
Property Surveys in Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham & Cardiff
Which Survey Do You Need?
A wide array of surveys at different price points exists, and because purchasing property in Manchester will likely be one of the most significant financial outlays you make, it only seems prudent to obtain the survey best aligned with your needs.
Snagging List Reports
These are often carried out for properties that are newly renovated or newly built. Such inspections help developers and builders identify issues that need to be fixed before the property is turned over to the client. Here are the main features of these inspections:
- Thorough: the primary focus is on picking up superficial defects, but it does sometimes pick up deeper ones.
- High Coverage: the list of defects often seems to take an exhaustive tour of the property and covers both its exterior and interior.
- Useful: in terms of informing the developer/builder of work that needs doing, the snag list is as close to a practical tool as a list gets.
- Quality of Work: this is the report most frequently utilized to evaluate the quality of workmanship and can assist in elevating the quality of the refurbishment/build.
- Price Negotiation: if defects are found, you can set off the cost of these against the contract price.
The snagging report’s aim is to alert the contractor to matters that need attention if the project is to reach a state of final completion. It does not, however, have the same degree of comprehensiveness or depth as a building survey.
Structural Engineer Report
Unlike a structural survey or a full building survey, an inspection carried out by a structural engineer focuses on a specific loadbearing aspect of the property, a facet that is often overlooked in the aforementioned types of surveys. This is beneficial to the following:
- Ground subsidence: part of the building is sinking and you must determine the kinds of remedies that can be applied.
- Underpinning: the last possible option is underpinning the floor, which can be quite risky. Before going this route, make sure the need is there and that you choose your method carefully.
- Additions: the effect that new construction (e.g. extensions) can have on the present layout, especially the foundations and any walls that bear a load.
- Alterations: you need to figure out safe methods for changing the structure of a building—like taking out a chimney breast—so that you don’t jeopardise the safety of the overall structure.
- Loft and Basement Conversions: ensuring the loft or basement retains its structural integrity post-conversion.
- Solar panels: verifying whether the roof’s structure is sound and if it will be able to support the solar panels.
The reports are tailored to the unique structural and safety issues linked to the specific changes or problems that are in play, making certain that what is being altered or fixed is up to building regulation standards.
Level 1 Condition Report
This is a straightforward report commonly applied to party walls (i.e. schedule of condition) and particularly focused on one specific part of the property. Its chief attributes are these:
- Suitability: this property report is often used by homeowners who wish to note the condition of certain elements of their property before their neighbour undertakes any questionable work that could affect their house.
- Defects: if there are visible problems, they are noted. No advice is given as to how to remedy the problem, though.
- Simplicity: the report is in tabular form. Its sections correspond to the different layers of the building. Each layer is described briefly, with the condition of that element noted at the end of the description.
- Non-invasiveness: the inspection only covers accessible places and only looks at the surface of the elements in the report.
- Advising: no advice on fixing defects or their associated cost is given in this report.
- Speediness: an hour is usually all that is required to complete the inspection.
- Economical: one of the lowest cost surveys.
The RICS Condition Report is a simple document that is used when there are no major problems and no advice is needed, typically in the context of the Party Wall Act.
RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Report
A Level 2 report could be a more cost-effective proposition if you are buying a conventional house, flat or bungalow built fairly recently from common building materials and in reasonable condition. The report provides you with more detailed information on the condition of the property for you and your legal advisers. The RICS HomeBuyer Report is a frequently chosen format for surveying homes. Home buyers tend to prefer it for standard properties because it serves as a clear and concise evaluation of the property you are considering buying.
- Regular Assessment: this is a basic evaluation of the subject property. It fits average homes that are in good condition.
- Unambiguous Signal Light Ratings: uses red, yellow, and green to express the condition of various assemblies of the building. This helps you decode the messages in the report so you can figure out what problems are serious enough to focus on, and what problems, if any, are not serious.
- Defect Identification: does a good job of highlighting major issues and also some minor issues that affect the value of the property.
