Surveys

At Blanking Associates, we offer comprehensive RICS Home Surveys, which will give you all the information needed to ensure you make a safe financial decision when investing in the housing market.

Our friendly team are here to help you throughout the whole purchase, including any queries you have with the process, and questions you might have around the property you are buying, as well as answering any post-survey questions, be it from the report or findings from the solicitor thereafter.

We carry out over one thousand residential home purchase surveys and valuations every year, and we understand that surveys can be a daunting matter, so why not speak with one of our experienced team today who can provide you with free, impartial and expert advice.

  • RICS Level 1 Survey

    An RICS Level 1 Home Survey (Condition Report) is a detailed visual inspection of the property. 

    The report provides an account of the property’s condition at the time of the inspection and will highlight any significant problems with a ‘traffic light’ rating system. 

    A condition report is a very basic type of survey and is most useful for very modern,  but not brand new, standard construction properties. For brand new builds, snagging reports are recommended. 

    Download Desciption of Level 1

    A condition report is a basic inspection into the interior and exterior of the building, noting any serious issues, but not providing any advice. 

    All RICS reports are designed to be clear and concise to every reader. A simple colour coded ‘traffic light’ rating is provided in order to display the condition of all the main elements of the property; noting any major visible defects.

    Our expert team of surveyors carry out Condition Reports throughout Essex, Suffolk and surrounding areas. Contact us today for further information or your free no-obligation quote. 

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  • RICS Level 2 Survey

    An RICS Level 2 Home Survey (HomeBuyer Report) is a detailed visual inspection of the property.

    It provides an account of the property’s condition at the time of the inspection and will highlight any significant problems with a ‘traffic light’ rating system.

    This survey is suitable for most types of properties and is therefore the most common.

    Download Description of Level 2

    A HomeBuyer Survey involves an inspection into the interior and exterior of the building – covering the main elements, as well as providing general maintenance advice.

    All RICS reports are designed to be clear and concise to every reader. A simple colour coded ‘traffic light’ rating is provided in order to display the condition of all the main elements of the property; noting any major visible defects and where legal advisors may need to be informed.

    As well as this, a Level 2 Survey can include a market valuation and a insurance rebuild cost. This is optional and will be confirmed prior to accepting instructions. 

    Our expert team of surveyors carry out Level 2 Surveys throughout Essex, Suffolk and surrounding areas. Contact us today for further information or your free no-obligation quote. 

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  • RICS Level 3 Survey

    An RICS Level 3 Home Survey (Building Survey) is a detailed visual inspection of the property. 

    It provides an account of the property’s condition at the time of the inspection, and will highlight any significant problems with a ‘traffic light’ rating system. This system is designed to be easy to understand. 

    This survey is recommended for those properties that are very old (over 100 years in age), in very poor condition, if major works are being planned or if there has been any substantial alterations in the past.

    Download Description of Level 3

    A building survey report covers all elements of the building and condition, it gives a more detailed discussion on defects that are found, as well as potential hidden threats, plus maintenance advice, and some advice on what to do next.

    All RICS reports are designed to be clear and concise to every reader. A simple colour coded ‘traffic light’ rating is provided in order to display the condition of all the main elements of the property; noting any major visible defects and where legal advisors may need to be informed.

    An estimate of repair costs can also be supplied as an extra service, if asked for upon arranging the survey.

    This type of survey does not include a market valuation and an insurance rebuild cost, but can be added as an extra service also.

    Our expert team of surveyors carry out RICS Level 3 Surveys throughout Essex, Suffolk and surrounding areas. Contact us today for further information or your free no-obligation quote. 

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Condition rating 1

No repair is currently needed.

Condition rating 2

Defects that need repairing or replacing but are not considered to be either serious or urgent.

Condition rating 3

Defects that are serious and/or need to be repaired, replaced or investigated urgently.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a survey?

It’s highly recommended that you consider having a survey carried out if you’re in the process of purchasing a property. By doing this, you’ll be aware of any significant issues before committing to one of the largest purchases you will ever make.

Surveys highlight any defects and issues that may not be easily identified when viewing a property. An experienced surveyor will visit the property, carry out an inspection and prepare a report detailing all of their findings, as well as limitations.

There are different types of surveys recommended for different types of properties.

What type of survey do I need?

The type of survey needed will depend on the property in question. For most, a Level 2 Home Survey (HomeBuyer Report) will be appropriate; this can come with, or without a valuation. A Level 3 Home Survey (Building Survey) is more in-depth and recommended for those properties over 100 years old, Listed, or in poor condition. 

For more information on the types of survey and which survey you should choose, please contact our experienced team.

What Survey?

Is a mortgage valuation sufficient?

A mortgage valuation simply a brief inspection of the property for the benefit of the lender and not yourself. It provides them with the confidence to lend you the money and that is all. In some cases the property is not even inspected.

An RICS Home Survey can give you the confidence to pursue the purchase of a property as a qualified surveyor can inspect and provide you with a full report of the current condition of the property.

Who arranges a the survey?

For home purchase surveys, it is usually the buyer who arranges and pays for the survey. The report is designed to help the buyer understand the condition of the property and flag up any risks. 

However, we can also carry out surveys for homeowners who wish to understand the condition of their home before selling.

Who carries out the surveys?

A qualified member of the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) will carry out the survey – see ‘about us’ for more information on all of our surveyors.

At Blanking Associates we pride ourselves on giving a personal, yet fast, thorough and efficient service to all of our clients; no matter which type of survey or valuation is required. 

How does the process work?

After we have confirmed instructions from you, we will make the booking with the estate agent to carry out the inspection; usually we can obtain access into the property within 5 working days.

After the inspection, reports take around 5-7 working days to be emailed to you.

Once you have recieved the report, if you have any questions at all, our surveyors are more than happy to go through the report with you.

Can I speak to the surveyor about my concerns before they inspect the property?

Of course, we will ensure that the surveyor understands your concerns before inspecting the property, in order to make sure any issues that you have are thoroughly considered.

Can I speak to the surveyor about their findings after I receive the survey?

Of course, give us a call anytime and the surveyor will be more than happy to discuss all of their findings to you. Alternatively, email us any specific queries you have.

Additionally, if your solicitor at any point after the survey provides you with any documents you want advice on, then please contact us and we will be happy to help.

I’m having a survey carried out on my property, what should I expect?

Depending on the type of inspection, the surveyor could be in attendance anywhere from 20 minutes for a valuation on a small property, to all day for a Level 3 Home Survey on a large property. A Level 2 Survey usually takes around 2 hours.

The surveyor will need access into every room, including any loft space, basement/cellar, and permanent outbuildings, such as garages, for all types of surveys.

How much will my survey cost?

Every property is unique and we will provide a bespoke quote for every report that we provide.

Please get in touch with us for a free no obligation quote. 

Get in touch

Need help or advice? Speak to one of our friendly and experienced team today to see how we can assist.

Contact Number: 01376 310029

Email: contact@blankingassociates.com
Phone: 01376 310029
Blanking Associates LTD
Regulated by the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors)
Registered in England & Wales | Company Number: 10232481
Office: G9 The Plaza, Rutherford Park, Horizon 120, Great Notley, Braintree CM77 7AU
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