The Process: How to Book a Structural Property Survey

In this post we discuss the steps involved in obtaining a structural survey so you know what to expect when you decide to work with us.

Step 1: First contact

We are contacted by e-mail or by a phone call. When you contact us to ask for a building survey, we will questions to ensure the type of survey being requested is the correct one for the circumstances.

Southern France Surveys will establish that no conflicts of interest exist between any of the parties or for the property.

Step 2: Provide Provisional Information

Before being able to give a quote for a building survey we will ask our client to send us the description of the property, which usually is a link to the real estate website advert or the property description sheet provided by the real estate agent. If the client is in direct relation with the vendor we will ask for the address of the property, the habitable surface area, and a short description of the property.

The information including the description of the buildings to be surveyed must be sent by e-mail. The rest of the exchanges to define the mission and the fees will be done by e-mail. However, intermediary exchanges by phone are welcome and sometimes necessary.

Step 3: Receive our Quotation

Immediately after we received the description of the property, including the habitable surface of the house and the description of the outbuildings, we will be able to send you:

• our quotation, from when the inspection can be done depending on the availability of the agent and the owner.
• a series of question for our clients to answer to prepare our mission,
• and some information about us: terms of business, sample written report etc.

Please note, we are usually booked from one week to ten days in advance.

Step 4: Accept our Quotation

What we need from you when they instruct us for a mission

The following should be confirmed in writing (usually by e-mail) :

• confirmation of the services to be provided
• the contracting parties, including who is responsible for paying the fee
• the principal of the clients
• the address of the property
• the contact details of the keyholder so we could arrange the inspection
• any special concern the client may have regarding the property
• the plans for development the client may have for the house and the outbuildings

Information documents attached to the e-mail with our fees.

It also happens that owners ask us to carry out a structural expertise before the sale for potential buyers to reassure them in the event of the presence of cracks or humidity in the walls, for example.

Our partners who can advise our services, prescribe them and are always privileged interlocutors are real estate agents, notaries, and lawyers.

A Technical Due Diligence report may also be asked for by a vendor.