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The perfect time to instruct a surveyor is once you have the property under offer and have secured a mortgage, if you need one.

It is often done at the same time as your conveyancer.

Getting a survey done early can give you time to discuss the findings with the seller, negotiate a reduction in the price or pull out of the purchase before too much time is wasted.

However, a home survey can be done anytime before you exchange contracts on a property, so its never too late.

At Survey Hut, every survey is arranged and overseen by our experienced team. We work with a small group of experienced surveyors and specialists — including our own surveyors — to make sure each inspection is carried out by the right professional for the job.

So while the survey may be completed by one of our in‑house surveyors or by a trusted surveyor we work closely with, the process is always managed by us. We remain your main point of contact, we ensure the survey meets our standards and answer any questions.

In short: we organise it, we oversee it, and we support you throughout — ensuring you receive a high‑quality, reliable survey every time.

RICS home surveys are a cost effective way to check your new home for defects.

We’ll be honest, many people buy a house without a survey. 

However, from around £450 you get an experienced surveyor check for damp, look for structural issues, get into the loft (subject to access), visually look at the services and inspect all accessible elements of the property. The surveyor puts together a report with lots of photos and goes through it with you to answer any questions and compare it to other similar properties. If there are issues that need further investigation they will help you find a trusted specialist. 

We think a survey is a great cost effective way to check a new home and give peace of mind. 

Technically a home survey isn’t a structural survey.

However, the surveyors do look for signs of structural movement at a property, including to the chimneys, roofs, walls, floors and doors which might be due to subsidence, faults with the construction and defects. 

A structural report is produced by a structural engineer who will look at a specific structural problem to give a specification of works and cost of repair. It often follows a home survey or valuation where a specific issue is found. A structural report doesn’t look at the whole property.

To confirm if a wall is load bearing you often need an assessment of the property by a structural engineer to check the thickness of walls, orientation of floor and ceiling joists and footings to the walls. Unfortunately it is outside the scope of a home survey.

It’s safe to assume that structural strengthening will be required to remove all or part of a wall.

It takes a lot of professional help to build an extension. You often need input from a planning consultant, architect, structural engineer, building control officer, drainage expert, electrician, plumber and builder.

The above elements are each a specialised area. 

A RICS Home Survey does not include provisions for advising on future extensions.

To help we can recommend some great specialists to guide you through the process. Just ask. 

Some surveyors have a reputation for producing vague reports to try and avoid missing anything. However, these type of reports aren’t useful to a home buyer as they can’t implement the repairs or quantify the problems.

A home survey is a visual inspection of a property so a surveyor can only look at elements they can see. 

A surveyor has to ensure they’re safe so can’t put themselves in dangerous situations. They also aren’t qualified to test and check the electric, gas and heating installations. 

So you will get some reasonable caveats in a survey, however, a home survey is invaluable to tell you all about the property you’re buying.

Your survey will include photographs, the location and visible issues with the utilities. However, surveyors are not qualified to test the condition of the utilities. This needs to be done by a qualified electrician, gas engineer or plumber.

You can have the electric, gas, oil and heating installations tested and checked by a qualified engineers by adding them as EXTRAS. The findings and certificates are included in your report.

Yes photos are included in your Level 2 and 3 Reports. 

More annotated photos are included in a Level 3 Report as its more detailed.

It’s difficult to provide accurate costs due to the changes in prices and as further investigations might be needed following the survey.

We therefore don’t include costs of repairs in our reports.

A Level 2 survey focuses on the major potential defects in a property – the condition of the inside and outside of the roof, if there are signs of structural issues and if there are elevated damp readings.

It also describes the condition of the chimneys, walls, rain water goods, windows, doors, internal elements and grounds including any garage and/or outhouse.

It is regulated by the RICS and is a non intrusive survey of your new home with a traffic light grading system to indicate any defects and the urgency of any required maintenance or repair.

Add a valuation and drone investigation to the survey as an EXTRA.

It is suitable for traditionally constructed properties with limited extensions built in the last 100 years.

A Level 2 survey tests for elevated damp readings using a Protimeter.

It highlights any significant repairs or replacements the property needs.

Recommendations for further investigation if the surveyor can’t reach a reasonable conclusion on the current condition.

A desktop investigation local environmental issues.

Recommendations for your legal advisor to undertake further investigations into potential legal issues to do with extensions, building regulations, planning permissions, boundaries, rights of way and leasehold terms.

A review of the Energy Performance Certificate.

Add a valuation or drone investigation to the survey as an EXTRA.

Also known as a building survey. Includes everything in a Level 2 survey with greater detail on construction materials and methods, plus detailed advice on cause & repair of defects.

It is suitable for older, larger, non traditionally built homes with lots of extensions or conversions or those wanting more detail in their survey.

Add a valuation or drone investigation to the survey as an EXTRA.

A Level 3 survey is a more in depth and detailed report into the condition of your new home.

It will identify the building materials used in the construction of the property and comment on the likely maintenance and repair required in the future.

Concealed areas normally opened or used by the occupiers will be inspected if its safe to do so, such as drains and underfloor areas.

Read more about the differences here.

A building survey is suitable for larger, more complex, non traditionally constructed properties with more than one extension built over approximately 100 years.

When it comes to buying or selling a property, home valuation is a crucial aspect that needs to be taken into consideration. A home survey can have a significant impact on the home valuation, as it provides an in-depth analysis of the property’s condition and any potential issues that may affect its value.

At Survey Hut, we offer a range of home surveys that can help determine the true value of a property. Our surveyors provide detailed information on the property’s structure, condition, and any defects that may be present. This information can then be used to make informed decisions about the property’s value.

One of the main ways that surveys impact home valuation is by identifying any defects or issues with the property. If a survey reveals that there are significant defects or issues that need to be addressed, this can have a negative impact on the property’s value. On the other hand, if a survey reveals that the property is in good condition and well-maintained, this can have a positive impact on the property’s value.

Another way that surveys impact home valuation is by providing a more accurate picture of the property’s condition. Without a survey, it can be difficult to determine the true value of a property, as there may be hidden defects or issues that are not immediately apparent. By providing a detailed analysis of the property’s condition, surveys can help ensure that the property is accurately valued.

Home surveys can have a significant impact on home valuation. By providing detailed information on the property’s condition and any potential issues, surveys can help ensure that the property is accurately valued. At Survey Hut, we offer a range of home surveys that can help provide a more accurate picture of a property’s value, ensuring that our clients can make informed decisions about buying or selling a property.

If you’d like us to arrange a survey either drop us an email at hello@surveyhut.co.uk, call 0333 242 3383 or book it through the quote email we’ve sent you.

We’ll then speak to the estate agent to book the inspection, arrange for terms of engagement to be issued and email details about how to pay for the survey.

We request payment two days before we inspect the property.

Yes. You can cancel the survey and get a full refund up to two days before the inspection.