Our Services

Domestic Building Surveys The best way to reach an informed decision on such an important vestment as a home is to have a professional survey and valuation of the property. Before you decide to go ahead and commit yourself legally, you can minimise the risks by asking a qualified surveyor to answer these questions.

• Is the agreed price reasonable?
• Are there any drawbacks or problem with the property that I don’t know?
• If so, what do I need to do about them?

Commissioning your own survey is a simple, economical way to have these questions answered and avoid unpleasant – and perhaps costly – surprises after moving. some cases the surveyors report may enable you to renegotiate the price.

Even if you are seeking a mortgage, and maybe paying for a Mortgage Valuation Report, it is still advisable and prudent to arrange a survey by your own surveyor – a view supported by the Consumers' Association, Which? Magazine and the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The reason for this is simple: The Mortgage Valuation Report is prepared for the lender, not for you! It answers only the lenders questions concerning the appropriate security of your loan – you cannot rely on it to answer the questions which concern your personal interests.

We can undertake a Building Survey that is tailored to suit the type of property being purchased. Where defects are discovered or recommendations made we will where possible to give an estimate of costs of these works. We can subsequently if you wish organise these works together with any other refurbishment, alteration etc you may consider.

The construction industry has become more complex and fragmented - technology is changing, the range of specialist trades and components is increasing. There are many different ways of organising design & management and different approaches to tendering and contracting. These processes can be complex and frustrating. We can help you obtain the right building at the right time for the right price.

We can organise the whole of your building construction process from inception to completion, and beyond. This includes option studies and cost-in-use exercises to determine the best value for your money. We can advise on the appointment of the design and construction team.

Planning, motivating, organising and controlling all the resources to achieve on time, on budget project completion.

We can advise on:

• The best approach on the project. What resources will be needed to complete it. What consultants and contractors would be best suited to achieve your aims
• The final form for your brief
• The best approach to contracting and cost control
• Contractor selection procedures to give controlled competition
• Many of the other fundamental question that arise during the initial and subsequent stages of the contract

We can provide:

• The complete quantity surveying service including initial estimate costs; cost planning; preparation of bills of quantities and final accounts; interim valuations; cost reporting and budgetary control
• Claim preparation and defence
• A service tailored to the needs of the clients, contractors and sub-contractors

There are various methods of resolving disputes. These include the negotiation or as a final result reference to the Courts. Many standard forms of contract contain an arbitration clause where the matter is dealt with judicially but by an arbitrator instead of a judge.

We may be able to assist wherever there is a dispute. We can provide advice, representation and a conciliation service. If the matter proceeds to the Courts or to arbitration we can act as expert witness on technical building matters. If the parties wish we can act as arbitrator, we can also be appointed arbitrator under the methods set out in the form of contract.

In building contracts we can assist in the preparation and defence of claims.

We are referred by the Lymington Citizens Advice Bureau to offer assistance and advice, typically in boundary disputes between neighbours.

Keith Sanger is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is trained and experienced in these matters.

We can provide the complete one-stop professional service encompassing design and management of your building project.

The one-stop service means clients do not have to instruct a number of professionals. This aids communication and produces projects on time and on budget.

The service offered can include:

• Feasibility
• Development budgets
• Cost estimates
• All design, planning and building control applications
• Procurement and management of the building operation
• Subsequent facilities management

We will advise on the various procurement methods including traditional selective tendering, design & build and management contracts.

The Party Wall Etc Act 1996 came into force on 1st July 1997. The Act repealed the London Building Act (Amendments) 1939, which had applied to Party Wall matters in London.

The Act sets out procedures which need to be followed wherever there is a proposal to carry out building work to an existing shared wall or in the vicinity of an adjacent building/structured owned by somebody else.

Before commencing building work affected by the Act, the building owner must serve written notice on all the adjoining owners affected by the works. The length of the notice period depends on the nature of the works proposed. Where the proposals are not agreed the Act sets out the procedures to be adopted to resolve matters.

Under Section 10, the parties may agree to appoint one independent surveyor (the agreed surveyor) to resolve issues in the dispute. Alternatively, and which is more likely, each party may appoint their own surveyor to resolve the dispute. If the two surveyors cannot agree, Section 10 provides the appointment of a third independent surveyor to rule on any issues which remain in dispute. The two or three surveyors, or the agreed surveyor, will resolve the dispute by making an award, The award will cover the rights of the parties to execute any work, the and manner of executing such work and any other matter arising out of the incidental.

Surveyors find that one of the most difficult properties on which to report are those which have recently been refurbished and structurally altered. Defects which are hidden and inaccessible can take time before problems become apparent. Survey reports can therefore be limited in certain respects, which may undermine the confidence of prospective purchasers.

Such problems are addressed in the case of new housing where warranties are almost always provided by the NHBC.

In the small number of exceptions, including self-build, financing institutions require approval of structural design and inspection during construction by a Chartered Surveyor or Architect. This procedure can be adopted in the case of refurbishment. Such certification by a Chartered Surveyor would make the property in question more marketable by giving potential purchasers confidence in the standard of work.

We are able to provide such a service, tailored to suit the project, at a reasonable fee.

Please telephone for further information and a sample Form of Agreement for Inspection and Certification of Domestic Structures.

With our extensive experience of various types of construction ranging from historic buildings constructed of cob, timber and thatch – through to modern city centre commercial buildings, we are able to efficiently organise the rehabilitation and refurbishment of all types of buildings. Services offered includes survey work and advice on defects and maintenance.

Using a variety of techniques we can investigate apparent defects and offer advice on remedial works and likely costs. Typical examples of such works include subsidence, wall tie corrosion, woodworm, wet & dry rot and drainage problems.

We use a range of equipment and methods including endoscopes and CCTV cameras to reduce disruption and damage to buildings while investigation work is carried out.

We are included on the New Forest District Council's approved consultants list for grant aided works.