You’re about to buy a house, and suddenly everyone’s talking about property searches. But how much are these mysterious checks going to set you back? Let’s dive into the world of property searches and uncover the costs, timelines, and what you actually need.
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How Much Do Property Searches Cost?
Property searches are like a health check for your future home.
They uncover potential issues that could turn your dream property into a nightmare. But they’re not cheap, and they take time.
Here’s a breakdown of the typical costs:
| Search Type | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Local Authority | £100 – £250 |
| Environmental | £50 – £100 |
| Water and Drainage | £50 – £100 |
| Chancel Repair | £20 – £50 |
| Mining (if needed) | £50 – £250 |
Remember, these are ballpark figures. Your actual costs may vary depending on your location and the specific property you’re buying.
How Quickly Can Property Searches Be Done?
Ah, the million-pound question. How long will these searches take? Well, it’s a bit like asking how long a piece of string is.Typically, property searches take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. But don’t be surprised if it takes longer. Some local authorities move at the speed of a snail on holiday.
Here’s a rough timeline:
- Local Authority Search: 1-4 weeks
- Environmental Search: 1-2 weeks
- Water and Drainage Search: 1-2 weeks
- Additional Searches: 1-3 weeks
Remember, these can all happen simultaneously. But if one search uncovers an issue, it could slow down the whole process.
What Property Searches Do I Need?
Now, you might be thinking, “Do I really need all these searches?”
Well, unless you fancy buying a pig in a poke, yes, you do. Here are the main searches you’ll need:
• Local Authority Search: This is the big one. It covers planning permissions, building regulations, and any upcoming developments that might affect your property.
• Environmental Search: This checks for contamination, flooding risks, and other environmental nasties.
• Water and Drainage Search: This confirms your property is connected to the mains water supply and sewerage system.
• Chancel Repair Liability: This odd little search checks if you’re liable for repairs to the local church. Yes, really.
Depending on where you’re buying, you might need additional searches. For example, if you’re buying in an old mining area, you’ll need a mining search.
It’s worth noting that Property Search Direct is currently offering 5% discount on their enhanced residential pack when you use the code “PropertySaviour”. This can be a cost-effective way to ensure you’re getting thorough, professional searches conducted.
Are property searches worth the money?
Absolutely. They might seem expensive, but they’re a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of buying a property with hidden problems.
Outstanding service! From the moment we placed our order online (which was very easy to do), we were impressed by PSDs fantastic customer service as they kept us informed every step of the way.
We were thrilled with the speed, quality and accessibility of the information they provided us with, and we will be recommending them to everyone we know.
PSD were truly brilliant and have helped to make our first house buying experience a quick, effective and positive one. We will always order our searches through PSD in the future, thank you!
Ellie Jeffries
Can property searches be transferred if a sale falls through?
Sometimes. If you’re selling to a new buyer quickly and the searches are still valid (usually 6 months), you might be able to transfer them. But not all buyers will accept transferred searches.
