Home Buyers Survey Bridgwater

Bridgwater has a rich architectural history. The Church of St Mary, for example, a Grade I listed building, dates back to the 13th century. The Blake Museum, where Admiral Blake was born in 1598, has been largely restored. There are a fair number of 'survivals' from the long Georgian and Victorian eras, with more than a few Victorian terraces in evidence for example.

During the 19th century, the Church of St John the Baptist in Blake Place was built by John Brown in 1843, and Castle House (originally named Portland Castle after Portland cement), reputedly the first domestic house in the UK to be built from concrete, was constructed in 1851 by John Board, a local brick and tile manufacturer.

The first council estate to be built in the town was in the 1930s at Kendale Road, followed by those at Bristol Road. The 1950s saw the start of a significant increase in post-war housebuilding, with council house estates being started at Sydenham and Rhode Lane and the former cooperative estate near Durleigh.

House building has continued steadily right up to the present time, where there a fair number of new build developments.

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A RICS Level III Building Survey remains the industry standard of defect surveys available and if you're looking at buying a property in Bridgwater's area which is of large scale and/or has many outbuildings and/or is fairly old (Edwardian/Victorian and further back) and not of standard construction, you are always well-advised to get one. A recent such survey a client bought for a property in Pinewood, Somerton TA11 6JW illustrated how worthwhile these reports can be when it comes to making a firm decision to progress with a purchase. The RICS surveyor noted a variety of essential repairs which the client would be advised to carry out after buying. These included, among other things; considering hard pruning or cutting down the tree in the front garden following inspection of the root system; asking a drainage expert to inspect and quote for repairs to mortar joints on all elevations of the house, garage and extension to prevent ingress of water and damp; and getting soffit boards to improve ventilation to the roof void. Not only do these kinds of facts put you in the 'driving seat' if you choose to buy but they might influence you to bargain for a reduction in selling price or even pull out of the purchase if there are too many adverse findings in the report.	When you're thinking of buying a relatively recently-built property of standard construction which isn't excessively large, you are advised to get a RICS Level II Survey, otherwise known as a HomeBuyer Report to check if there are any suspicions of serious defects which might affect the property and your enjoyment of it when you move in. In a recent such report bought for a property in Bridgwater's locale, specifically in Greenway Crescent TA2 6NH, the surveyor noted that there was no external evidence of a damp proof course being installed retrospectively and that the potential buyer should not only obtain guarantee documentation for they obtain a bonded (insurance-backed) guarantee which provides protection should the installer cease trading.	The South West of England is known to be comparatively more affected by the presence of radon gas than the rest of the country and Bridgwater is no exception.  Large areas of the town, including where streets such as Alfoxton Road, Durleigh Road and Spaxton Road are located, are in bands of elevated radon potential where the maximum radon potential is 1-3% above the action level.  The Environmental Search report – mandatory if you're a mortgage purchaser – flags up the potential presence of radon and, depending on whether it is likely to be found and what level it might be present at, might advise taking further action, something which your conveyancing solicitor can give you further advice about.

Somerset is a county in south-west England and is mainly rural with rolling hills. These include the Mendips, the Quantocks, Exmoor National Park and the Blackdown Hills, all of which are well worth a leisurely visit. Somerset is synonymous with cider and scrumpy, particularly in the Taunton area.

The county is made up from seven districts; South Somerset, Taunton Deane, West Somerset, Sedgemoor, Mendip, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset. The county town is Taunton and the county also contains the beautiful city of Bath (which is its own administrative authority), with its celebrated Roman remains and excellent architecture. Adjacent counties include Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon.

There are 3 universities in the ceremonial county; these are the University of Bath, Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England. The nearest airport is in Bristol and the M5 is the one motorway going through the county.

Other excellent places to visit there include Cheddar Gorge (yes, Cheddar cheese does come from here, invented by accident around 800 years ago!), Wookey Hole Caves and Glastonbury Tor.

The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts takes place most years in Pilton, near Shepton Mallet, attracting over 170,000 music and culture lovers from around the world to see world-famous entertainers.

Yeovil Town is in the Football League and Somerset County Cricket Club play at Taunton. The team used to include Ian Botham, Viv Richards and Joel Garner among other top stars of the cricket world.

Tarr Steps near Winsford in Somerset is thought to date from around 1000 BC and is the oldest bridge in Britain still in use – there is no concrete joining the stones which make up its fabric!

We have local RICS surveyors who specialise in listed building surveys in Bridgwater. To find out more go to - Listed Building Surveys - Building Surveyor and Survey Cost in Bridgwater