About surveys
There have been many types of home survey over the years and it can be quite confusing when working out what it is you need when either moving house, or have a problem with a building. Terms such as structural survey, homebuyer report, full building survey, valuation etc have been used on and off for decades.
In 2021, RICS implemented a new Home Survey Standard with the intention of simplifying the residential surveying industry and providing a defined and consistent approach to home surveys.
What is a survey?
A home survey is an assessment of a building condition and comprises three main parts:
- An inspection;
- A report;
- Advice.
The amount of detail each survey goes into in each of these areas depends on the building and things such as its age, condition, location and heritage value affect the choice. It is the surveyor's job to ensure that you choose the most appropriate survey for you and the building concerned.
The Home Survey Standard defines three levels of survey as outlined below.
Three survey levels
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
Very basic visual inspection, brief report and no advice on such things as repairs. This is most suited to simple, relatively new homes in reasonable condition.
Level 2
Level 1
Level 1
An intermediate survey with greater depth of inspection than level 1 and with more advice on repair and maintenance issues. This is suited to homes in reasonable condition without the complexities of age or construction .
Note - the level 2 survey has two variants - with and without a valuation of the property.
Level 3
Level 1
Level 3
This is the most comprehensive survey and is best suited for older or more complex homes where there may be particular issues with the condition or construction. This survey will take more time, and have a greater element of advice than the other survey levels.
Survey services
Our Level 3 surveys
Employing a whole building pathology approach, investigating defects thoroughly, taking more time on site, and routinely carrying out thermal imaging and humidity testing as part of inspections. This gives as much data as possible on which to base any analysis and advice.
Building design experience also plays into the Level 3 survey space due to knowledge of extended buildings and the issues that can cause - in particular when blending modern and traditional constructions.
Find out more about the RICS Level 3 service HERE
Level 2 surveys: we also provide surveys for more recent buildings in reasonable condition.
Note we do not currently offer valuations.
