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Why do I need a Home Survey?
Here, we explain the importance of a undertaking a Home Survey and what will happen when our expert team visit your home.
What is a Home Survey?
Here at EcoCosi we place a lot of importance on our initial Home Survey. Afterall, this forms the baseline from which your retrofit journey can begin.
Our expert team will visit your home to conduct the survey. After your home’s area and volume are mapped, a Retrofit Assessor will carry out an in-depth survey of the building fabric and heating system. This helps them gain a detailed understanding of your home, including its current level of energy efficiency.
While this is happening, a Retrofit Coordinator will conduct a detailed consultation session where you can talk through your retrofit needs and aspirations. This will allow the team to understand exactly what you want to achieve by the end of your retrofit journey, and help compile your unique Whole Home Plan.
Why is a Home Survey needed?
Traditionally, retrofitting a home would involve installing single measures as standalone improvements. However, what this approach doesn’t do is consider how individual improvements interact with the rest of the building fabric, or how the people who live in the property use their heating.
As a result, significant problems are being now being realised on retrofitted homes following ineffective surveying.
We believe it’s important for you as the home owner to understand how your property works as a whole building. That is why our team assess all elements of your home to ensure you’re given the information you need to go forward and retrofit with knowledge and confidence.
Common problems include:
- Condensation and mould build-up
- Damp and rotting timber in the loft space
- Cold spots and condensation
- Installing a heat pump without any fabric improvements resulting in higher running costs
Our Home Survey looks at your home as a series of interacting systems. Our team will assess how the different elements of your home interact with each other and how you use your existing heating system.
This will allow us to offer recommendations for retrofit that eliminate or – at least significantly reduce – risks to your home. This means you can be confident your home will be a healthy building which positively impacts your wellbeing and health.
It also means that your retrofit project is far more likely to achieve its energy efficiency goals.
Meet the team
Our EcoCosi team bring a wealth of experience from retrofit, construction and other sectors. By working together, they ensure your home’s retrofit is carried out to the highest standards, with exemplary customer service throughout.
What happens during a Home Survey?
When our team visit your home they will spend two to three hours with you to carry out the survey. This will give you the chance to show the team around your home, allowing them an idea of what they need to assess, as well as how to access any hard-to-reach areas of the building.
One of our expert Retrofit Assessors will carry out an in-depth survey of the building fabric and heating system, including mapping your home’s area and volume. This will help them to gain a detailed understanding of your home and its current level of energy efficiency.
The team will look at:
- The make-up and condition of the roof, floor joists, internal and external walls
- Any existing insulation
- Windows and doors
- Ventilation systems
- Heating and hot water systems
- Any energy generation systems, such as Solar PV
Whilst this is happening our Retrofit Coordinator will discuss your retrofit needs and aspirations, so that we can understand exactly what you want to achieve by the end of your retrofit journey. This includes your budget, current energy use and any future plans for extensions or alterations.
We will also ask for your most recent energy bill data to see how much actual energy the home uses in a typical year. This process allows the team to understand in detail your home’s current level of energy efficiency and how you use your home, which is essential for any retrofit recommendations.
Following the assessment/survey and detailed chat, the team will have all the information they need to then create your unique Whole Home Plan.
Register your interest in EcoCosi from Changeworks
Find out more about how our home retrofit service can help make your home warmer and more comfortable, as well as lower your energy bills.