What's the  right  survey                        for my property?                        

HOMEBUYER SURVEY 

from £ 199 plus vat

This is the most popular type of survey, suitable for the vast majority homes built since the late Victorian period. The inspection covers the whole property inside and out, from the loft down to the drains, and is written on a specially designed RICS report, typically about 12 pages long.

A Homebuyers Survey (HSV) will report on all urgent or significant defects – in fact anything that could significantly affect the value. It also alerts you to any future maintenance problems. The report includes a valuation and insurance calculation. Carried out by a qualified MRICS or FRICS chartered surveyor.

Not normally suitable for older period buildings, large rambling mansions, or properties in need of extensive renovation.

BUILDING SURVEY

from £ 332 plus vat

Formerly known as ‘Full Structural Surveys’, these provide a very detailed description of a building’s construction and condition. Ideal for properties that you want to renovate or convert, and where buildings have already been extensively altered.  

Building Surveys allow the surveyor to express extensive detailed advice and are typically at least 20 pages long. Essential for period properties older than about 1870,  such as thatched cottages, and for large homes with 5 or more bedrooms, and buildings of non-conventional construction.

As well as covering all urgent and significant defects, a Building Surveys will report on very minor issues. A valuation is not normally included unless requested. Carried out by a qualified MRICS or FRICS chartered surveyor.

 VALUATION REPORT  from £119 plus vat                                                                        

The simplest type of property inspection. Unlike estate agents' valuations, surveyors' valuation reports are legally binding, and valid for matrimonial and tax purposes.  We can also undertake mortgage valuations for all main lenders in partnership with a leading national firm of Surveyors. Note that for lenders' mortgage valuations, the individual bank or building societies dictate their own fees.

The inspection is relatively limited and will only comment on any obvious major defects that have a significant bearing on value.  Valuations are carried out by qualified MRICS or FRICS chartered surveyors. The reports are normally 2 or 3 pages in length, and include a professionally calculated BCIS rebuild cost insurance valuation. Valuations are normally calculated with reference to at least 3 recent local sales of comparable properties.

 Home Information Pack (HIP)

  from £ 208 plus vat

Before putting a property on the market, by law you must first instruct a HIP.  The main component of the pack is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), so you can either order the full HIP, or just the EPC alone (see right) and put the rest of the pack together yourself.

Apart from the EPC, the HIP includes the legal searches and proof of ownership (that used to be up to the buyer's solicitor)

Estate agents will offer to arrange HIPs but can be very expensive - so check our best price first.

What exactly's in a HIP ?                  

See sample HIP                               

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)  from £ 75 plus vat

For home sellers, the EPC is the only part of a HIP you can't do yourself, and so can be ordered separately.

For Landlords an EPC is also required when letting a property.

The EPC gives homes an  ' A to G' energy rating, similar to those on new fridges. Only qualified and certificated Domestic Energy Assessors are allowed to prepare Energy Performance Certificates. 

See sample EPC                                  

For more information on Energy Performance Certificates  visit the Government website on EPCs.