Home Buyers Survey Balham

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"First Class Service. We are more than impressed with the quick, professional service we have received from this company, very clear report with good Photograph, of areas of interest, also the Team followed up the report with a phone call to make sure we understood the information that we had received. EXCELLENT. Thank you"

Val Edwards, Trustpilot review in November 2019

* Competitive Prices - Local Surveyors - Same Week Availability - Terms Apply

What Types of House Survey Do We Offer?


SAM is one of the UK’s largest network of Surveyors with local surveyors throughout England. Our most popular property surveys are HomeBuyer Reports and Building Surveys and these inspections are completed by local RICS surveyors who have years of experience.

We handle all of the booking so you just need to call us for a quote and then we'll handle all of the access for you.
We offer many types of house survey including:
  • Level 2: HomeBuyers Report
  • Level 3: Building Survey
  • Damp & Timber Survey
  • Load Bearing Wall Survey
  • Chimney Breast Removal Survey
  • Snagging Survey
  • Removal of load bearing wall Survey
  • Property Valuation Survey
  • Probate Valuation Survey
  • Leasehold Valuation Survey
  • Structural Engineer Survey

If you are unsure which house survey to book click here or call us and we’ll advise you.

Not sure whether you need a Level 2: HomeBuyers Report or a Level 3: Building Survey? Find out by clicking here and seeing example reports
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Find a Surveyor 

Local Building Surveyors (throughout England)


House Survey 

Fast Availability and Delivery of Reports


RICS Surveyors

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - RICS Surveyors

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FREE Online Conveyancing Process for Buyers

Includes online checklists, videos, downloads and tips - plus it is free to use and remembers your progress.


House Survey Cost

Love our Competitive
House Survey Costs

We keep the house survey cost down regardless of what property survey you need and tell you how much does a survey cost.

Home Buyers Survey Balham

Local Greater London 
Building Surveyors

Our Building Surveyor uses their local knowledge of Balham to ensure they deliver a detailed homebuyers report to help you decide whether you should move forward with your home move or if you should pull out.

Home Buyers Survey Balham

Fast Availability and
Delivery of Reports

We normally have availability within days of you booking and our turnaround for homebuyers survey reports is within 5 working days.

Balham HomeBuyers Survey

Panel of Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors - RICS Surveyors

All of our chartered RICS Surveyors are registered with and regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and have indemnity insurance that covers all of the work they undertake in a HomeBuyers Report Balham and Building Surveys in Balham.

A Home Buyer Survey - What does it cover?

A RICS Home Buyers Survey non-intrusively inspects both the external and internal structure of a property for matters which include; damp, subsidence, infestations, cracks and damage.

The goal of the Home Buyers Survey, whether the Building Survey (which used to be known as a Full Structural Survey) or the HomeBuyers Report, is to provide reassurance when buying a home and this is the case if you are considering buying a property in Balham.

NB If you're a first time buyer, you might wish to click on What is a House Survey to find out more, including what happens during the inspection.

Click to find out how much does a house survey cost (free, no obligation quote)
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Subsidence Inspection

The surveyor will look for signs of subsidence during the structural survey within the property paying special attention to signs of cracking internally and to the external walls. As a rule, if you can fit the width of a 50p into a crack in a wall, it could be a sign of subsidence. Our surveyors will flag in their reports if they feel you need to instruct a structural engineer to review a crack further.


Read more about subsidence

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Damp Testing

There are numerous reasons why a property can be affected by damp. The Surveyor will take samples in the property using a damp meter and assess the condition of the property to provide a report on whether they feel the property is affected by damp. Further investigations maybe suggested including getting a damp and timber specialist. 


Read more about damp testing and repairs

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Identify Infestations

Woodworm, mice, rats and ants are infestations that your don't want in your home. Your surveyor will look for visible signs of mouse droppings, damage to floor boards (when visible) and damage to wiring, carpets or skirting boards


Read more about infestations

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Asbestos

Prior to its banned use, asbestos was a commonly used building material, particularly as part of cement products, floor tiles and roofing shingles. Asbestos was used for its durability and resistance to heat and is commonly found in artex ceilings, garage roofing and chimney stacks. Your surveyor will confirm if they suspect any materials in the property have asbestos and if so, suggest getting an asbestos surveyor to intrusively taking samples of the asbestos to confirm the type. A damp meter is used in a HomeBuyers Report Balham survey and the readings included within the report.


Read more about asbestos

If you're buying a home in Balham which shows the signs of damp, or any other defects then you MUST get a Home Buyers Survey. 

The costs for making good or repairing some of these defects can run into thousands of pounds; however, If identified within a survey you can get quotes for fixing it and either share the costs with the seller, or, in worst case examples, choose not to proceed.

You can find a local RICS surveyor by using the search at the bottom RHS of this page.
Get Quote

Survey tips for properties in Balham


Balham is another of South London's suburbs which grew rapidly in the Victorian era, as evidenced by the number of Victorian terraced properties in the area. 

It is also notable for hosting Du Cane Court, the 1930s block of Art Deco flats which used to be the largest private residential estate in Europe. The Heavier Estate in Balham's south has larger Victorian houses and was originally the work of Alfred Heaver, a Victorian master builder.

