Hidden defects

The English language is rich in its variety and imagery. It offers a wide range of opportunity for the choice of expression, using words from a diverse range of origins such as Latin or the more earthy Anglo-Saxon. Conversation can be embellished with many proverbs and sayings. With some, these may now be of uncertain meaning, but with many examples the gist is clear. "A stitch in time saves nine" and "one year's seeds, seven year's weeds" contain explicit warnings; don't put off until tomorrow what you can
(or should) do today.

It is often clear what needs doing now, and what the implications will be if we fail to act. If we don't mow the lawn today, by next week the grass might be too long for our small electric mower. Other jobs might be less easy to spot, especially with our homes. Property defects are often hidden in areas where they are difficult or impossible to see, or we might not appreciate their significance; those things which to the lay observer might appear to be a minor problem of little significance. However, the risks of ignoring such matters might be huge. A leaking valley gutter might only be visible from within your roof space, but although the cost of the repair might be relatively low it could, if left unattended, lead to damage to internal decorations or even worse, an outbreak of dry rot which might cost many thousands of pounds.

On the other hand of course, homeowners should not be panicked into carrying out unnecessary work by unscrupulous rogue tradesmen. Doorstep callers continue to con the unwary out of many thousands of pounds. There has been a recent trend of the elderly being tricked into paying for unnecessary drainage repairs by bogus contractors claiming to be working at their neighbour's property. One pensioner in Cambridgeshire recently handed over £7000 to the fraudster on their doorstep. Needless to say there was no need for any works.

These problems reinforce the good sense of obtaining regular independent advice on the condition of your property to ensure that necessary repairs are identified at an early stage, but also to avoid unnecessary and exorbitant expenditure.