There’s a stone in my shoe! Which survey?

Buying a new home can prove to be a very stressful period of your life.  It is important that you fully understand the condition of the property you are buying, and which Building Survey is best suited to your individual needs and circumstance.  We want you to be fully informed about the condition of the property and the potential implications these may present you with.

Appreciating at this time there can be many stones in your shoe, we aim to assist you wherever possible to ensure a great service is provided as we understand that timing, communication and expert technical advice is always a must have.  With a breadth of knowledge and expertise, we can offer the best possible advice to suit your needs when deciding which survey is most appropriate for you and your property.

We often find our industry uses varying terminology, so to break through the jargon, a clear outline of the common surveys and what each one covers is provided below:

Level 3 Survey ‘RICS Building Survey’ 

When considering buying a new house, it is important that no stone is left unturned!  Afterall, this is an important purchase, and you want to make sure you fully understand all the implications.

A Level 3 RICS Building Survey is the most comprehensive available.  It provides a detailed visual inspection of the building, its services and the grounds.  To summarise the extent of inspection, the report typically provides a detailed description of the construction and materials used for different parts of the property. 

We assess the condition of each specific element and report upon any defects found, along with discussion on its relative importance.  We confirm the most probable cause of how it occurred and make recommendations for repair and making good.  We also highlight the likely timescale in which this need to be undertaken, thus allowing you to plan for undertaking any works.    

If needed, we can also provide an estimate of likely costs of such repair work, understanding this could also prove very useful when you look to negotiate on the asking price! 

Level 2 Survey ‘Homebuyer Report’ 

The Homebuyer Report is an ‘intermediate’ level of survey, again comprising a visual inspection of the building, its services and grounds.  Typically, this survey would apply to those considering buying a conventional property such as a house, bungalow, or flat that is of reasonable condition. 

This report summarises the condition of the different fabric elements and provides an assessment of the relative importance of any defects identified using a traffic light system rating.

The survey is generally less comprehensive and descriptive than the Level 3 Survey RICS Building Survey described above, however its use will depend on your individual circumstance.

General Structural Appraisal 

We provide this survey because we understand that commentary on more obvious defects is not always required.  You may be planning to undertake an extensive refurbishment of the property, renew windows and roof coverings or undertake extensive alterations and therefore do not require an inspection of these elements.

This survey can therefore be tailored to suit your specific needs, typically focussing on the key structural elements of the building only.   In this circumstance, we would typically focus upon all aspects of the structure, from the roof down to any signs of movement below ground level. 

CRE8 Project & Building Consultancy, based in Blackburn, Lancashire are a firm of Chartered Building Surveyors that are Regulated by RICS.  We provide expert technical advice to the public across Lancashire and beyond.  Please feel free to visit our website to learn more on how we can assist you, including our other services when considering undertaking an extension to your home.

Alternatively, why not give us a call to discuss your individual needs and learn more on how we can assist.

William Rogers BSc (Hons) MBA MRICS FCMIDirector / Chartered Building SurveyorCRE8 Project & Building ConsultancyT: 07955249971E: [email protected]://cre8surveyors.co.uk/