Terms of Engagement
THE SERVICE
- Service Description: The surveyor will provide the standard service described in the RICS “Description of the RICS Home Survey – Level 2.” Express Surveyors is regulated by the RICS for the provision of surveying services. This means we agree to uphold the RICS Rules of Conduct and all other applicable mandatory professional practice requirements of RICS, which can be found at www.rics.org.
- Surveyor Eligibility: The service will be provided by an AssocRICS, MRICS or FRICS member of the RICS.
SCOPE OF INSPECTION
- Visual Inspection: A thorough visual inspection of the building’s main elements, services and grounds.
- Restrictions: The surveyor will not inspect parts of the property which are covered, unexposed or inaccessible. The surveyor will not force or “open up” the fabric of the building, e.g. taking up carpets, moving heavy furniture or lifting floorboards. The surveyor will not test any of the electrical, heating, plant or other services.
- Valuation: Where a valuation is requested, it will be prepared in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (‘The Red Book’) and the RICS Home Survey Standard. The surveyor will provide an opinion of the Market Value of the freehold or leasehold interest in the property at the date of inspection. The valuation assumes a willing buyer and seller, no hidden defects beyond those noted, and that the property has a clear, marketable title.
FEES AND PAYMENT
- Total Fee: Price as quoted
- Payment Terms: Fees are payable in full prior to the inspection date.
CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
- Right to cancel: You have 14 days to cancel. However, if the inspection has been completed at your request, the fee is non-refundable. Cancellation before inspection: Full refund provided
- Cancellation after inspection: No refund provided
LIABILITY AND THIRD PARTIES
- Reliance: The report (and valuation where applicable) is provided for the client’s use only for the purpose of a private purchase. Where a valuation has been provided, it is not a Mortgage Valuation and may not be accepted by a lender.
- Liability: Our liability is limited to the client. No responsibility is accepted for third-party reliance.
COMPLAINTS AND REDRESS
- Procedure: We operate a RICS-approved Complaints Handling Procedure, a copy of which is available at the end of this document.
It is highly recommended that you read the Terms of Engagement prior to making payment. Payment is confirmation that you have read, understood and agree to these terms.
Complaints Handling Procedure
- We have appointed Mr R Pinion (Managing Director, ph 02895 030300) to deal with complaints. If you have a question or if you would like to make a complaint, please don’t hesitate to contact him.
- If you have initially made your complaint verbally – whether face-to-face or on the phone – please also make it in writing, addressed to Mr R Pinion at Express Surveyors Ltd, 23 Lisburn Road, Royal Hillsborough, BT26 6AA.
- Once we have received your written complaint, Mr R Pinion will contact you in writing within seven days. At this stage we will give you our understanding of your case. We will also invite you to make any further comments that you may have in relation to this.
- Within twenty-one days of receipt of your written summary, Mr R Pinion will write to you, to inform you of the outcome of his internal investigation into your complaint and to let you know what actions we have taken or will take.
- If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our handling of your complaint or the outcome of our internal investigation, feel free to contact Mr D Blevings, Technical Director, Express Surveyors Ltd (david@blevings.co.uk), who will personally conduct a separate review of your complaint and contact you within fourteen days to inform you of the conclusion of this review.
- If you remain dissatisfied with any aspect of our internal handling of your complaints and/or separate review, then we can discuss whether we can agree to go to mediation according to either the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) or the mediation process run by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
