A building survey is the most thorough inspection available when buying a property. It examines the building systematically — from foundations to chimney pots — and reports on condition, defects, risks, and recommended actions.
We carry out building surveys across Bath, the Cotswolds, and Gloucestershire. Here’s what the process involves and what you’ll receive.
Before the Survey
We’ll need access to the property for typically 2-4 hours depending on size and complexity. We’ll coordinate access through the estate agent or vendor. We ask that heating is left on (so we can check the system) and that areas like lofts, cellars, and outbuildings are accessible.
If you have specific concerns — a crack you noticed during viewing, worries about damp, questions about a particular room — let us know beforehand. We inspect everything regardless, but knowing your concerns ensures we pay particular attention to the areas that matter to you.
What We Inspect
The survey covers the property systematically.
Externally: roofs (coverings, flashings, gutters, downpipes, chimneys), walls (construction type, condition, cracks, pointing, render), windows and doors, drainage, outbuildings, boundaries, and grounds.
Internally: ceilings, walls, floors, joists (where accessible), staircases, built-in fittings, loft spaces (insulation, ventilation, timber condition), cellars and basements.
Services: we carry out a visual inspection of electrics, plumbing, heating, and drainage. We don’t test services — that requires specialist contractors — but we note age, apparent condition, and whether further investigation is recommended.
Environmental: we consider flood risk, subsidence risk, radon, and any other environmental factors relevant to the property’s location.
How We Report
Our reports follow RICS standards but we write them in plain English. Technical jargon helps nobody if it obscures the message.
Each element of the property is assessed and described. Where defects are identified, we explain what the problem is, how serious it is, what caused it, and what action is needed. We distinguish between urgent issues requiring immediate attention, problems that need addressing in the medium term, and cosmetic matters that are essentially maintenance items.
We include photographs of significant findings and provide cost estimates for major works where appropriate.
After the Survey
The report is yours to use however you wish. Common outcomes include proceeding with confidence (the survey confirms the property is sound), renegotiating the price (the survey identifies issues that justify a reduction), commissioning further investigations (specific concerns need specialist assessment), or deciding not to proceed (the survey reveals problems that change the picture fundamentally).
We’re always happy to discuss the report with you afterwards. Understanding the implications of specific findings helps you make the right decision.
Contact us to arrange a building survey.
