Cosey Homes are an experienced team of Chartered Surveyors in Cambridge with a solid industry track record. Our skilled structural engineers and surveyors have worked with thousands of satisfied clients across East Anglia and beyond, providing impartial advice, technical expertise and consistently exceptional customer service.
We are accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and are members of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE). For more information about the services we provide, or to arrange a property survey, please get in touch with our friendly team.
We understand that buying a new home is one of the biggest investments you are likely to make in a lifetime, which is why we ensure that our clients are equipped to make an informed decision about what exactly they are spending their money on.
As independent professionals, we are entirely focused on your surveying needs and are able to offer an unbiased assessment of the building in question. Keep in mind that many property issues aren’t immediately apparent, and the untrained eye may well not recognise structural flaws or damp sources.
Our team are on hand to carry out specialist investigations into your new home and provide you with the facts you need before you make a commitment. Even if you can’t see a cause for concern, it’s best to have a professional surveyor give you the all-clear, rather than risk investing in an unsound building.
You can request a RICS Homebuyers Survey quote by completing a simple form.
A must for anyone buying a new home
For older or altered buildings
For a highly accurate valuation
As a leading property surveyor in Cambridge, we have helped countless property buyers in East Anglia and beyond with impartial professional advice, quality building survey (Level 3) and residential property valuations. Our team has a diverse range of experience in all kinds of property and the knowledge and qualifications to undertake residential valuations as well as Building Survey (Level 3) and RICS HomeBuyer Reports (Level 2). Before you commit to buying your next home, contact Cosey Homes to discuss any of the following services:
The most comprehensive building survey available, the RICS Building Survey (Level 3) provides the greatest level of detail of any survey offered by Cosey Homes.
Formerly referred to as a full structural survey, this Level 3 investigation is based on a non-invasive site visit and inspection of accessible building elements to deliver a detailed report about the building’s condition. We recommend this type of survey for older properties built over 70 years ago, as well as for homes constructed using non-standard methods or materials, and period properties.
It is also the best type of survey for very large buildings – those that have undergone significant alterations in the past, or are now in need of major work. The Building Survey (Level 3) report will contain a comprehensive analysis of defects, including timber decay, damp issues and structural movement, and also gives maintenance recommendations and repair cost estimates.
This mid-level survey is designed to provide a reasonable amount of detail about the building. It is laid out in an easy-to-follow format, with defects described using the RICS ‘traffic light’ system to indicate levels of severity and urgency. It will also highlight features that do not currently meet building regulations.
A non-invasive, visual site inspection covers all accessible building elements, giving you the salient facts you need to make an informed decisions about your purchase. HomeBuyer Report (Level 2) is recommended for typical properties built in the last 70 years using standard construction methods and materials, and having been maintained to a reasonable standard.
Our team of RICS Registered Valuers have extensive expertise in residential valuations and know the local property market well. We operate independently from mortgage advisers and estate agents and are able to provide formal surveyor’s property valuations that are far more accurate than anything you might receive from an estate agent.
Our robust residential valuation figures will stand up in a court of law and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. These include insurance valuations, divorce settlements, personal asset valuations, tax purposes, probate valuations and more. To discuss your requirements for a residential property valuation, please contact us.
It is highly recommended that every buyer commissions a property survey before agreeing to their purchase. Houses and apartments, old and new, can all suffer from hidden structural defects that can cost owners thousands to repair once they move in. Hiring a qualified surveyor to inspect the building before exchanging contracts with the vendor is the most reliable way to ensure any potential problems are spotted, allowing you to make an informed decision about how to proceed.
At Cosey Homes, we offer a number of surveys, all of which adhere to the guidelines set out by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), our professional body. These include the entry-level RICS Condition Report (Level 1), the mid-level RICS HomeBuyer Survey (Level 2) and the full RICS Building Survey (Level 3), the latter being the most thorough investigation that we offer.
The main difference between these two reports is the level of detail involved in the investigation. Of the two, the Building Survey (Level 3) offers a greater depth, making it more suitable for older homes, listed properties and buildings constructed using unconventional techniques or materials.
A seller is not obliged to lower the asking price of their home following a report, however some may be happy to re-negotiate to a fairer price if they are keen to sell quickly. Once you have the report from your surveyor, you should add up the total estimated costs for necessary repairs and maintenance, and use this as a guide for how much to reduce the price by. Stick to the facts discovered during the survey, and be prepared to walk away from the sale if the costs are over your budget and the vendor won’t budge.
Many buyers seem to think that a brand-new or nearly new home won’t need to be surveyed, either because it’s unlikely for any defects to be present, or because any problems should be covered by the 10-year NHBC warranty. This warranty actually only covers the home if the original housebuilder is prepared to accept responsibility for their mistakes, and even new-builds can suffer from unexpected faults. Ultimately, buying any home is a significant investment, and the peace of mind achieved by commissioning a survey only costs a fraction of the price.
If you’re looking to buy a heritage home or a listed building, we would recommend a RICS Building Survey (Level 3). Old properties can often suffer from numerous unseen problems like subsidence, timber decay, roofing issues and damp, and commissioning a thorough investigation is the only way to ensure that you won’t be confronted with an unpleasant surprise once when you move in.