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Thank you for contacting Survey Spain

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

Information | What we do | Who we are | What it costs | What we need from you

Whether you are in the first stages of looking or already have an existing property, we can help you.

Briefly - www.surveyspain.com

  • Building Surveys, Structural Surveys, Valuations and Investment and Development Appraisals.
  • On all types of property for many different clients.
  • Individual buyers, mortgaging banks, investors, developers and businesses.
  • We assist Buyers to acquire property safely in Spain.

We can start helping you immediately

Survey Spain's

  • Directors are fully qualified members of RICS (The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
  • With many years of experience advising about property and its values and defects in Spain.
  • Are completely independent of developers, banks, lawyers, property owners, etc.
  • Work only for you with responsibility to act in your interests.
  • Report to you in English.
  • Are based in Costa del Sol, Andalucia.
  • Cover all of Spain and its Islands through the Survey Spain Network.

Our 'General Background' document on www.surveyspain.com gives 'inside' advice

INFORMATION

  • We enjoy applying our knowledge and experience on your behalf.
  • Our work will be carried out as far as practical in Spain according to the RICS Valuation Standards. Clients should note that the valuation may be investigated by RICS in the future for the purpose of the administration of the Institution's conduct and disciplinary regulations.
  • A copy of our complaints handling procedure is available on our website.
  • Through the Survey Spain Network we can arrange for All Property Matters to be dealt with by an RICS Chartered Surveyor anywhere in Mainland Spain, the Balearics and the Canary Islands.
  • 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.

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WHAT WE DO

  • All property types
  • Residential - including villas, apartments, townhouses, country property, fincas, whole urbanisations, sites, etc
  • Business - Retail, Office, Workshops, Warehouses, Restaurants, Bars and other Leisure properties.
  • Also - Investments, Developments and Land.
  • Building Surveys/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 or can easily obtain.
  • Photographs, aerial photos, floor areas, Catastral records, Nota Simple, etc. where available.
  • Internet search for items especially relevant to the building or area.
  • Comparing 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 carry out a Building Survey and then walk round the property with our client, pointing out any defects, possible causes, solutions and other relevant matters and answering any questions that may arise.
  • Subsequent discussion and opinions away from the property immediately thereafter.
  • If more than this verbal report is required, we can 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.
  • Valuation reports
  • A true opinion of market value in Euros at the date of our inspection 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.
  • Unless stated otherwise, all our market values will be calculated subject to the following RICS mandatory definition - 'The estimated amount for which a property should exchange on the date of valuation between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction after proper marketing wherein the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion.'
  • Snagging/First Occupation Inspections
  • For purchasers of a new property wanting to confirm that it has been correctly finished prior to paying their money and signing for completion.
  • We carry out a full inspection, room by room, detailing all the defects.
  • We compare the property to the Builder's Specification if available and check the floor areas.
  • We provide a full List of Defects and, after approval by you, our client, forward it to the Developer/Builder, in Spanish if required.
  • We can also reinspect after the builder has stated that the defects have been dealt with, to make sure that all work has in fact been completed.
  • Fees depend upon the type of property and its accommodation. We'll be pleased to provide a quote.
  • Timing
  • Depending upon work levels, we will inspect a property within a maximum of 3 days from instruction.
  • The written report will be available within a maximum of a further 48 hours, to be sent as soon as fee payment is cleared in our bank.

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WHAT IT COSTS - We'll be pleased to provide a specific quote meeting your requirements for a particular property.

  • Fee Payment
  • We carry out the survey upon instruction and then submit our invoice and photograph to confirm that we have been there.
  • As soon as that is paid, we email copies of our report and receipt. Copies will be posted upon request.
  • Fees
  • Our standard fee for a building survey OR a valuation is approximately 1,000th of the asking price.
  • The Fee is a lesser percentage of the asking price where that is more than 1M€ euros.
  • Minimum Fee of 600€ euros. For property where for any reason the total travel time is more than 1.5 hours, the minimum fee is 700 euros.
  • The 'Walk Round' with the client without a written report has a minimum fee of 500€ euros to be paid before the Walk Round commences.
  • Where it is agreed that we will charge on time our basic rate is 150€ euros 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. However, if, when we visit the property, we find that the circumstances of the property and/or the amount of work required is substantially different from that anticipated, we reserve the right to modify our fee, down as well as up!
  • Where both a building survey and valuation is required, the fee is increased by 20%.
  • Where no written report is required and a verbal opinion is sufficient, the fee is reduced by 30%.
  • Travel after the first 30 kms is charged at 0.45€ euros per km. Postage and obtaining official information are charged at cost.
  • IVA at 18% will apply to all invoices, but may be able to be recovered on invoices submitted to IVA/VAT registered businesses.
  • Fee as an Investment
  • 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 through savings and full knowledge of the property.

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WHO WE ARE

  • Campbell Ferguson FRICS, Chairman, who first started working in Spain in 1989 and on the Costa del Sol in 2001.
  • The Survey Spain Network instructs 14 RICS surveyors and valuers around Spain and the islands, all with many years experience of inspecting property throughout Spain plus UK, mainland Europe and many other parts of the World.
  • In addition, we have administration and non-technical assistants plus working relationships with Spanish architects, engineers and other property professionals and trades.
  • 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 info@surveyspain.com.
  • We have appropriate RICS compliant professional indemnity insurance.
  • All legal matters will be dealt with under Spanish Law.
  • The Copyright of Reports remains the intellectual property of Survey Spain.

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WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

  • 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 and type 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 the purpose of the inspection and 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. If by web search, what phrase did you use on the search engine?
  • Don't delay if you don't have all of these. We can often get them for you, but they will help us to work for you immediately.

We shall be pleased to assist you with the property and to provide answers to any further questions you may have without obligation by you. It's as easy as sending our contact form.

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