Structural Assessments For Estate Agents
When a purchaser points to a crack and asks, “Is this structural?”, the estate agent should not be expected to provide the answer. That is a question for a structural professional.
A prompt, independent engineering assessment can help replace speculation with factual information and allow the property transaction to proceed on a better-informed basis.
When Should An Agent Refer A Client?
A referral may be appropriate when a purchaser, seller or owner raises concerns about:
• Cracking in walls, floors or ceilings
• Apparent settlement or movement
• A leaning or displaced retaining wall
• Cracks around additions or alterations
• Structural damage following an incident
• Previous structural repairs
• A defect that is causing uncertainty during negotiations
• A purchaser who wants independent confirmation of a structural concern
The estate agent does not need to diagnose the problem. The important step is recognising when an engineering opinion is appropriate.
A Structural Question, Not A General Inspection
My assessments concentrate on structural issues rather than attempting to inspect every aspect of a property.
I look at accessible structural elements and consider the visible evidence of movement, cracking, distortion or deterioration. The inspection is primarily visual and non-invasive, with photographs used where they assist in documenting the findings.
The objective is a practical engineering opinion: what is visible, what it appears to mean structurally, and whether further investigation or remedial work is warranted.
Example: A Purchaser Has Found Cracking
A purchaser sees stepped cracking in an external masonry wall and becomes concerned that the house may have foundation problems.
Instead of allowing the concern to become a matter of opinion between buyer and seller, the parties can obtain an independent structural assessment.
The assessment may indicate that the cracking appears minor and does not presently indicate significant structural distress. Alternatively, it may identify evidence that justifies further investigation.
Either way, the estate agent has helped the parties obtain professional information rather than attempting to answer a technical question outside the agent's role.
Keeping The Transaction Moving
Structural concerns can become more disruptive when they remain unanswered.
An assessment does not guarantee that a purchaser will accept the findings or that negotiations will continue, but it gives the parties an objective engineering opinion on which to base the discussion.
For sellers, it may also be useful to obtain an assessment before placing the property on the market where a known structural concern exists.
What The Agent Can Expect
The assessment is directed at the specific structural concern rather than generating an unnecessarily long list of unrelated defects.
The report records relevant observations and photographs where appropriate. If the visible evidence is insufficient to establish the cause of a problem, further investigation can be recommended.
Specialist matters such as geotechnical conditions, drainage, waterproofing or other non-structural issues can be identified where they fall outside the scope of the structural assessment.
An Independent Professional Opinion
I provide structural engineering assessments independently of the sale and without representing either the purchaser or seller.
My role is to assess the structural issue and provide a professional opinion based on the conditions that can be observed at the time.
This can be particularly useful where an estate agent needs a structural concern assessed without turning the matter into a lengthy general building investigation.
A Simple Referral
If your client has a genuine structural concern, the simplest approach is usually to have it assessed rather than attempt to interpret the defect.
Refer the structural concern for an independent engineering assessment and give the purchaser and seller reliable technical information on which to base their next decision.
