Thank you for contacting Survey Spain

WE ARE PLEASED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OUTLINE OF OUR WORK AND CHARGES.

RESIDENTIAL

See our ‘General Background’ document for more details

• We enjoy applying our knowledge and experience on your behalf
• We are completely independent of developers, banks, estate agents, lawyers, etc..
• For the avoidance of doubt, we are NOT estate agents and do not market properties or get involved with the agency of residential property and clients. We do advise clients on acquisition ONLY of Commercial, Business and Leisure property.
• We work only for you and our responsibility is to act in your interests.
• Through our Network of Surveyor contacts we are able to have a property surveyed in most locations in Mainland Spain, the Balearics and Las Canarias, plus the Portuguese Algarve.

‘Snagging’/New Build Inspections and Building/Structural Surveys

• A full inspection of all visible areas of the property, including structure, floors, roof, decoration, finish, etc;
• Tests of services and machinery where practical – i.e. assuming electricity and water is connected!
• Comment upon any legal and other relevant documents with which we are provided.
• Photographs, aerial photos, floor areas, etc.;
• Internet search for items especially relevant to the building or area.
• We submit the Report and ‘Snagging’ List to you in English and subsequently to the Developer.
• The Snagging List can be translated into the specialised local building trade Spanish required by the tradesmen and sent to the developer.
• We chase the developer for progress on your behalf, until they state that the work has been completed.
• We can then reinspect the property to confirm that all the work has been carried out correctly.
• We take the attitude of a buyer intending to occupy the property and so check and report on the items that will affect proper enjoyment of the property in addition to the building and valuation elements.
• The comparison of the legal documents to the actual property is especially useful as the professionals who have prepared most legal documents are unlikely to have visited the property.
• Where particular problems are identified, we can instruct specialist reports, e.g. structural engineers, CCTV surveys of drain, electricians, etc.

Accompanied ‘Walk-Round’ – as a knowledgable friend

• This is the best way to really get to know the property.
• We walk round the property with our client, carrying out a Building Survey as we go and pointing out any defects, possible causes, solutions and other relevant matters.
• Subsequent discussion and opinions away from the property immediately thereafter.
• We can provide our normal Full Report, but need to be informed of that beforehand.
• Alternatively, we only provide a List of Defects Found.
• In addition to the List of Defects, we can provide comment on how the actual property relates to Title Deeds and Catastral Plans, Private Contracts, Specifications and any other documents provided.
• If, as a result of the ‘Walk-Round’ our client decides not to proceed, the cost is reduced as no Report is provided.
• The fee is our time charged at 120€ euros per hour -
  • With a minimum of 300€ euros paid before the Walk Round commences.
  • Travel time is charged at 50%.

Valuation reports

• A true opinion of market value and not just the application of an average rate per sq m;
• Compare the property with known sale and asking prices of similar properties in the locality.
• Take into account
  • The strength of the market,
  • Any special features
  • Condition of the property and of the comparables.

Timing

• Depending upon work levels, we can normally inspect a property within 48 hours of instruction
• Provide the written report within a further 48 hours.

Fee Payment

• We carry out the survey upon instruction and then submit our invoice.
• As soon as that is paid, we email and post copies of our report and receipt.

Fees

• All fees are variable according to the circumstances of the property and the amount of work involved.
• Our standard fee for a property is 1,000th of the asking price.
• The Fee is a lesser percentage of the asking price above 1M€ euros (c.665,000 sterling).
• Minimum Fee of 600€ euros (c.400 sterling).
• Reinspection of a property, such as checking that ‘snagging’ work has been completed satisfactorily, a minimum of 200€ euros.
• Translation of Snagging List into Spanish – 200€ euros (c.133 sterling)
• Where a property is of relatively low value or a considerable distance from our office, we have to charge on time at a basic rate of 120€ euros (c.80 sterling) per hour.
• We can estimate the fee and are prepared to fix that as a ‘ceiling’, above which we have to obtain further authority from you.
• Travel is charged at 0.40€ euros (c. 27p sterling) per km after the first 50 kms.
• IVA at 16% will apply to all invoices, but may be able to be recovered on invoices submitted to IVA/VAT registered businesses.

Fee as an Investment

• We usually find that clients can use the items found in our reports as assistance in negotiating the acquisition price for the property and may recover the fee paid many times over.

Who We Are

• There are two full-time chartered surveyors within Survey Spain.
• Campbell Ferguson FRICS, who first started working in Spain in 1989 and on the Costa del Sol in 2001, and
• Chris Eley MRICS, who has lived and worked here since1997, part of that time being with an international construction company.
• In addition, we have working relationships with a very efficient Spanish architect, UK trained engineer and many other Surveyors around the country.
• We work within the ethics and regulations of the RICS and have a recognised complaint procedure. In the first instance the details of the complaint should be sent to Survey
• Spain, Urb. Sun Park 4,4,izq, 29680 Estepona, MÁLAGA, Spain.
• We have appropriate RICS compliant professional indemnity insurance.
• The Copyright of Reports remains the intellectual property of the author and Survey Spain.
• Further details are available on our web site www.surveyspain.com

COMMERCIAL

• Retail, Office, Workshops, Warehouses, Restaurants, Bars and other Leisure properties. Also Land.
• Surveys and Valuations – Same as Residential plus rent negotiations.
• Search and Find
  • We discuss and agree the type of property you require and the preferred location, tenure and any other special items.
  • We carry out a search of the area both physically and within our own database and network of contacts
  • We create a short List of likely properties and obtain detailed information on them all.
  • We visit them with you and prioritise the list.
  • We negotiate in detail with the top two or three properties and advise on the property commerciality of the results.
  • We review all the legal papers and marketing material provided with the emphasis on ensuring that the property complies with the ‘promises’.
  • We liaise with legal accountancy and other consultants working on your behalf.
  • We provide all assistance to secure the preferred property.
  • Once acquired, we assist with ensuring once again that the reality lives up to the promises.
• Payments
  • The Acquirer is our client for whom we act.
  • We are paid a small retainer by the Acquirer at the beginning to confirm dedication by both parties.
  • The Acquirer pays us an acquisition fee ONLY WHEN they acquire a property.
  • We do not accept a fee from the owner of the property and if one is offered we ensure that the price is reduced by that amount or we return that to the Acquirer. Thus our loyalty to our client can be assured to be 100%.
  • The amounts of the retainer and fee depend upon the nature of the property, whether it is rented or purchased and the amount of work involved.

We shall be pleased to assist you with the property and to provide answers to any further questions you may have.

When you do contact us again, please provide

• Your home address and/or business address;
• A daytime telephone number and a mobile if available;
• NIE/NIF/CIF or Passport number or VAT Number;
• Address of the property to be surveyed;
• Contact details for arranging access;
• Copy of a current Nota Simple (Title Deed Extract) and/or IBI (Local Rates equivalent) receipt for the property if available.
• Details of any special items you want us to consider in particular.
• Name and contact details of your lawyer in Spain.
• How you first heard of Survey Spain.

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