Professional Property Survey Services Across The North West

A mortgage valuation is solely for your lender's benefit - it confirms the property's worth as security for the loan but won't identify defects or repairs. It's often just a quick external inspection or even a 'desktop' valuation. A building survey is your independent inspection that thoroughly examines the property's condition, identifies defects, estimates repair costs, and highlights potential issues. Many buyers mistakenly rely on valuations alone and later discover expensive problems a survey would have found.

Absolutely yes! New builds often have numerous defects ('snags') that should be fixed before completion. Our Pre-completion Survey creates a comprehensive snagging list for the developer to address under warranty. Common issues include poor finishing, plumbing problems, electrical faults, and external defects. The New Homes Quality Code requires developers to fix identified snags, but only if you report them. Our detailed inspection ensures nothing is missed and you get the quality home you're paying for.

Survey costs depend on the survey level and property value. Our Level 1 surveys start from £350, Level 2 from £550, and Level 3 from £750. Pre-completion surveys begin at £450. Prices increase with property value as higher-value homes typically require more detailed inspection. All quotes are fixed with no hidden extras. When you consider the average survey saves buyers £2,000 in negotiations or prevents purchasing a problem property, it's a valuable investment that pays for itself many times over.

On-site inspection typically takes 2-3 hours for Level 1, 3-4 hours for Level 2, and 4-6 hours for Level 3 surveys, depending on property size. We provide verbal feedback on inspection day if you need urgent information for negotiations. Your comprehensive written report is guaranteed within 5 working days - often sooner. The report includes detailed findings, photographs, our traffic light rating system, and clear recommendations. You also get ongoing support to discuss findings.

Yes, significantly! Studies show buyers with surveys negotiate an average £2,000-£5,000 reduction. Our reports provide detailed evidence of defects and estimated repair costs, giving you strong negotiating power. We've helped clients secure reductions of £10,000+ where serious issues were found. You can request the seller completes repairs, reduces the price, or provides warranties. In some cases, survey findings have saved buyers from purchasing properties with prohibitively expensive problems. The survey cost is typically recovered many times over through negotiations.

Our traffic light system makes reports easy to understand. Condition Rating 1 (Green) means no repair needed - the element is working properly. Rating 2 (Amber) indicates defects needing repair or replacement but not urgent - you should budget for these works. Rating 3 (Red) flags serious defects requiring urgent attention - these affect safety, structure, or weather protection and need immediate action. This clear system helps you prioritize repairs and understand which issues are most critical for your property purchase decision.

Don't panic - most properties have some defects. Our report clearly explains each issue's severity, likely cause, and required remedial work with budget costs. For serious problems like subsidence, we'll recommend specialist investigation and provide guidance on solutions. You can use this information to renegotiate the price, request repairs before purchase, or in extreme cases, withdraw from the purchase. We provide ongoing support to help you understand findings and make informed decisions. Remember, identifying problems before purchase protects you from nasty surprises.