Once again, this year, climate change has been at the forefront of people’s minds. As COVID fades into the past, people have focussed on other pressing matters. The shocking scenes of fires in Greece, and floods in places such as New Orleans have brought the climate crisis back into sharp relief.
As we often observe, a home is likely to be the single biggest investment any of us make in our lives. It’s very unlikely that anything you own or pay for will have as much intrinsic value or importance in your life.
Changing Patterns
In New Orleans, many people bought property in places they thought, ‘didn’t flood‘. The New Orleans example is of course, an extreme one. Fortunately, such events are almost unheard of in the UK. However, the pattern of flooding of previous years changed in New Orleans – and that is not unheard of here.
Every year in the UK, something new, or unexpected seems to happen because of climate change. Every year, the environment agency upgrade or install new systems, to try and mitigate the risks. But the challenges associated with climate change can seem quite relentless.
What should you do to ensure your property isn’t at risk from one of these unexpected climate events?
According to a recent survey, only a third of people know what to look out for in terms of flood risks. Even fewer know how to check if measures are in place to defend against floods.
The risks?
Not only could your home be flooded or damaged, your bank may add a premium to the deposit. At the same time, the value of the property could be substantially diminished if such a risk is identified.
A first step to reducing these risks is to ensure you have a full survey undertaken. A professional surveyor will be able to identify a raft of issues that might affect your property. A small investment in checking for risks before you buy your property will likely pay dividends long-term.
A full building survey will:
- Establish how the property is built, what materials are used and how these will perform in the future.
- Describe the visual defects plus expose potential problems.
- Outline the repair options
- Include a much more thorough inspection and consideration of the roof space, services, ground floors and any outbuildings.
At Chawton Hill, we only carry out the most detailed form of survey approved by the RICS. Complete our form here today for a no obligation quote and advice for your long-term peace of mind.
For more on why to choose a Chawton Hill survey, take a look at this article.