometimes, as in Neil's case, it uncovers problems that change the decision entirely.
Either way, having that information before committing to the purchase can make a professional damp and timber survey a very worthwhile investment.
Frequently asked Questions