EBOOK

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INTRODUCTION

House purchasing, either for the first time buyer or otherwise is a very important step, whether buying for cash

or through a loan from a bank or Building Society.

In compiling this book it is hoped that the advice therein will educate, in layperson's terms, any prospective

purchasers with regard to the many pitfalls which generally come to light after the decision to purchase and the

signing of contracts has occurred. This can prove very expensive and usually with no redress on either the vendor

or agents acting on their behalf.

We have endeavoured to set out, in layperson's terms, firstly the type of houses that are available today, the types

of structures to avoid, where excessive maintenance and repairs will be required in future years and to bring to

light the problems which the layperson can see during the course of viewing the property with the advice given in

this book.

Of course, certain maintenance problems occurring in many properties today, with the correct advice and

recommendations, can be alleviated, usually at the expense of the vendor with the correct legal advice, (and

subject to the repairs necessary not being included in the valuation of the property).

This book is not intended for the prospective purchaser to dispense with the services of professionals e.g., Valuers,

solicitors or surveyors in his or her final choice of property, but is to enable them to make a decision as to the state

of the property before engaging their services thereby saving them money.

After finding the property which has been scrutinised by themselves, (after being educated and advised by reading

this book), then and only then do they need to engage the services of the professionals with regard to surveying,

valuation and legal services to protect them in the final transaction, matters which this book cannot deal with.

We have also set out in this book, again in layperson's terms, details of timber preservation and damp proofing.

The correct installation of injected damp proof courses, remedial treatments with regard to infestation, wet rot

and dry rot attacks, ventilation to sub floor areas, the reducing of condensation and elevation of same. The

treatment of penetrating dampness due to the ingress of water and, in certain instances, due to external high

ground level including drainage covering septic tank instillation.

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AUTHOR'S BACKGROUND

R.HODGSON. F.I.C.M., A.M.A.S.I., M.B.I.M. - January 2003. M.R.I.C.S., I.C.I.O.B

Past Member of Inst. Wood Science Member B.W.P.A.

Richard Hodgson's career in building construction started at the age of 18 as an apprentice joiner with Keighley

Co-operative Society where he had a thorough grounding in his apprenticeship, undertaking training in shop-

fitting, carpentry, cabinet making and funeral directing.

On completing his apprenticeship he formed his own development company and for a period of 16 years developed

building sites throughout the Keighley area employing all trades.

Owing to the recession in 1967 the company was liquidated and he proceeded into construction management

holding positions of General Foreman, Area Site Agent, Divisional Manager and several other executive positions

in building management.

He was accepted by qualifications and experience, having had total control over construction development

amounting to several hundred thousands of pounds.

As a member of the Professional Institute of Construction Management, in which he has held posts with the West

Yorkshire Chapter for a period of 13 years, as Public Relations Officer and in 1980-1982 as the West Yorkshire

President of the Institute. For services to the Institute and Profession he was appointed a Fellow of The Institute

in March 1984.And became an associate member of the Construction Surveyors Institute in November 1983.

After the liquidation of the development company and his subsequent positions in executive management, again

when recession hit, the building industry and executive staff were made redundant

Mr. Hodgson decided to enter the field of preservation and trained as a building consultant with a large national

company for a period of two years before becoming a Divisional Manager controlling surveyors for another

company in the preservation field. On advice from professional associates, architects and solicitors, Mr. Hodgson

became a freelance consultant surveyor specializing in property surveying in 1978, acting directly for private

clients through architects, solicitors and building society offices. He holds personal membership of the British

Wood Preservation Society and is a well-known and respected consultant surveyor in the field of property surveying

and preservation within the West Yorkshire area and further afield.

His duties include structural and specialist surveying including arbitration surveying for legal court action and

has no connection with estate agency, valuation or structural engineering.

On producing this book for the layperson, Mr. Hodgson felt there was a need to pass his vast experience both in

the technical and practical surveying field on to prospective purchasers and is of the opinion that this book will be

of great advantage not only to the prospective purchaser but to the layperson intending to purchase a property and

carry out the essential refurbishments on their own behalf.

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THE EXPERTS GUIDE TO PROPERTY PURCHASE

AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE

AUTH0R. R.HODGSON .F.I.Con.M.-A.M.A.S.I

Member British Wood Preservation Association

Member of the Institute 0f Wood Science

Past President of the West Yorkshire Chapter of the Institute of Construction Management

WRITTEN IN THE YEARS BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT (Between 1985-1995)

When he held membership of all the above Institutes

Upgraded to include photographs (1998-2001) Completion 2002

ASI amalgamated with the Chartered Institute of Building on the 1st January 2003 when the author became

an ICIOB

Was also made a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors on the 1st January 2003

CONTENTS

FOREWORD BY A.HALL. F.I.C.M-L.I.O.B-L.I.C.Wks- C.M.I.W.Sc

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION -The background of the author

CHAPTER 1 What type of house and structures to avoid?

CHAPTER 2 Problems to look for and inspection procedure

CHAPTER 3 Dealing with the necessary repairs and problems that can be remedied

CHAPTER 4 Preservation(Timbers of the Property)

CHAPTER 5 Physical and injected damp proof courses

CHAPTER 6 Electrical and plumbing installations

CHAPTER 7 Eligibility for grant assistance and application procedure

CHAPTER 8 Structural defects

CHAPTER 9 Valuation and going ahead with purchase

CHAPTER 10 General maintenance after purchase

CHAPTER 11 Condensation problems, causes and cure (Dehumidifiers)

CHAPTER 12 Insulation to voids, walls and problems occurring

CHAPTER 13 Sewage plants, septic tanks and drainage

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FOREWORD

This book has been prepared to help people who are about to make their most important decision! That of

purchasing their own house!

It could also be helpful to student surveyors and estate agents as a reference book.

It points out the pitfalls and hazards that can confront them, unless they understand and recognise the faults that

can be found in the older type of properties, where to look and how to deal with them.

I find this to be a very informative and valuable book, which could be used by the layperson to help him or her to

reach a decision as to when to bring in a professional surveyor after having viewed many properties.

The knowledge gained from the reading of this book will save expense and cut down costs, which could manifest

on occupation.

I have known Mr R Hodgson, him being a Fellow of the Institute of Construction Management and its P.R.O., for

many years as a man with a vast knowledge of defects and problems which can be encountered in all types of

buildings. By following his routine method of inspection as laid down in this book, I am sure that it would give the

prospective purchaser the information that he or she would require to arrive at a final conclusion.

A. Hall, F.I.C.M.

L.I.O.B. L.I.C.Wks. C.M.I.W.SC.

PAST PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.

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