Inspection submission Flashcards
What are you looking for on an agency inspection?
Factors which affect the marketability of a site:
current condition
statutory compliance
attractiveness to the market
services
Accessibility to transport
Layout and it flexibility
What are you looking for on a valuation inspection?
Factors which can influence value:
location
condition
specification
tenure
aspect
defects
when inspecting, what elements do you look internally?
layout
specification
defects
services
fixtures and fittings
statutory compliance
When doing an external inspection of a building what elements would have consideration of?
method of construction
condition
access
car parking
defects
site boundaries
age of building
What would you look for in the immediate area in the context of valuation?
Market
- location
- situation
- amenities
- surrounding uses
- sale boards
- vacancy rates
Hazards
- environmental hazards
- contamination
- power lines
- flooding
What are the four common types of foundations?
Strip
Raft
Piled
Pad
Which form of foundation is used for residential?
Strip
When would you use piled foundations?
When there are less good load-bearing ground conditions, for example sandy soil or remediated land, and the building has a particular high loads.
What is a raft foundation and when would you use it?
It’s a slab foundation over the whole site to spread the load and it’s used for lighweight structures on sandy soil conditions
How do pad foundation work?
a slab foundation system under groups of columns so that the column load is spread evenly
Describe a solid wall?
It’s the simplest type of wall constructed by at least one single solid layer of bricks with no cavity; there are different brick-layering patterns incorporating headers, such as Flemish (most common), English bond, to tie together the layers
What are the keys changes introduced into the Home Survey Standard ?
Introduced in March 2021 to update and standardised previous guidance regarding residential inspections.
This provides clarity on which survey best suits the property and responsibility in recommendation of the right one (Hart V Large)
What is the RICS Home Survey standard Professional Stament ?
A professional statement providing:
- mandatory requirements to which all condition surveys must report
- Best practice on how the mandatory requirements are met
- Sets out three level of surveys
- Level one (visual)
- Level two is more extensive inspection than visual but without tests
- Level three is a detailed assessment (ie observe service in operation)
What is the commercial equivalent RICS guidance (RICS Home Survey standard) ?
Technical due diligence of commercial property 1st edition,
Describe a cavity wall?
two layers of brickwork with cavity/insulation in between
tied together with wall ties
usually stretched bond pattern
airbricks or weep holes may be present
Difference between cavity and solid walls?
A
Solid:
pre 1920s
at least one brickwork layer
stretched/header formation
Cavity:
post 1920s
two brickwork layers
stretcher formation
airbricks
What is efflorescence?
White marks caused by salts in brickwork.
Formed when water reacted with the natural salts.
Water dissolves the salts and its deposited on the surface.
What is spalling?
Surface of bricks start to crumble due water depositing inside the bricks and expanding when freeze in winter months.
How are shops constructed?
Steel or concrete frame
Concrete floor and no suspended ceiling
Let in shell condition so can be fit out by occupier
What does it mean shell and core condition?
Where common parts of the building are completed, and lease floor areas are left as a shell ready for fit out by the occupier. The basic inside or core are constructed without adding things like furnishing, interior, lighting fixtures and iterior walls.
What is the difference between a Category A (may include 4) and Category B fit out (may include 3) in offices?
Category A: basic level of finish above that provided in shell and core. May include raised floors, suspended ceilings and internal surfaces, along with basic mechanical and electrical services
Category B: fit out complete to the occupier’s specific requirements. May include installation of cellular offices/furnishings, enhanced finishes and IT
What is the difference between steel and concrete frames?
Steel:
less columns
wider span between columns
Concrete:
more columns
lower floor heights
shorter span between columns
What are the characteristics of an office?
British Council for Offices Guide to Office Specification (2019):
raised floors with floor boxes
air conditioning
double glazed windows
passenger lifts
1 cycle space per 10 staff
1 shower per 100 staff
9m2 general workplace density
What is the current institutional specification for industrial buildings (8)?
Minimum 8m clear eaves height with 10% roof lights
Minimum 30 kN / sqm floor loading
Plastic coated steel profiled cladding with brick or blockwork walls to approximately 2m
Full height loading doors (electrically operated)
3 phase electricity power (415 Volts)
5-10% office content and WC facilities
Main services capped off
Approximate site cover of 40%
How are offices graded?
Grade A:
-typically brand new modern, high-quality buildings
- excellent amenities and services
- usually located in prim city-centre
Grade B:
- Older building previously occupied
- Average quality space
- Average amenities (lower than Grade A)
Grade C:
- building of +20 y old not refurbished
- low/basic office space
- Limited amenities
What are the different types of office fit-out?
Cat A, provides a blank canvas for tenants fit-out to their own specifications:
- Basic internal walls, ceilings and floors and electrical services
- Basic finishes such as lighting, AC and toilets
Cat B fit-out is tailored to the specific needs of the tenant:
- Includes elements of Cat A, as well as internal finishes, partitions, flooring, specific features (Kitchens), and IT
Shell and core: Basic structure of a building (only external walls, and common parts) and left to the tenant to completely create a bespoke space/fit out - normally used for large scale developments
What are the characteristics of a new build property?
cavity walls
double glazed UPVC windows
UPVC guttering and drainpipes
damp course
solid floors
open plan rooms
carpeted / laminate flooring
How can you tell the age of a building?
asking the client
planning consent
land registry information
local history records (historical maps)
architectural style
Lease
Date plaque or similar
What is an inherent defect?
A defect in the design, material or construction of the property. Has always been there.
What is a latent defect?
A defect to the property that could not have been discovered by a thorough inspection.
What are the three common causes of defects?
Movement
Water
Defective / deterioration of buildings
What are the common causes of cracks in a property (6)?
- Subsidence
- Heave
- Horizontal cracking in brickwork
- Shrinkage cracking
- Settlement cracks
- Thermal expansion / movement
What is subsidence?
- Vertical downward movement of a building foundation, caused by the loss of support beneath the foundation (Underlying ground conditions)
What is Heave?
Expansion of the ground beneath the building, caused by tree removal and the lack of water absorption which subsequent result in moisture build-up in the soil
What is horizontal cracking caused by?
May be caused by a wall tie failure
What is shrinkage cracking?
Often occurring in new plaster-work during the dry out process
What are the different forms of damp?
Wet rot
Dry rot
Rising damp
Condensation
What is wet rot caused by? What are the signs?
Caused by damp and timber decay:
soft and wet timber
visible fungal growth
musty smell
What is dry rot caused by? signs?
Caused by a fungal attack:
fungus (mycelium)
white fully strands
orange fruiting bodies
crumbling of dry timber
What is rising damp caused by? signs?
Humidity from the ground - usually stops 1.5 m up wall.
What are the signs of subsidence?
Cracking near doors and windows
What is condensation caused by? signs?
Caused by lack of ventilation:
mould
streaming water on windows and walls
What are signs of contamination?
manufacturing business
oil spills
oil drums
subsidence
polluted water
What causes contamination?
Because of issues such as:
heavy metals
radon
methane gas
oil spills
chemicals
How would you investigate contaimination?
Site history research (previous use)
Site inspection
What would you do if you found contamination?
Recommend specialist advice
Caveat advice with special assumption
Deduct remediation costs