Surveying
RICS Property Surveyors In Kent and East Sussex
Our survey and valuation services can assist both buyers and sellers of homes with a range of benefits assisting with the exchange and successful purchase or selling of your property.
Our experienced, knowledgeable team can identify any possible issues with the property and will provide independent advice and RICS Level 1, 2 & 3 Survey reports.
We can also provide an accurate market valuation of your property.
RICS Level 1 Survey
This used to be known as a Condition Report. It is the most basic of the three survey types and is designed for home buyers or homeowners seeking professional and objective reporting on the condition of a property.
This is best suited to conventionally built, modern properties and not suitable for older complex or neglected properties.
The inspection is visual and and no testing of the fabric or any services of the building will occur (such as electrics).
It includes the building services and grounds and will provide an assessment of the relative importance of any defects or issues. It does not include advice on repairs or ongoing maintenance and where the surveyor is not able to reach a conclusion with reasonable confidence about any aspect, the report will provide recommendations for further investigations.
RICS Level 2 Survey
This is a home survey providing advice about the property and its value. The service includes a physical inspection of the property and a report based on that in which a valuation of the property is included.
This service aims to give you professional advice to help you to make an informed decision on whether to go ahead with buying the property and what is a reasonable price to pay for the property. It will also take into account any repairs or replacements the property needs, and will consider what further advice you should take before committing to purchasing property.
The survey type will suit many conventionally built properties but it is unlikely to be a suitable survey service for altered or unique buildings, or any older or historic properties, nor those that have been neglected.
The service includes information on any major and non-visible defects that may affect the property value and safety of the property as a well as minor defects that may require attention in the future. It also gives advice on maintenance that should be carried out to ensure the property remains in good condition.
It will also provide advice on any legal issues that may affect the property such as rights of way and advice on energy efficiency and environmental matters such as flood risk.
It does not include estimations on repair costs.
The advice may benefit you by helping you to negotiate a better price for the purchase for the property.
The inspection involves the inside and outside of the property and all permanent outbuildings, recording the construction and significant visible defects that are evident.
The inspection is intended to cover as much of the property as is physically accessible, and where this is not possible an explanation is given about any limitations on the inspection
No fabric of the building is opened up and no fixtures or fittings will be moved. Heavy furniture will not be moved either, or the contents of cupboards, roof spaces and secure panels or hatches.
If it is necessary the inspection from the outside will be from standing at ground level on ajoining land or property where accessible in order to see as much of the building as is reasonably possible.
RICS Level 3 Survey
This method of property survey suits older properties and aims to provide professional advice to help you to make a reasoned and informed decision when purchasing a property or when planning for repairs to a property, its maintenance, upgrading and refurbishment.
It will provide detailed advice on the condition of the building and describe identifiable risks or potential or hidden defects. It will also provide the most probable cause or causes of any defects noted based on the inspection and where practical, and where agreed, provide an estimate of costs and likely timescale for identified repairs and necessary work.
The inspection involves the inside and outside of the property and all permanent outbuildings, recording the construction and significant visible defects that are evident.
The inspection is intended to cover as much of the property as is physically accessible, and where this is not possible an explanation is given about any limitations on the inspection
If it is safe to do so, the roof space will be visually inspected with attention paid to any vulnerable parts or deterioration or damage noted.
Understanding your property ratings:
For all of these surveys the reports will give Condition Ratings as a 1, 2 or 3 rating and coloured green, amber or red accordingly. In these:
Rating of 3 (Red) notes serious defects that need to be repaired or replaced or investigated further urgently.
Rating 2 (Amber) notes defects that need repairing or replacing but are not considered to be either serious or urgent and the property must be maintained in the normal way.
Rating 1 (Green) confirms no repair is necessary and the property must be maintained in the normal way.
NI confirms where any element was not inspected.
Talk to us about your survey requirements today