Building Surveys
Find a local RICS Surveyor & compare prices for your Building Survey!
The RICS Level 3 Building Survey, often referred to as a 'Full Survey' or a 'Structural Survey', is the most comprehensive of the 'standard' RICS home surveys. It's most appropriate for older or unusual properties, or ones that have either been significantly modified in the past, or that you intend to modify.
A Building Survey is less standardised, and is often tailored to suit the specifics of the property, and the local building conditions and materials. Although a Building Survey should meet the minimum Level 3 RICS standards, the content, format and scope of the report may vary somewhat between surveyors. So when choosing your surveyor we recommend discussing your requirements to make sure the report covers any particular aspects you may have concerns about.
Most surveyors will be able to provide you with a sample report so you can check the normal scope of their reports.
What does a Building Survey cover?
RICS describes a Level 3 Building Survey as:
a comprehensive inspection of a property reported in a style to suit the property and your specific requirements"
A full RICS Level 3 Building Survey (also commonly referred to as a Structural Survey) is suitable for all properties, but especially:
- Listed buildings
- Older properties
- Buildings constructed in an unusual way, however old they are
- Properties you plan to renovate or alter in any way
- Properties that have had extensive alterations.
It examines all accessible parts of the property - and you can ask to have specific areas included, so it covers any particular concerns you have about the building. It is a product which can be tailored to your needs, agreed between you and your surveyor.
A Building Survey can include details of:
- Major and minor defects and what they could mean
- The possible cost of repairs
- Results of damp testing on walls
- Damage to timbers – including woodworm and rot
- The condition of damp-proofing, insulation and drainage (though drains aren’t tested)
- Technical information on the construction of the property and the materials used
- The location
- Recommendations for any further special inspections.
A Building Survey usually doesn’t include a valuation, but your surveyor can provide this separately if you need one, but any valuation has to be prepared by a RICS Registered Valuer, and there will be an additional charge.
How Our Site Works
How it Works
Our RICS Surveyors cover the whole of the UK. All of the surveyors or firms listed on our site are RICS Accredited and Regulated - either AssocRICS, MRICS, FRICS, or RICS Regulated Firms, so you can be sure that your survey will be carried out to the highest professional standards.
Getting an estimate for a standard home survey is as simple as 1, 2, 3...
1. Enter your property details
2. Enter your contact details, and
3. Press Search - what could be simpler?
You will receive estimates for your survey from up to five RICS Surveyors operating in your postcode. These estimates and the surveyor details will be displayed on screen, and also emailed to you for you to follow up. Your details will also be sent to the listed surveyors so they can contact you to discuss your requirements in more detail.
If you need something other than a standard survey for a home purchase, then simply click on one of the 'Survey Types' options from the main menu to find a relevant surveyor.
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