Deciding to build a granny flat is simple, designing and building the extension can be a lot harder. You'll have a lot of questions to answer along the way. Can you use a general contractor or is is better to use one who has built a lot of granny flats before? Is a template design better than a customised one? Should you let the person who'll live in the flat have a say in what it looks like? Luckily, I'm here to help. My name is Maria. We moved my Mum into a purpose-built granny flat last year, so I've had to answer all these questions and more. I thought it'd be useful for other people to see how we managed the process, so here we are — get reading!
Erecting a New Fence? Here's Why You Need a Building Survey
For a number of people, the term building survey means having an inspection carried out before you either sell a house or purchase a property. And while building surveys are typically requested prior to the sale or purchase of a property, they are still crucial once you become a homeowner. Moreso, when you are thinking if erecting a fence around your property.
You may be under the impression that fence construction is a straightforward process, as you simply need to ensure that it creates a barrier around the perimeter of your property. In reality, though, there are a number of vital details that you should bear in mind if you are to make certain that the construction will not prove inconvenient down the road. Read on for the main reasons why you need a building survey when you are erecting a new fence.
A building survey will ascertain your boundary lines
Irrespective of what supplies you are employing, fence construction can be quite expensive, especially if you have an extensive perimeter. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that you are not investing in the construction of your fence only to have to bring it down in the event that it has crossed over past your neighbours' boundary lines. When you engage the services of a building surveyor, you get specific descriptions about your boundary lines. Thus, you are at minimal risk of overstepping past your property, which minimises the threat of having to reconstruct your fencing.
A building survey will determine the location of buried cables and drains
Prior to fence construction, your contractor will mark out where the poles will be located while keeping in mind not to build close to any electricity poles and other structures. However, it is not just the above ground obstacles that you should be conserved about. Keeping in mind that the fencing posts will be installed below ground, it is crucial to identify any structures that can be buried below. Drainage pipes and cabling are usually installed underground so that they can stay out of sight. Thus, it is vital to mark where these structures are so that the fence posts do not damage them and causes expensive repairs.
A building survey prevents you from encroaching on public property
When constructing a fence, it is not just your neighbours' properties that you should be worried about. If you end up erecting your fence on a type of public property, for instance, a public road, then you could be in for hefty fines from your local municipality council.
For more information, contact your local building surveying service today.