News

Maximizing Your Property

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:13:00 GMT

Across the desk............This month we have included a selection of the varied range of work that we have been involved in which we hope is of interest ---you will note no mention of - ....Structural surveys - .....Project Management or .....Party Walls.

Client Saves £10,000!!

We are still dealing with insurance claims........

- the cause of the damage was incorrectly attributed, by Insurers, to settlement, and therefore was not covered in our clients policy. Following our independent inspection, testing and monitoring a claim for Subsidence is now being pursued MORE...... .http://urbanelement.createsend.com/t/ViewEmailArchive/r/CFCE17C673C3158A/C67FD2F38AC4859C/

Plastic heating pipe split leads to ...floating floor. The incorrect grade of pipe had been used by developers throughout a block of flats. This error led to hot water escaping causing damage to an entire flat. We have since sucessfully renovated the property, addressing the water damage which amounted to £10,000. We handled the claim and eventually the Landlords Insurers accepted all the renovation costs including our fees....costing our client nothing. MORE......http://www.stephenhodge.co.uk/insurance.html

Up in Smoke?

Contractors have stripped the ceiling as part of renovation works........

-exposing the service pipes and cables and floor joists of the neighbours flat, it seems no one had thought of the fire risk!! We stepped in and carefully selected an insulation product that can be installed to provide both fire protection and essential sound insulation. MORE..........http://www.stephenhodge.co.uk/project-management.html

Propped Up!

called in for structural advice...........

"The thought of not having to demolish the front wall and dealing with the heating and electrics is fantastic"..... Mrs H

Her Builder called us in for structural advice where cracking had developed and he had been contracted to repair/replace the wall.

We diagnosed localised subsidence - prepared detailed drawings taking into account NHBC guidance and a Schedule of repair to include localised underpinning and specialist crack repair. We gave negotiated with the local authorities and submitted a Building Regulation application. MORE.on how we have helped........http://www.stephenhodge.co.uk/testimonials.html

Beating the Loft Cowboys!

New Insulation product saves headroom.........

We were approached when a cowboy builder completed a loft conversion without obtaining Building Regulation approval - the client only found out when they came to sell - We have just completed the redesign of an illegal loft conversion and incorporated the latest roof insulation products and techniques to save headroom and reduce disturbance of the roof. MORE...http://www.stephenhodge.co.uk/design-restoration.html

@oxonpropertyadv

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STEPHEN HODGE ASSOCIATES LTD
49b Market Square Witney, Oxon OX28 6AG
TEL 01993 705765

stephen@stephenhodge.co.uk
www.stephenhodge.co.uk

subsidence advice and help

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:29:00 GMT

Cold wintry days, 33 days to Christmas, news of recession and economic declines may not be cheering news but the subject of SUBSIDENCE to all property owners prompts “that sinking feeling” usually combined with the associated disappearance of a substantial amount of your hard earned cash!!

Surveys Explained

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:38:00 GMT

What is a Survey?

The word survey is a rather loose description used by many people, in a wide variety of trades and
professions and can mean a number of things.

At Stephen Hodge Associates Ltd we appreciate this leads to confusion and wish to clarify the purpose of our surveys and the benefits to you.

Within the Building Surveying industry we provide different surveys specific to the needs of the client and these could include:

• Measured Surveys
• Structural Surveys
• Condition Reports
• Homebuyers Reports

For the purpose of this post I am going to focus on Structural Surveys, perhaps the best known to homeowners, and often referred to as a Building Survey. I would however encourage you to view our surveying page for further details of the other survey services we can provide or call us for specific advice and/or guidance.

A Building Survey

A Building Survey is a report based on an examination of each element of a property e.g. chimneystacks, damp proof course and loft space enabling us to identify the defects.

A Building Survey has been likened to a Pathologist’s inspection!!! Hopefully the building is dead and not full of living organism’s e.g. dry rot, woodworm, etc. The added difficulty is that the patient insists on keeping all its clothes on, in the form of layers of plaster, lining papers, quilt insulation and other visually obstructive materials.

Our responsibility is to diagnose any problems, even if they are not visually evident and with the use of diagnostic equipment and our wide range of professional skills and experience we seek not only to identify the symptoms but the underlying cause. We are then able to provide the best advice to our clients in respect of a remedy and associated costs.

We are generally looking for patterns. Just in the same way as a Doctor may look for patterns of behaviour to aid diagnosis e.g. walking with a stoop or with a limp we are also looking for patterns for instance of cracking, the direction, nature and size, this in turn would help direct our focus onto the cause of the problem.