- Risk Assessment: identifies items that are hazardous to the health and safety of the occupants.
- Non-Destructive: the evaluation doesn’t cause any damage to the property.
- Accessible Areas: encompasses just the parts of the property that are easy to reach.
- Market Value: touches on estimated market value and replacement cost; necessary information for deciding on how much to buy the property for.
- Maintenance: discusses what you need to know about property maintenance.
If you are purchasing a standard home—a house, flat, or bungalow constructed from common building materials and in reasonably good shape and which is not that old or expensive, then the RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Report could be the more economically sensible option. It offers more comprehensive information about the home’s current condition for you and your legal team than a Level 1 Home Condition Report among pre-purchase surveying options.
Full Building Survey
What is now called an RICS Level 3 Building Survey was previously known as a structural survey. These are the most comprehensive property reports available today, and they are almost always conducted by a Chartered Building Surveyor (accredited under RICS, CIOB or RPSA). Here is what one can expect from the experience of such a report:
- Applicability: if you own an older, larger, or even a non-standard construction property, it is highly advisable that you opt for a full building survey.
- Customisation: you might need a report that is tailored to the property insurance policy; you might also have some specific concerns that need to be addressed.
- Coverage: this survey examines, in detail, all the structural elements of the house from top to bottom and outside to inside.
- Thorough Inspection: this consists of a detailed visual inspection of the property and a review of the documented history, which helps to identify both potential and obvious problems.
- Finding Faults: the inspectors can find almost any problem, from serious structural defects that could compromise the safety of the occupants to minor deficiencies.
- Repair Recommendations: the inspectors can make good recommendations that cover a range of probable repairs and give the reasons why the problems should be fixed.
- Expenditure: when a surveyor finds defects, they can estimate the amount of money that will be needed to put them right.
- Construction: whether you are building a new house or altering an old one, this section can help you identify the potential problems that may lie ahead.
- Market Value: if you require a valuation to determine the market value of your property or the cost to rebuild it for insurance purposes, a building survey can provide useful information for that separate process.
- Long Term Maintenance: a building survey can also provide advice on what to do each year to keep your home in good shape.
If you desire a comprehensive, in-depth analysis of the property, then the RICS Level 3 Building Survey is essential and is typically more appropriate for older or higher-value properties.
Need Expert Counsel?
When it comes to assessing the condition of a building, nothing beats the structural survey for depth and reliability. When our panel of surveyors advise clients, they always aim to be as straightforward and clear as possible. It is important to us that you comprehend the condition of the property—good or bad—as your highly trained and experienced surveyor or engineer has assessed it. If you are about to part with a significant sum of money to purchase a property, a structural survey undertaken by a surveyor could save you repair expenses.

Surveys of Commercial Property
If you’re thinking of acquiring, leasing, subletting, disposing of, or altering commercial premises in Manchester, you would be well advised to locate a surveyor skilled in the nuances of commercial building surveying – should you spot a defect in a commercial building you can use that information to negotiate an asking price for the property that’s considerably lower than what the seller originally wanted, or you can talk your way out of a bad deal altogether.
Our Manchester-based team of RICS-compliant commercial building surveyors is equipped to handle matters throughout Manchester.
Contact
Our team prioritizes client care above all else. We look forward to being in touch with you so you can instruct a surveyor in Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham or Cardiff. You can reach out to us easily. Just fill out our form, and we’ll get back to you with a free quote for your survey. All our surveyors are qualified as members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and we are one of the UK’s leading providers of building survey and valuation services:
- Accredited Professionals: Certified by organizations like RICS, CIOB, and RPSA.
- Customized Survey Reports: inspections to meet your specific requirements.
- Local Expertise: Deep understanding and specialized knowledge.
- Expert Guidance: Professional recommendations and support.
The property survey you commission will be carried out by an accredited professional. Your chartered surveyor will be a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), or will belong to some other industry-standard professional body. Rest assured; you will receive highest quality of professional service for your survey.