Chartered Surveyor Near Me: How to Choose the Right Local Surveyor
Looking for a chartered surveyor near you? Learn what to check, how local knowledge helps and how to choose the right surveyor for a Surrey property.
Read the guideHomebuyer survey questions, answered
Understand the home.
Before you make it yours.
Practical guides to Level 2 and Level 3 surveys: what to choose, when to book and what the findings mean for your purchase.
01
Choosing a survey
Do I Need a Survey When Buying a House?
A practical guide to whether you need a house survey, when to arrange it, what a mortgage valuation misses and which survey level to choose.
Read the guideWhat Does a Level 3 House Survey Check?
What a RICS Level 3 house survey checks inside and outside the property, what the report explains, and the important limits buyers should know.
Read the guideLevel 2 vs Level 3 Home Survey: What Is the Difference?
Compare a RICS Level 2 vs Level 3 Home Survey, including inspection depth, report detail, property suitability, repair advice and cost factors.
Read the guideDifferent Types of House Surveys: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3
A clear guide to the different types of house survey in the UK, how Levels 1, 2 and 3 compare, and why a mortgage valuation is not a survey.
Read the guideWhat Does a Level 2 Survey Cover?
What a RICS Level 2 Home Survey covers, the areas inspected, condition ratings, repair advice, exclusions and the properties it suits best.
Read the guideHow Much Does a Level 3 Survey Cost?
Level 3 survey cost explained: why fees vary, what should be included, how to compare quotations and when the extra detail is worth paying for.
Read the guideDo Cash Buyers Need a House Survey?
Why cash buyers should consider an independent Level 2 or Level 3 house survey, despite having no mortgage lender or lender valuation involved.
Read the guideCan I Use the Seller’s House Survey?
What to check before using a seller’s or previous buyer’s survey: permission, reliance, report date, inspection limits and whether to commission your own.
Read the guideBuying an Extended or Converted House: Which Survey?
How to choose a home survey for an extended house, loft conversion or altered layout, with practical checks on construction, documents and further investigations.
Read the guideDo I Need a Survey on a Modern House?
Why a modern-looking resale house may still need a Level 2 or Level 3 survey, and how warranties, refurbishment and an EPC differ from condition advice.
Read the guideWhich Survey for a Non-Standard Construction House?
Buying an unusually constructed house? Understand why construction experience, a suitable survey level and clear lending checks matter before you book.
Read the guide02
Booking and timing
When Should You Arrange a House Survey?
When to book a Level 2 or Level 3 house survey after an accepted offer, how it fits around a mortgage, and why to leave time before exchange.
Read the guideHow Long Does a House Survey Take—and When Will the Report Arrive?
Understand the difference between house survey inspection time, report turnaround and further investigations for a Level 2 or Level 3 home survey.
Read the guideHouse Survey Access Checklist: What Should Be Ready?
A practical home survey access checklist for buyers, sellers and agents: keys, roof hatches, shared areas, useful documents and what happens if access is limited.
Read the guide03
What surveys check
Does a Homebuyer Survey Check for Damp?
What a Level 2 or Level 3 home survey can tell you about damp, leaks and condensation, inspection limits and questions to resolve before buying.
Read the guideDo House Surveys Check for Subsidence?
Understand how home surveys assess visible signs of movement, why cracks do not always mean subsidence and when further investigation is needed.
Read the guideDoes a House Survey Check the Roof and Loft?
How Level 2 and Level 3 surveys inspect roofs and lofts, what safe access means and what to ask about inaccessible roof areas before buying.
Read the guideDoes a Homebuyer Survey Test Electrics, Gas and Heating?
Why a home survey is not an electrical inspection or gas safety test, what visible services checks mean and which follow-up questions buyers should ask.
Read the guideDoes a House Survey Check Drains?
What a home survey can inspect about drainage, why it is different from a CCTV drain survey and what to ask before buying a house or flat.
Read the guideWill a Home Survey Identify Asbestos?
Why a home survey may flag suspected asbestos but is not an asbestos survey, and how buyers should handle further checks before purchase or renovation.
Read the guide04
Understanding findings
House Surveyor vs Conveyancer: Who Checks What?
Understand the different roles of a home surveyor and conveyancer in England and Wales, and how to join up condition findings, documents and legal enquiries.
Read the guideHouse Survey Condition Ratings Explained: 1, 2, 3 and NI
Understand RICS home survey condition ratings, why a red rating is not an automatic failed survey and how to prioritise repairs and further checks.
Read the guideNot sure which survey you need?
Share the property details. We can explain the appropriate level before you book.
Get a survey quote