N.B.”The Survey”, often referred to in the buying process, is typically not a survey at all, but rather a mortgage valuation. Even though it is carried out by the lender for their benefit the client usually pays. Therefore probably the biggest barrier to a client engaging a Chartered Surveyor is the fees, particularly as they possibly feel they have already paid for ' a survey '.

When do I need a Survey?

• Property selling/buying – before exchange of contracts
• Suspect a problem
• Neighbouring building works
• Changes /concern in property boundaries
• Private rental
• Structural alterations
• Commercial Surveys -Taking on a business lease

BUYERS BEWARE!! - New houses don't need a survey do they?
In the words of Bob the Builder – YES THEY DO!
One of the properties that we surveyed in Witney had a missing roof truss. Another had so many defects that it was eventually repossessed by the developer, and then sold on possibly to another unsuspecting buyer who probably thought “It’s New -I don't need a survey”.'

Enormous savings can be achieved.

In around 95% of cases we save our clients thousands of pounds. Our Building Survey typically costs under £1000 but can save our clients money in the negotiation process, as well as providing peace of mind.

3D Property Modelling

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:57:00 GMT

Stephen Hodge Associates Limited can now offer these exclusive services for extensions, renovations and new builds for any size.

KEY BENEFITS FOR THE CLIENT INCLUDE:

* A 3D model is a life-sized entity of the project built and saved inside computer space.

* 3D models can give more realistic images than 2D drawings.

* 3D models can easily create internal room images of a new project, not normally seen on traditional architectural plans.

* 3D models can also be used to create more traditional artistic impressions.

* 3D models can be quickly manipulated to adapt to changes in design.

* Improved communication of design intent to planning authorities.

* Better understanding of the completed design

* Forces a complete understanding of the design space and help facilitate design decisions.

fire damage to station mill antiques oxfordshire

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:20:00 GMT

The owners of Station Mill Antiques contacted Stephen Hodge Associates Ltd in September 2010 following severe fire damage.

The building had sustained substantial fire damage to the roof and intermediate floors and ceilings. Areas undamaged by fire were damaged by extinguishment water and smoke.

Stephen Hodge visited site 24 hours after the fire to assess the damage and secure the site, in line with health and safety guidelines.

Communication with Insurers Loss Adjustors and Surveyors was established and greatly aided by Stephen’s many years working as a Surveyor for a major UK Loss Adjusting company. He is also a member of CILA (Chartered Institute of Loss Adjustors) and clients benefit from the experience Stephen brings with over 20,000hrs in dealing with insurance claims and from having a professional who is their advocate and “knows the ropes!”.

BBC news reported: Crews tackle Chipping Norton antiques shop fire

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:10:00 GMT

No one is thought to have been hurt in the blaze on Station Road.

Fire crews were called to tackle a fire at an antiques shop in Oxfordshire.

Four crews were sent late on Sunday afternoon after the fire broke out on the first floor of the Antiques Centre in Station Road, Chipping Norton.

No-one is thought to have been hurt. It not yet known how much damage the fire has caused, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Fire crews remained at the scene throughout the night dampening down and checking for hotspots.

Stephen Hodge Associates Ltd have been appointed as Chartered Surveyors and Architects to handle the Insurance claim and Project Manage the restoration and refurbishment of Station Mill Antiques Chipping Norton.

Energy Saving

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:59:00 GMT

You may have heard in the press that incentives are being introduced for energy-saving measures. These are to be introduced on 1st April 2010.

They will provide financial incentives for people and businesses to install electricity-generating technologies such as solar electricity panels and wind turbines.

It will do this by guaranteeing a minimum payment for the notional electricity generated in addition to the electricity exported to the National Grid.

Energy savings made by the use of solar panels to heat hot water will we believe also be taken into consideration.

Market review

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:29:00 GMT

Time for cautious optimism.

Right Move the property portal has reported that there is an increase in activity with 26% more hits than in the same period in the previous year.

The Land Registry recorded a rise of 0.1% in purchase prices using database of all residential housing transactions.

HM revenue and Customs have reported 104,000 transactions completing in December 2009 this is the first time since 2007 that the number has risen above the 100,000 level

Expert witness breaking news

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:37:00 GMT

The 50th Update to the Civil Procedure Rules (SI 2009 No. 2092) which comes into force on 1 October 2009, introduces changes in a large number of areas. Of particular relevance to expert witnesses are the changes to Part 35, Practice Direction 35, and the Protocol for the Instruction of Experts to give Evidence in Civil Claims. These amendments, according to the Ministry of Justice internet site, have been made to “clarify the definition of an expert and provide guidance to reduce any inconsistency in the appointment of single joint experts; revise the expert’s statement of truth; and ensure that the questions posed to experts are proportionate and appropriate. Consequential amendments are made to the Annex, PD28 and PD29”.