In many countires and states it is the vendors responsibility to disclose any faults on a property to the buyer at the time of sale. You could be prosecuted or find you have to face costly legal action if you breach these laws. That is why it is always prudent to carry out a detailed survey on the property before you start the marketing proceedure.
It may not be neccessary to charge an independent agency with the task of carrying out a survey, as it will often be possible to prepare a report yourself. Only if you feel you have found a fault which required professional guideance will it then be esential to call in a professional. This could be for example if you discovered dampness in a wall, in which case a licenced builder could be called in to make an estimate of damage and repair cost, often without a fee to you.
A survey on the property will also highlight any repairs or maintenace on the property that you feel you may want to carry out prior to markleting the property for sale. This will give you the opportunity to budget for the repairs and schedule the work well in advance of the sale process.
Where to find more information
If the property you are selling is in the UK, you will now be required to produce a 'Home Information Pack' or HIP. More details of where to buy a HIP can be found here. Home Information Packs
In the U.S.A vendors are required to complete a 'Sellers Property Disclosure Statement'. If you need a copy of this form, please send a request using the contact form here
Other local laws may apply to you if you are selling your property in a country outside the UK or U.S.A and we advise that you check for regional variations before proceeding with the property sale.
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