Building Surveyors

We offer four types of property inspection, suitable for purchasers (or home-owners if they wish) given below in descending order of cost;

Full Building Survey Report

A Building Survey is a comprehensive inspection of a property reported in a style to suit the property and your specific requirements. It’s suitable for all properties, especially:

Listed buildings
Older properties
Buildings constructed in an unusual way, however old they are
Properties you plan to renovate or alter in any way
Properties that have had extensive alterations.

It examines all accessible parts of the property – and you can ask to have specific areas included, so it covers any particular concerns you have about the building. It is a product which can be tailored to your needs, agreed between you and your surveyor.

A Full Building Survey can include details of

Major and minor defects and what they could mean
The possible cost of repairs
Results of damp testing on walls
Damage to timbers – including woodworm and rot
The condition of damp-proofing, insulation and drainage (though drains aren’t tested)
Technical information on the construction of the property and the materials used
The location
Recommendations for any further special inspections.

Abbreviated Building Survey Report

An Abbreviated Survey is a less expensive building survey (equivalent to the RICS “Homebuyer” format, but without a property valuation). It is most suitable for conventional properties built within the last 150 years, which are in reasonable condition.

It doesn’t detail every aspect of the property, and only focuses on urgent matters needing attention. It’s not usually suitable for properties in need of renovation, or if you’re planning major alterations.

An Abbreviated Survey includes:

The general condition of the property
Any major faults in accessible parts of the building that may affect the value
Any urgent problems that need inspecting by a specialist before you sign a contract
Results of tests for damp in the walls Damage to timbers – including woodworm or rot
The condition of any damp-proofing, insulation and drainage (though drains aren’t tested)

Structure-only Building Survey Report

Being structural engineers as well as building surveyors, we can offer a service limited to structural and load-bearing elements only (i.e. roof, walls, floors only):

This type of inspection is less expensive than the full Building Survey as it is limited in its scope. It is suitable for those who are only really concerned with structural defects, for examples buyers who intend to undertake extensive renovation / modernisation works. It covers the structural aspects of the property in the same detail as the Building Survey above, but does not include any non-structural parts, or outbuildings (unless specifically requested).

Targeted Building Survey Report

A report targeted on one or two specific areas of concern only;

This type of inspection is generally the least expensive, and focuses only on those specific areas of concern which could be identified by the purchaser (or their valuer), or a matter known by the seller which he is concerned will arise in a buyer’s survey and wants to be prepared for.

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