A physical inspection of the property you intend to purchase can be vital, and our Preston solicitors would always recommend having this carried out prior to Completion of your purchase. 

 

Aside from helping you picture where that new lampshade will go, or what colour scheme the kitchen will be, a physical inspection helps ensure that you are 100% happy with the property you are purchasing. This is your opportunity to discover any works that may be required, or any faults that you may require rectifying prior to Completion. 

As the Latin phrase goes, “Caveat Emptor”, the general rule is to ‘let the buyer beware’. This phrase, essentially, means that, before proceeding to Completion, you should ensure that you have carried out your due diligence on the property as, following Completion, there can be little means of recourse on the seller, should an issue arise. For more on this principle, see our blog in which our Preston solicitors discuss. So, with this in mind, why would you not elect to carry out a physical inspection of the property? 

 

This is important so that you are fully apprised of what you are purchasing, however, one man, Mr Brown, who has recently completed a purchase of a property in Plymouth, was about to make a huge discovery. 

 

During these uncertain times we face, Mr Brown had been using his time wisely during lockdown by attending to some needed DIY work. When carrying out the works, he realised that one of the walls in the property was slightly different to the rest, with different textures. Curious, Brown investigated further by drilling into the wall and, to his amazement, discovered a tunnel that he later found out was over 100 years old. 

 

Upon inspection of the area, Mr Brown found a number of items, including an old newspaper, used paint cans and other builders waste that, when examining, were found to date back to the early 1900s. The area measures a sizeable 5metres deep, 3 metres high and 3 metres wide with a stone arched ceiling, our Preston solicitors imagine that Brown’s first thoughts were screaming ‘man cave’ on the matter. 

 

Brown sought the advice of a local historian on his findings, Mr Richard Fisher. Fisher commented that such areas were, historically, quite common with this looking to be one connected with coal purposes. Fisher goes on to mention that, in present day, he has seen many of these areas being converted to wine cellars and other ‘grotto’ type areas. Mr Brown may, therefore, have himself a ‘man cave’ after all! 

 

Our Preston solicitors wonder what was visible on his physical inspection of the property, prior to Completion, and whether this was ever a consideration. Be it, or not, this instance shows just how important a physical inspection can be. For Mr Brown, the finding was quite astonishing, and a positive one, however, for some, not carrying out a physical inspection could lead to nasty surprises. 

 

Don’t be caught out and always follow the advice of your Preston solicitors and undertake a physical inspection of the property. Whilst our team of experts deal with the formal legalities, we have not visited the property in person, therefore, reinforcing the need for you, the purchaser, to know what you are purchasing. 

 

If you intend on purchasing a property, and have a conveyancing query, get in touch with our property solicitors in Preston today, at property@mglegal.co.uk, and our local solicitors will be on hand to assist you. Alternatively, submit an online enquiry, here.