You can also find very modern gated developments in the area such as can be found in Boundaries Road and shared ownership new builds such as at Aura House in Balham High Road.


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Noise pollution from road and rail in Balham is at its highest in the vicinity of where the railway line crosses Balham High Street.
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According to the UK Government's Public Health England, some buildings in an area to the north and west of the Balham area as it borders Tooting Bec, including parts of streets such as Holdernesse Road and Chetwoode Road, up to St George's Hospital, are in a raised radon area, with properties built there having a higher probability than average of experiencing ground Radon emissions.

If you are concerned that a property you are buying is in an area of raised Radon, please click to visit Public Health England's UK Radon Map. Click also to find out more about Radon, Radon property searches and much more.
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For tiles rooves in Balham, where ventilation of the original roof space is not provided, it would be prudent to fit some form of ventilation in the soffites. The extension roofs have breathable under-tile felt to allow air circulation without the need of soffite vents. Without an intrusive inspection a RICS Building surveyor won't be able to comment on the condition of the felt under the tiles but if the bottom row of tiles is lifted some defects to the felt may come to light such as degrading where the felt is exposed above the gutters. If this has occur it is recommended that the decayed felt is replaced with new felt by a roofing contractor.
London.pngGreater London is an area which contains London, the capital of the United Kingdom (which itself centres on the Cities of London and Westminster) and a number of surrounding boroughs which are administered as London boroughs and which are the overall executive responsibility of the Mayor of London. It contains a large number of constituencies, each represented by an MP and it should be noted that these are not the same as nor even always continguous with the borders of the boroughs.

Many parts of Greater London were originally administered by the counties which surround London and these counties are often called the home counties. Enfield, for example, used to be classed as being part of Middlesex, but is now near the northern border of Greater London. Greater London's borders often coincide with a zone of 'green belt': areas where it has been decided that open spaces, parks, forests and wildlife reserves should act as a buffer against urban sprawl. London has numerous landmarks, anything from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to Karl Marx's grave in Highgate Cemetery.

Greater London contains more than 9 million inhabitants, a number growing daily, and as this is approximately 1/7 of the population of the UK, it can be seen that Greater Londoners have a large influence on the rest of the country politically and this is enhanced by the concentration of skilled workers gravitating towards the capital. 

Listed Building Surveyors Balham
We have local RICS surveyors who specialise in listed building surveys in the Balham area including its surrounds including e.g. Tooting and Wandsworth.

SW12 9AF

Balham Planning Application Search

You can review what planning applications have been granted or denied for properties in your area by contacting Wandsworth Borough Council at Wandsworth Council, The Town Hall Wandsworth High Street London SW18 2PU, telephone 020 8871 6000, or you can check for the most recently stored planning applications online here:


Read the following article if you are thinking about building an extension.

RICS Find a surveyor in Balham

Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Tooting, Streatham, Wandsworth, Earlsfield, Furzedown, Norbury and Battersea.

We employ only expert RICS Building Surveyors to undertake surveys in Balham. Whether you are buying an old run down 'doer upper' or standard construction freehold house, our RICS surveyors have seen them all.

With a vast number of years of experience completing surveys on properties in Balham we'll be able to give you the detailed report you need to know what defects there are with your property.

You can see some of our expert surveyors by clicking here - 


Home Buyers Survey Balham

Recently completed surveys near you:

  • 128 Hydethorpe Road, Balham, London, SW12 0JD
  • EO2 Du Cane Court, Balham High Road, Balham, London, SW17 7JB
  • 24 Wallace Court, Balham High Road, Tooting, London, SW17 7AT
  • 86 Ormeley Road, Balham, London, SW12 9QG
  • 34B Fontenoy Road, Balham, London SW12 9LU

 

When should you book in your property defect survey?

It is recommended that you book in your property survey, be it a HomeBuyer Report or Building Survey, around the same time you book in your mortgage valuation.

Booking the inspection to coincide with a few days after you get the decision on your mortgage (the offer) keeps you on track with the process.

Additionally it allows you time to cancel your survey in the unfortunate event of the lender declining your mortgage.

In the event that you are a cash purchaser, it is recommended to have your survey carried out as soon as you can within the process as this will be a deciding factor as to whether you proceed with buying the property or not.


HomeBuyers Survey Balham

HomeBuyers Report in Balham

The HomeBuyers Report is a reasonable 'broad-brush' structural inspection most suited to flats, new properties and bungalows of standard construction. A HomeBuyers Report would suit most leasehold flats in Balham excepting Victorian conversions which may require a Building Survey.

Click to see a RICS Level 2 HomeBuyers Report with Valuation example.

HomeBuyers Survey Balham

Building Survey in Balham

Many houses in Balham are over 50 years old, have been converted or have an unusual style: a Building Survey is best suited to these. It is the highest level of visual inspection that a RICS Surveyor can produce.

Click to see a RICS Level 3 Building Survey example.

Read our detailed comparison guide on which HomeBuyers Survey to book or call our team of expert advisers on 0207 112 5388.

Which survey suits your style of property in Balham
Choose which survey based on its type, style and age
Get a competitively priced RICS quote
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