• Independent surveyor
• Residential surveyor
• Building surveyor
• Sussex based surveyor
• Experienced surveyor

Why do I need to commission a Survey

Although your lender will usually require you to pay for a valuation report, it only answers the lender's questions about the appropriate security of your loan. Although it is often called a 'survey',this is incorrect. You cannot rely on it to highlight any defects or provide you with a detailed report on the condition of the property. Which? and the Council of Mortgage Lenders advise that all buyers should commission an independent house survey which would report on the condition of a property before buying. Which? found that for those people who did not get a house survey, on average,one in four had to spend more than £2,500 to put serious defects right which would have been identified in a condition report. For one in ten people it was over £10,000. By contrast, those that did get a proper house survey were able to negotiate a reduction in the asking price of the property that averaged £2,000.

Why this Survey

This survey format was born out of much collaboration between consumer groups and interested government departments.The result is generally accepted to be 'best in its class' by property professionals and has been used as a template for many of the more recent RICS products.In particular,the Home Condition Survey format is better in the following ways:
It is specifically written with the consumer in mind and uses non-technical language.
All reports are lodged with the accrediting body and 5% of them are independently audited.
Each report is insured for professional negligence,thus removing the need to specifically target the surveyor for recompense(see below for policy details).
The report also includes a reinstatement calculation,which can be very useful for insurance purposes(see below for example).
All reports carry a comprehensive set of photographs supporting the text.
Finally,and perhaps most important of all,I am an independent surveyor who deals directly with the public.There are no other intermediaries whose interests I may feel compelled to protect.

How much will it cost?

A Home Condition Survey can cost as little as £299.For a typical 3 bed house the cost would be in the region of £349 and no vat is currently charged.