Basic.
Standard.
Premium.
Types of Home Survey
We offer three types of home surveys to suit all needs and budgets. We offer fixed prices of £299, £399 and £599 for our Basic, Standard and Premium options. Our prices do not differ for flats, houses, listed or period properties. We offer the same clear pricing for all people and all properties.
Each survey type provides a physical on site whole home survey with different options depending on your needs. All our surveys look at the key financial drivers such as building movement, roof condition, electrics and damp testing. Our Example Surveys show all the items that we inspect during each survey type and the level of detail provided for in each survey.
The following table shows exactly what is included in each service so that you can select the right survey for your needs:
Basic Survey £299
We developed the Basic Survey to ensure that home surveys remain open to people with any budget and to suit people who may feel a simpler, less intensive survey would suit them better than a fully detailed report. We exclude a number of less important features from the survey, like the garden, outbuildings and internal finishes on the assumption that most people can adequately check these areas without a specialist surveyor. Despite it's simpler nature, the Basic Survey still includes detailed inspections of all internal and external parts of the building and we still inspect important safety features in gardens like retaining walls.
To enable us to offer this lower price point, the Survey Report is simpler, with less detailed information included. However we do offer a colour coded summary with an indication of the overall value of the defect repairs so that you can quickly assess your offer.
Standard Survey £399
This is our most popular survey option. We provide a detailed whole home survey, including grounds and outbuildings. We report back to you via a detailed written report with individual budgets for each specific defect we identify so you can quickly and easily assess any effect on the offer you have made for the property. This is equivalent to the old Homebuyers survey, often referred to now as a Level 2 survey but with the added benefit of financial budgets for repairs included which are not typically included by other surveyors.
We promise to have the detailed report to you within two working days of attending the property, but the majority of our reports are issued by early evening on the day of the survey.
Premium Survey £579
Our Premium Survey option provide our most intensive inspection levels and includes additional benefits like a guaranteed turnaround time, project advice and written budgets for planned improvement or renovation works. This is particularly helpful if you are planning any improvements like extensions, loft conversions or structural works to alter the layout of the property. We will share our ideas and expertise with you to help achieve both what you want and what you need from the property. We will advise you not just on what is practical and possible, but also on what you can expect to pay for each and any of the options.
We will advise on how planning law and building regulations may affect your ideas and how these can be best approached to give you the best value. We will also guarantee to email the report to you on the same day as the survey so that you don't have to wait for the results.
Following your purchase we can follow up these ideas with practical project support services to help you realise your plans.
Frequently asked questions
What do you check for?
Clients often have specific concerns about parts of the property they are buying and they can share these concerns with us before the survey. However, we look at an extensive range of items including the roof, structure, movement or subsidence, leaks, damp, electrical wiring, plumbing, boiler and heating systems. You can see a copy report here from a previous survey we have undertaken to see what is inspected and reported on.
Do you survey flats?
Yes, our prices are the same for flats and houses but the survey for leasehold properties differs slightly to a freehold house purchase. Typically for leasehold property, the external and communal parts of the building will be maintained by the freeholder, with each leaseholder being obliged to make a contribution towards this. As such we survey these parts of the building where practically possible and report back on the general condition of the building and budgets for future maintenance works that are likely to take place in the coming months and years based on these findings. This way you can be financially prepared and assess your offer in terms of future cost exposure.
Why are your surveys so reasonably priced?
We keep our prices low by engaging in sustainable business practices and keeping our fixed price surveys restricted to a specific geographical area covering around 15 miles around our base in Seaford. You can see the areas we cover here. We are not a chartered practice so do not have to pay membership fees to RICS.
Do you work outside of your area?
Absolutely, we often travel longer distances for an additional fee which usually still equates to less than an alternative local surveyor. You can contact us here to see what this additional fee would be for a specific location.
Do you offer refunds?
Yes, we offer 100% refunds on all surveys so long as we have not attended the property. We understand house buying doesn't always run smoothly so if you need to cancel for any reason prior to us travelling to the survey, we will refund you 100% of the fee. We do not keep any admin or processing fees.
Do I need to tell the Estate Agent or Vendor?
We will take care of the booking in process and will contact the agent or vendor on your behalf so all you have to do is book with us. You may wish to let the agent or vendor know you are having a survey and if you have selected a Basic or Premium survey, where you plan to attend the survey with us, you should let them know that you are attending.
Will you collect keys?
Yes, we will collect and return the keys from an agent located in the same town as the survey for no additional charge.
How long does it take?
If you have selected a Premium survey, where you plan to attend the survey with us, we will advise you of a time to arrive. We normally allow ourselves a sufficient head start on your arrival to ensure you are not waiting too long for us to complete the survey before we can start our own in person discussions. We would suggest allowing up to 90 minutes for your own time at the property.
When will I get the written report?
For a Standard Survey, you will typically receive your report within 2 working days of us attending the property. For a Premium Survey, we guarantee that we will email the results to you on the same day we attend the property. For a Basic Survey, the results are usually emailed direct from site during the survey due to the simpler nature of the report.
How do I place the order?
You can place an order here by simply filling out a very quick and easy form and making the relevant payment. Or you can drop us an email here and ask us to contact you.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept PayPal payments via the secure online form. You can also pay easily via online banking. If you send us an email here, we will send you a Fee Invoice for the relevant survey you require and this will include all our bank details.
Do you undertake valuations?
Some RICS surveyors include a valuation and/or an insurance rebuilding estimate. We don't include these sums but we know that typically your mortgage company will wish to complete their own mortgage valuation which is often 'desk based'. Their valuation is a simple check to see if their investment is safe and does not identify any defects or repairs you need to know about. An insurance rebuilding estimate can be easily found free of charge from providers such as the Association of British Insurers (ABI)
Are you insured?
Yes, we carry £500,000 of professional indemnity cover and £5,000,000 of public liability cover for our client's peace of mind.