Surveyor fees and services | Chartered Surveyors

Basic Building Survey

For this we would inspect the perimeter walls, the roof and carry out no more than a walkthrough of the property with a couple of sample damp readings for reference.
No detailed inspection for rot or damp will be carried out, only superficial and regarding structural problems only.
Undersized joists, detached brickwork, deformed bresumers, rotting wall plates, subsidence and drain related movement etc. will only in each case be covered, where such defects are very obvious.

Structural Movement will be mentioned but this will only be a very brief overview and not to be confused with a full structural survey.
Such a building survey may be sufficient, for example, as a pre auction inspection or when possibly two or three properties are being considered for purchase and a quick opinion needs to be made as to which property was likely to be the better bet.

If you would like us to proceed with a basic survey, and you are not known to us, we would ask you to make a deposit payment (or minimum payment) of £540.00 (Inc VAT). This will be deducted from your final invoice. This service is charged at a rate of £0.65 per sq. foot of the property +VAT.

If you would like a Drains survey to be carried out alongside a Basic Survey, please click the button below, which will cover the deposit required for the Basic Building Survey and the full cost of a Drains Survey. This will be a total of: £960.00 (Inc VAT).

Economic Survey

This will be a full survey of the property limited by what can be seen without lifting any floor boards, removing furniture, carpets or ceiling plaster etc... It will not include a CCTV drains test, or any detailed reporting on services. Only a brief overview of the main services will be given.

There will be an attempt to quantify likely costs, but only based upon educated guesswork. This is not to be relied upon in preference to a detailed estimate from a professional or competent person, such as a builder, armed with a detailed schedule of works to quote from. There will be some photographs included.
This level of survey will be suitable for most pre-purchase decisions.

Please Note: No price valuation of the property will be provided unless requested. If requested we normally charge 0.0025% x the open market value of the freehold, or virtual freehold interest. This will be charged in addition to a survey. Please see the Valuations page for a calculation.

If you would like us to proceed with an economic survey, and you are not known to us, we would ask you to make a deposit payment (or minimum payment) of £600.00 (Inc VAT). This will be deducted from the final invoice, as appropriate. This service is charged at a rate of £1.20 per sq.foot of the property + VAT.

If you would like a Drains survey to be carried out alongside an Economic Survey, please click the button below, which will cover the deposit required for an Economic Building Survey and the full cost of a Drains Survey. This will be a total of: £1020.00 (Inc VAT).

Full Structural Building Survey

A full survey will be an in-depth, through report as can be reasonably made, given the access constraints as for an economic survey.
It will, however, be inclusive of greater detail in respect of the service installations, such as the Electricals and Plumbing installations general condition.
We will attempt to operate and inspect the workings of the heating and hot water systems, raise Inspection covers and to look at drain runs.
We can also arrange a drain test if appropriate and will inspect fuse boards and wiring, without carrying out insulation tests etc... If the electrical system looks old or unsafe, we will recommend and electrician to carry out a suitable Inspection and test for you, as necessary.

There will be photographs and other details included, to show the problems affecting the property. Ideally, we should be given access to the main and lower roofs if any and the main and other roof voids to check for insulation and defects therein.
We will consider listed building issues and compliance with building/planning regulations and attempt an evaluation of the likely costs of remedial works. This will again be limited as above, to our educated guesswork.
We will advise if further specialist reporting is needed (Such as: structural engineers, mechanical or electrical engineer reports, damp specialist reports etc..)

If you would like us to proceed with a Full Structural Buildings survey, and you are not known to us, we would ask you to make a deposit payment (or minimum payment) of £780.00 (Inc VAT). This amount will be deducted from the final invoice, as appropriate. This service is charged at a rate of £1.40 per sq. foot of the property + VAT.

If you would like a Drains survey to be carried out alongside a Full Structural Building Survey, please click the button below, which will cover the deposit required for a Full Structural Building Survey and the full cost of a Drains Survey. This will be a total of: £1,200.00 (Inc VAT).

Other reports are available from our known specialists. Prices are available upon request.

Party Walls and other specialist work

Party Wall works and other advice is charged at an hourly rate. This will be at £145.00 per hour + VAT (£174.00 Inc. VAT) Please contact us for advice and a quote.