Inspection Level 2 and 3 Flashcards
Level 2 and 3
Tell me about how you ensure your safety when on site.
I ensure my safety by making sure I am up to date with current health and safety regulations and follow RICS Surveying Safely guidance. This includes diary management, risk assessments and wearing PPE.
Tell me about how you ensure your safety when lone working.
I follow the companyÕs lone working policy which includes diary management, close contact with the office and carrying out risk assessments.
Give me an example of where you have recognised a limitation of your knowledge and sought external specialist advice.
When I notice significant structural cracking, I acknowledge that this is outside my scope of knowledge and refer it onto a chartered structural engineer.
Explain to me your inspection methodology when inspecting a property.
Carry out a risk assessment, inspect the externals of the property, grounds, internals staring in roof space and then services. Followed by another walk round the property to ensure I have not missed anything.
Explain to me what information you gather when inspecting buildings.
Site access/restriction, condition of structure, defects, dampness, health and safety issues, potential hazards/hazardous materials, age, condition of neighbouring properties, repairs etc.
What would you do if you identified a potential defect on site?
I would make notes and photograph it. I would also follow the trail of suspicion to found out what was causing the defect. I would identify the risks and hazards associated with the defect.
You are inspecting and end of terrace two storey property and find a chimney breast at first floor level but not at ground floor what are the issues to consider?
That the flue system has been removed. You must consider if building regulations have been obtained and that the chimney breast is adequately supported.
You find cuboidal cracking to the skirting board at ground floor level in an interwar property with a suspended timber floor. What are the issues you would look to check and how would you decide what type of rot might be present?
The condition of the subfloor, is there adequate ventilation, the type of rot is it a type of wet rot or is it dry rot? Is the rot/dampness localised to a source or has it spread? Check for mycelium, fruiting bodies and tested surrounding timbers to find the extent of the damage.
Ann Street Level 2 (HSS): Tell me about the flood defences you noted on inspection. How did your pre-inspection, and on-site findings, regarding the high flood risk affect your valuation advice?
Flood gate hangers were noted on the back door. Pre inspection allowed me to identify the flood risk and that the property. On site the flood defences and alterations to electrics confirmed my suspicion that the property had been previously repair for flood damage as these are signs of flood prevention repairs. I suggested to the client that there may be insurance implications as the property has previously flooded and to procced with caution and not legally commit until they were satisfied they were adequately covered.
Chestnut Grove: Was there any evidence away from the drainage gully the drain run needed replacing? Was there any other way of checking the drainage?
Undulations to the path above the drainage run and the age. You can check the drain from a drainage inspection/rod or do a flush test to check the leak.
Explain a factor identified during an inspection which impacted upon value.
Condition effects valued. For example, structural movement can have significant impact on value.
Railway Street: When you say within 7m of the properties boundaries was this on or off site? What was the Guidance Note recommendation for a Level 2 risk? What was the Guidance Note recommendation for a Level 3 risk?
This was off-site but within close proximity and the recent garden works raised suspicions. A level 2 risk means JK was not seen within the property but within 7m of the boundary. A level 3 risk is JK is present within the boundaries of the property but more that 7m form a habitable space. This requires further investigation by an appropriate qualified person.
Would you have classified the JK risk differently under the new Guidance Note?
I would have categorised it as a management category B that it is not causing damage but likely to prevent use or restrict amenity space with onsite action required. The JK has the potential to impact and further advice from a specialist is needed and a retention I would expect a retention on the mortgage.
What were the implications of the presence of JKW you advised your client upon?
Implications were that the risk of JK was high due to the JK spotted on the boundaries. The recent gardening work created uncertainty that the risk category should be higher. For this I notified the client and recommended that a JK specialist inspect the property to find the extent of the spread and the risks. This had the potential to impact the value of the property e.g., a retention on the mortgage or struggling to sell the property in the future without a treatment/removal plan.
What advice did you give to the client about dealing with the outbreak? What methods of treatment did you advise the client about?
I advised the client to seek a JK specialist report as this was a level 2 inspection. I made the client aware of the 4 methods to remove JK. Excavation. Onsite burial, Biological control and chemical control. Costs vary depending on the treatment and area of JK
