Expert Chartered Surveyors in West London

Cosey Homes offer a wide range of professional surveying and consultancy services. We firmly believe that a property survey should be an essential tool in the purchasing process, whether or not you have specific concerns regarding the property you are thinking of buying.

RICS Building Survey (Level 3)

The RICS Building Survey (Level 3) provides the greatest level of detail of any of our surveys. As such, it is recommended for homes constructed using non-standard materials or methods, historic homes and listed buildings. They are also the right choice for larger homes and buildings with historic alterations, as well as ‘fixer-uppers’. Your survey report will contain a comprehensive assessment of building defects including structural issues such as damp, timber decay, roof defects or subsidence. We also include repair cost estimates and recommendations for future maintenance.

RICS Homebuyers Survey (Level 2)

Our Homebuyers Survey (Level 2) is designed to deliver a reasonable amount of detail about a property’s condition and state of repair. The site visit constitutes a non-invasive inspection and the subsequent written report follows an easy-to-use templated format. Defects are flagged up using a traffic light condition rating system to indicate the level of severity for each issue. Feature that don’t currently comply with building regulations are also highlighted. HomeBuyer Reports (Level 2) are suitable for modern properties (<100 years old) of standard construction that are in a good state of repair.

RICS Condition Report (Level 1)

The purpose of a Condition Report (Level 1) is to provide a brief overview ‘snapshot’ picture of a property’s general condition on the day of the site visit inspection. Areas of particular concern are highlighted but no further detail is provided. It is our least detailed property investigation. Condition Report (Level 1)are useful for new builds or nearly new homes where there are no defects anticipated and the survey report is expected to provide peace of mind for the buyer.

A property survey provides much useful and often unexpected information about urgent remedial work that may need doing. Since the purchase price was agreed ‘subject to contract and survey’, you are perfectly entitled to go back to the seller and negotiate a discount to remedy property defects flagged up in the survey. While there is no obligation by the seller to engage in a renegotiation or to offer to fix the issue before exchange, they may be motivated to do so to keep the sale on track.

At Cosey Homes, we advise every homebuyer to have an independent survey carried out before they buy. A survey can help you find out whether the property is as good as it looks, and whether there are any issues with the building that you should be aware of. Regardless of the age of the property, a survey can often save buyers thousands of pounds in unexpected repairs later on, and equip them with sound reasons to renegotiate the purchase price.

While it would be wonderful to think that new build homes are sold in perfect condition, this is often not the case. Neither are you necessarily covered under the 10-year NHBC warranty, since the builder will have to accept responsibility for any building defects found. An independent RICS Condition Report (Level 1) or HomeBuyer Survey (Level 2) is your best reassurance that there are no major problems with the construction or materials used in the build.

If you are buying a period home or listed building, or indeed any home built with non-standard materials or methods, a RICS Building Survey (Level 3) is the right choice. Unlike a mid-range HomeBuyer Report (Level 2), this full Level 3 investigation provides enough depth and breadth to take the unique features of a historic character home into consideration, including specific repair and maintenance recommendations that are sympathetic to the building.

Not surprisingly, many homebuyers are confused by the different kinds of surveys and reports available. We completely understand that you need professional guidance and will be delighted to talk you through all the options including the pros and cons of each different survey, so you can make the best decision for your purchase. Cosey Homes is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), a leading industry body whose code of conduct and industry guidelines we comply with.

At Cosey Homes, we are acutely aware that our survey results are eagerly anticipated, which is why we aim to email the finished survey report to you within 5 working days after the date of inspection. We take great pride in delivering customer service excellence in everything we do, and will work as quickly and efficiently as we possibly can to give you the answers you are looking for. If you require a hardcopy of your report, this can also be arranged.