6 minute guide
Spray foam insulation: what buyers and sellers should check
Buying or selling with spray foam? Understand the inspection limitations, installation evidence and questions to raise with your lender.
Read the guideProperty guidance
Clear advice before your next property decision
Explore our surveying guidance and service information, or contact us to discuss the property and the advice you need.
Property buying guides
Practical guidance on survey costs, spray foam insulation, missing building approval records and defects raised by mortgage lenders.
5 minute guide
How much does a house survey cost — and what are you paying for?
Choose an appropriate survey and compare quotations by the inspection, report and advice included.
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9 minute guide
Buying a property with missing building regulations paperwork
Understand planning permission, permitted development and building regulations, and what to ask when approval records are missing.
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5 minute guide
Mortgage valuation flagged a defect — what should you do next?
Find out what to do when a mortgage valuation raises a concern and how to choose an appropriate investigation.
Read the guideChoose the right survey
The age, construction, condition and alteration history of a property help determine the appropriate level of inspection.
Compare home surveysUnderstand a specific defect
A targeted inspection can help investigate a particular concern, such as cracking, damp or movement, within an agreed scope.
Explore defect investigationsArrange a valuation
Tell us the purpose and relevant date of the valuation, including whether it relates to probate, a private matter or a dispute.
View valuation servicesPrepare for your instruction
Find out how we agree your requirements, arrange access, complete the inspection and make your report available.
See what to expectReal examples from our inspections
Explore anonymised findings from properties we have surveyed. The examples show both satisfactory observations and specific concerns, explaining their practical significance without assuming every property needs major remedial work.
Marple: Marple: roof access, repair costs and letting plans
A Marple inspection shows why modest roof edge defects can become costly on a staggered terrace, and how coordinated high-level repairs can reduce repeat access costs.
New Mills: Historic bulging stonework in New Mills
How a traditional New Mills stone building's visible wall distortion was assessed as longstanding, with monitoring rather than immediate rebuilding.
Urmston: Urmston roof timbers and reroofing costs
A traditional Urmston roof had weathered coverings and apparently longstanding purlin deflection, informing advice about future reroofing and structural checks.
Buxton: Roof valley leaks and timber decay in Buxton
A detailed Buxton building survey found roof valley leakage and decayed timbers, while distinguishing suspected dry rot from confirmed damage.
Buxworth: Unfinished barn conversion in Buxworth
A Buxworth building survey considered a partly completed barn conversion, historic stone fabric and the work needed before occupation.
Disley: Garage roofing and suspected asbestos in Disley
A Disley survey identified likely garage reroofing and suspected asbestos-containing ceiling boards, with implications for the scope and cost of repairs.
Buxton: Render detailing and water ingress in Buxton
A Buxton investigation considered blown and detached render, water exposure and the details that needed attention alongside localised repairs.
Rhoscolyn, Anglesey: Septic tank observations at Rhoscolyn
At an Anglesey property, accessible chamber observations and private drainage concerns were balanced against satisfactory basic flush tests.
Sale: Suspended floor ventilation in Sale
A Sale survey distinguished predominantly dry visible subfloor areas from localised moisture, informing a proportionate ventilation improvement.
Strines: Historic underpinning and resale in Strines
A Strines survey explained why past underpinning history can matter to insurance, mortgages and resale without implying active subsidence.
Mottram St Andrew: Watercourse responsibilities in Mottram St Andrew
An attractive stream at a rural Mottram St Andrew cottage illustrated why purchasers also need to understand flood exposure, maintenance and responsibilities for shared services.
Cheadle Hulme: Retained chimney support in Cheadle Hulme
An altered Cheadle Hulme property showed why retained chimney masonry and adapted roof supports matter when assessing previous works.
Whaley Bridge: Traditional stone and moisture in Whaley Bridge
An older Whaley Bridge terrace illustrates how masonry, moisture readings and previous damp-proofing should be considered together.
Heaton Chapel: Party wall cracking and structural advice in the Heatons
A Heaton Chapel survey distinguished generally longstanding movement from a specific area of party wall cracking that warranted an engineer’s assessment before purchase.
Heaton Moor: Communal alarms and a stated 'stay put' strategy in Heaton Moor
A Heaton Moor purchase survey flagged a potential contradiction between communal detection extending into a flat and the building’s stated 'stay put' strategy, beyond the question of physical defects.
Manchester: External walls, documentation and flat resale in Manchester
A Manchester apartment survey explains why external wall assessment records, management information and potential major works can matter even where the visible cladding appears satisfactory.
Offerton: Roof truss bracing and lateral restraint in Offerton
An Offerton survey identified missing bracing and wall restraint in a prefabricated trussed roof, despite no significant visible deflection or failure.
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