What does the inspection checklist entail?
- Complete personal safety risk assessment
- Consider the immediate area (location, public transport, contamination, comparables)
- External inspection: construction method (steel frame, timber, concrete), Repair and Maintenance/condition, car parking/access, defects/structural movement.
- Internal Inspection: layout/specification, R&M, defects, services, presentation/flexibility of accommodation.
What situations are inspections used?
- Valuation ( valuation factors: location, tenure, aspect, construction, defects, condition)
- Property Management (Policing the lease: lease/statutory compliance, R&M, security)
- Agency (marketability issues: condition, R&M, services, presentation/flexibility of accom)
What are the differences in inspections between Valuation and Agency?
a valuation inspection is more in-depth and impartial, while an agency inspection can be more subjective and sales-oriented. a valuation inspection has to be done by a qualified surveyor, whereas an agency inspection can be done by anyone working as an estate agent.
What are types of building defects?
- Movement: subsidence (vertical downwards movement), heave (ground expansion), cracking of brickwork (settlement, horizontal from cavity failure, thermal expansion)
- Water: wet rot (damp and timber decay), dry rot (fungal attack), rising damp, condensation/precipitation
- Defective/non-performace/deterioration of building materials
What are some examples of Hazardous materials?
(asbestos, lead piping, radon gas) – immediate danger to occupants
How do you identify Japanese Knotweed?
Reed bamboo-like stems (hollow), shovel shaped leaves, white flowers (May-Sept), up to 3 meters, deep root systems that can crumble foundations and brickwork.
What is a deleterious material?
A deleterious material is a substance or building technique that is dangerous to health, the environment, or safety. They can also be materials that are prone to failure over time.
Asbestos, Lead, High Alumina Cement, Calcium Chloride
What does an Asbestos Register Contain?
The register must include the following information:
The location of the ACMs
The type of ACM
The amount of asbestos in the ACM
The condition of the ACM
The date of the last inspection of the ACM
A risk assessment of the ACM
The register must be kept up to date and made available to anyone who may come into contact with the ACMs.
What is in the RICS Inspection Checklist?
Property Details, If there are any risks on the site, areas inspected, findings, and any limitations.
What is a latent defect?
A latent defect is a fault in a building that is hidden and not obvious during a normal inspection. It existed at the time of construction or inspection but could not have been discovered using reasonable skill and care.
What is the 4 step process for an inspection?
- Consider your personal safety
- Inspection of the local area
- External inspection
- Internal inspection
What to take on an inspection?
- Mobile phone
- Camera
- Tape measurer/laser
- File, plans, and other supporting information
- Personal protection equipment
- Pen and paper / Dictaphone / iPad (something to record notes)
What do you consider for the immediate area?
- Location/aspect/local facilities/public transport/business vibrancy
- Contamination/environmental hazards/flooding/high voltage power lines/electricity substations
- Comparable evidence/local market conditions/agents boards
What do you look for on external inspections?
- Method of construction
- Repair and condition of the exterior
- Car park/access/loading arrangement
- Defects/structural movements
- Check site boundaries with OS map/title plan
- Ways to date the building
What do you look for on internal inspections?
- Layout and specification – flexibility
- Repair and maintenance
- Defects
- Services – age and condition
- Statutory compliance
- Fixtures and fittings and improvements
- Compliance with lease obligations
What are the different inspection purposes?
- Valuation
- Property management
- Agency
What are the 4 common forms of foundation?
- Trench or strip footings
- Raft
- Piled
- Pad
What are the types of brickwork?
- Solid wall construction
- Cavity wall construction
What are the defects of brickwork?
- Efflorescence
- Spalling
What is the common construction of a shop?
Most new shop units are constructed either of a steel or concrete frame with services capped off.
What is the common construction of an office?
The two main methods of construction for a new office building are either a steel or concrete frame.
What are the different air conditioning systems?
- VAV – variable air volume
- Fan coil
- VRV – Variable refrigerant volume
- Static cooling
- Mechanical ventilation
- Heat recovery system
- Comfort cooling
What are the types of fit out?
- Shell and Core
- Cat A
- Cat B
What is the construction of an industrial/warehouse?
Usually a steel portal frame building with insulated profiled steel cladding walls and roof.
