What is the difference between a structural report and a valuation?
When you’re buying, selling, or maintaining a property, you might come across two important types of assessments: a structural report and a valuation report. While they both involve inspections, they serve very different purposes, and it’s crucial to understand the distinction.
A structural report, also known as a structural survey, is a detailed evaluation of a building’s structural integrity. As structural engineers, our focus is on what keeps the building standing: the foundations, walls, beams, roof structure, and other key load-bearing elements. We assess the condition of these elements and identify any damage and why that damage is occurring. A structural report or survey will also provide advice on repairs, potential risks, and a rough guideline of the estimated costs of any remedial works. This type of report is especially useful if you’re buying an older home, have seen cracking or signs of movement or just have general concerns about the quality of the building’s structure.
In contrast, a valuation is typically carried out by a chartered surveyor on behalf of a mortgage lender. Its primary purpose is to determine the market value of the property. This includes looking at recent sales of similar properties, location, condition, and other factors that affect price. While the valuer might briefly inspect the property, they are not trained to assess structural soundness in detail. A valuation won’t tell you if the building has hidden issues, whether they are structural or any other kind. It is mainly used to confirm the property is worth what you and the mortgage lender are paying for it.
A structural report is about the structural condition, while a valuation is about the market price. If you’re making a major investment in a property, both documents can be important, but only a structural report gives you peace of mind about the building’s structural health.
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STEP 1
Get a quote. Refer to enquiry form or email or speak to engineer
STEP 2
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STEP 3
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