How to Pick a Good Building Surveyor

Brief 

Our top tips on finding a surveyor are designed to ensure that you select the best person to carry out the important job of assessing your new home.

Insight

Finding a surveyor is a key task you’ll need to undertake during the homebuying process. When buying a property, and in particular one in need of some modernisation and/or a period home, it is really important to get a survey carried out — but knowing how to find the right building surveyor can seem daunting.

A building survey is not only crucial in understanding what you are getting yourself into by buying a particular property, highlighting any potentially tricky or expensive issues, but it can also help when it comes to getting the best price for the house. Being able to accurately calculate how much any defects are likely to cost to put right, with the help of a good building surveyor, can help when it comes to bargaining with the sellers.

But how do you find a surveyor that offers everything you need? Our guide is here to give you the best ways to track down the right person for the job — explaining what you can expect to be charged and how to be sure that the building surveyor you choose has the right experience and qualifications.

What Does a Building Surveyor Do?

A survey involves a number of checks to assess the overall condition of a property, bringing any concerns to the fore.

A building survey or RICS Home Survey – Level 3 is one of the most popular types of survey and was previously known as a Full Structural Survey. However, there are less detailed and intrusive surveys available for those buying newer homes.

The job of a building surveyor is to carry out an in depth investigation of the property, checking its condition in detail. Depending on the survey picked, they will thoroughly inspect all accessible areas, such as in the loft. A building surveyor will be on the lookout for issues such as damp and rot, hazardous materials and structural defects.