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Home Report
DM Hall LLP is one of Scotland's' leading firms of chartered surveyors and a major provider of Home Reports.
Our enviable reputation for service, quality and experience coupled with our extensive knowledge of the Home Report process gives sellers the reassurance that a DM Hall Home Report can be relied upon by all involved in the selling/buying process. DM Hall understands fully the expectations and requirements of the seller, buyer, and associated professionals and strives to streamline the process to minimise delays.
Sellers must have a Home Report prior to presenting their property to the market. The Home Report documentation is an integral part of selling your home therefore it is critical you use a surveyor who understands your local market and can add value to the house sale process. DM Hall is well placed to undertake Home Reports on all types of houses. Local offices in almost every major town throughout Scotland ensures we have skilled surveyors in all areas to provide the quality of report and high level of customer service our clients deserve.
Our prices are competitive and reflect the quality, reliability and experience behind a DM Hall Home Report. Our close relationships with estate agents and solicitors throughout Scotland mean they can readily instruct a DM Hall Home Report on your behalf.
We have summarised the main legislative facts and requirements below:
What is a Home Report?
- Property Questionnaire
-
Single Survey Report and Valuation
-
Energy Performance Certificate
-
Mortgage Valuation Report
FAQ's
Who pays for the Home Report?
How quickly must a seller or their agent comply with a request by a prospective buyer for a copy of the Home Report?
What can buyers do if a Home Report is not provided?
How much will a Home Report cost?
How 'old' can the Home Report documents be when the house is put on the market for sale?
Will sellers have to pay for new or refreshed surveys if their houses have not sold after a few months?
If the Single Survey identifies a significant problem (category 3) with the condition of the house, does the seller have to rectify the problem?
What is a Home Report?
The Home Report is a statutorily required professional report prepared by a chartered surveyor which includes the following:
- Property Questionnaire
- Single Survey
- EPC ' Energy Performance Certificate
- MVR ' Mortgage Valuation Report.
1. Property Questionnaire
This should be completed by the seller and can be done online or offline. This is a series of questions about ownership of the property.
2. Single Survey Report and Valuation
An assessment of the condition of the house written in plain English.
- Objective rather than subjective comments about the various component parts of the building.
- Repair work will be categorised on a scale of 1-3 which are:
- no immediate action required
- repairs may need attention and it is advisable to get estimates
- urgent repairs that are required immediately.
Should you require category 3 repairs, please ask our surveyors about Property Doctors or visit www.property-doctors.com - A sectional diagram to help identify the element of the building referred to.
- A section to highlight issues to be checked by a solicitor or a legal conveyancer, e.g. alterations you may have carried out.
- An estimated reinstatement cost for insurance purposes.
- Valuation and market commentary.
- Your DM Hall surveyor will use his comprehensive local knowledge to assess the market value of your property.
3. Energy Performance Certificate
- An assessment of the energy efficiency of the dwelling house. [carbon footprint].
- Makes recommendations on ways to improve energy efficiency.
- Contains information such as current and potential estimated running costs for lighting, heating and hot water.
4. Mortgage Valuation Report
All Home Reports instructed to DM Hall will have a generic MVR ' with the sellers consent. This is not mandatory and may not be provided by other chartered surveyors, however at DM Hall we believe the mortgage valuation report helps realise sales by giving purchasers and their lenders the information they require from a recognised and reliable source.
FAQ's
Who pays for the Home Report?
The seller.
How quickly must a seller or their agent comply with a request by a prospective buyer for a copy of the Home Report?
The person responsible for marketing a house must provide a copy of the Home Report within 9 working days.
What can buyers do if a Home Report is not provided?
Sellers may refuse to provide a copy only in certain limited situations. These are where the seller believes that the person making the request:
- Cannot afford the house
- Is not really interested in buying the house
- Is not a person to whom the seller would wish to sell the house
If a buyer believes that they are being denied a copy of the Home Report unlawfully, Local Authority Trading Standards officers are responsible for enforcement.
How much will a Home Report cost?
The cost will vary depending on the size and value of your property. Our reports are comprehensive and reasonably priced.
How 'old' can the Home Report documents be when the house is put on the market for sale?
Not more than 12 weeks.
Will sellers have to pay for new or refreshed surveys if their houses have not sold after a few months?
The legislation does not impose a set shelf life or validity period for any of the Home Report documents. DM Hall recommends that once the Home Report is prepared it should not require updating until there is an interested buyer. If necessary, the buyer can organise their own survey or request the seller to get their Home Report refreshed. DM Hall will refresh a Home Report at a modest cost.
If the Single Survey identifies a significant problem (category 3) with the condition of the house, does the seller have to rectify the problem?
That is a decision for the seller. From the information contained in a DM Hall single survey report, the seller will be aware that there is a problem and has 3 options.
- Take no action and sell the house as seen
- Obtain contractors reports / estimates and provide these to purchasers
- Have the work carried out and ask the surveyor to re-inspect and update the Home Report
The above information is a brief summary regarding the Home Report. Please contact your local DM Hall office should you have any further questions and our team of surveyors will be happy to help.
