Cindy;

It's not just beneficial, it's essential. Without a good survey, you really
don't know what should be done or what it will cost. Ghastly mistakes can
happen.

I am on the board of an historic site whose mansion dates from the 1820s and
is built of cut limestone blocks. It was pretty decrepit by the time the
family that owned it was down to its last surviving member. Inter alia,
several buildings were oin very bad shape. The main house was repointed with
Portland cement, where masons tell me is the worst thing that could be used,
as it permits no air circulation around the stone blocks. Other buildings,
which could have been restored, were demolished. The cost of repairing these
mistakes is fearsome!

A second mansion in another town (same vintage and construction), is
currently on the market for $CA600,000+. Only when a prospectibe buyer had a
survey done by a competent specialist did she learn that essential repairs
would cost another $200,000. A pretty useful bit of information, wouldn't
you say?

Harry Needham Consulting Services Inc.
Consulting, training & research solutions
for heritage institutions - and others!
74 Abbeyhill Drive
Kanata ON K2L 1H1 Canada
(voice) +1.613.831-1068
(fax) +1.613.831-9412
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