Building Surveys

A Building Survey is the most in-depth inspection endorsed by RICS and is designed to provide a detailed analysis of the structure’s condition. The investigation will typically last several hours, during which your surveyor will inspect all accessible areas of the property. This includes loft spaces, basements and outbuildings, although it won’t cover sealed-off parts of the property.

Following the survey, you will receive a comprehensive report, which will draw attention to any defects within the building and surrounding land. As well as noting visible problems, the report will highlight areas which are likely to cause problems later down the line, unseen areas which may be suffering damage and peculiarities that will require special attention. These comments are based on the surveyor’s experience of buildings of a similar age, style and condition.

Building Surveys will also include professional recommendations about how to remedy property defects, along with cost estimates for maintenance and repairs.

How do I know if I need a Building Survey?

The comprehensive nature of a Building Survey means that they are particularly suited to older homes, large properties or buildings that require significant renovation. They are a valuable tool for understanding complex and historic structures and help buyers to make an informed decision when investing in an unusual type of home.

If you are buying a listed building or a home that has undergone many alterations, then a Building Survey can give you the confidence that its condition is sound, or provide an expert opinion about the associated costs with pursuing your purchase.

Homes built after the 1960s and which are in seemingly good repair may not require such an intensive investigation, however, a Home Condition Report is still recommended to ensure that the building contains no major defects.

How to choose a surveyor

With any kind of survey, it’s important that you understand (and are happy with) exactly what the surveyor will be doing, and the methods they will be using. Before agreeing to a report, check that the level of detail included in the report will meet your expectations, and will be detailed enough to help you make a decision about the building. If not, you may end up spending more money on specialist investigations and repairs in the long run.

At HardingBond, we are careful to explain the details of each of our services to make sure our clients receive the exact information they need, and help them choose the most appropriate report for their home.

Our Building Survey reports are usually a room-by-room analysis contained within a document of at least 35 pages. We provide as much detail as possible about repair and maintenance costs, giving you reliable information with which to renegotiate your offer should you require, and are happy to go through any part of our process before, during or after the inspection.

We are also regulated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and work to the strict code of conduct laid out in their guidelines, and our professional indemnity insurance covers our clients up to £1,000,000 for further peace of mind.

Contact Us

If you are in the process of buying a home, converting your property or simply require information about the condition of a building you already own, contact our team at HardingBond today. We can provide a free, no-obligation quote for our property surveys, and answer any questions you may have about our services. Use our contact page to find your nearest branch, or send us an email via enquiries@hardingbond.co.uk.