Arrange the baseline before work starts
The most useful time to record a pre-works condition baseline is before the proposed activity begins. Provide the location of the works, the properties or areas to be recorded, the expected start date and any access requirements. The appropriate extent of inspection should be agreed before the visit.
What a condition record is for
The inspection documents accessible visible condition with organised observations and photographs. Existing visible defects and relevant features can then be referred to in later discussions. The report records what could be observed at that time; it does not create a record of hidden or inaccessible areas.
Access and coverage matter
Permission and practical access arrangements need to be organised for the areas being inspected. Let us know about occupied premises, locked areas, safety restrictions or neighbouring property access. These details help establish what can be included and what limitations need to be recorded.
Dilapidation report versus defect report
A dilapidation report establishes a condition baseline associated with proposed nearby works. A defect inspection instead focuses on particular concerns about an existing property. A condition record alone does not determine the cause of later damage or responsibility for it; additional specialist advice may be needed.
Common questions
What if work has already started?
Tell us when the works began and what has happened so far. An inspection can only record current accessible condition; it cannot retrospectively establish an unseen pre-works condition.
Can I request a later comparison inspection?
Include this in your enquiry so the proposed scope, available baseline records and timing can be discussed before booking.