Home Buyers Survey Berkhamsted

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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 2018.

* 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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House Survey Cost

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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.

Berkhamsted HomeBuyers Survey

Local Hertfordshire 
Building Surveyors

Our Building Surveyor uses their local knowledge of Berkhamsted 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.

Homebuyers Report

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.

Berkhamsted 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 for you.

A Home Buyer Survey - What does it cover?

A Home Buyers Survey is completed by a qualified RICS surveyor and delivers a visual inspection of the property in Berkhamsted and the surrounding garden. The aim of the survey, whether a Building Survey (which used to be known as a Full Structural Survey) or a HomeBuyers Report, is to identify potential risks or defects that you may not know are there such as cracks or damage to the structure of the property, subsidence, damp and infestations.

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.


Read more about asbestos

If the Home Buyers Survey flags up any of these defects in your property in Berkhamsted then our surveyor explains what you need to do to get further advice on how to investigate them and get It resolved. 

If you are concerned about your property has any other defects then you MUST get a RICS Home Buyers Survey as the costs for repairing the defects can run into thousands of pounds. If you can identify the defect before you purchase then 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 Berkhamsted


Berkhamsted has castle ruins which date back to just after the Norman Conquest. The market town has a long high street with examples of properties from the medieval to Georgian to Victorian and up to comparatively recent times.

You find Georgian terraces and flat-fronted early Victorian houses between the high street and the canal. There are many two-bedroom Victorian terrace houses around Manor Street, Chapel Street and Bridge Street. Around King's Road, south-west of the high street, you can find large 5 and 6-bedroom Victorian houses.

You can find 1930s and later detached and semi-detached properties around the Hall Park area and in villages around the area, such as Aldbury and Potten End, you can find many period properties.



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Properties in Berkhamsted built in close proximity to the River Bulbourne, in streets such as Billet Lane and Belton Road, are in areas which are sometimes subject to flood alerts from time to time.

If you are concerned that a property you are looking to buy is in a flood risk area, you should consider getting a flood risk report (click for more details).
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According to the UK Government's Public Health England, much of Berkhamsted is in a raised Radon area, in streets such as Holliday Street and Ravens Lane, 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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Noise pollution from roads in the Berkhamsted area is generally highest around the route of the A41, affecting nearby streets such as Oak Wood, The Spinney and Shooters Way. Noise pollution from railways accompanies the line which passes through Berkhamsted Station, affecting nearby streets such as Emerton Garth and Ellesmere Road.
HertfordshireHertfordshire is commonly abbreviated to the name Herts and is a county located in the south of England. it is bordered by Bedfordshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Buckinghamshire to the west and Greater London to the south (it is classed as a 'Home County' for this reason). The county town of Hertfordshire is Hertford.

Hertfordshire has 3 motorways running through it - the M1, the M25 and the A1(M). It is particularly associated with new towns as it contains 5 in total: Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hemel Hempstead, Hatfield and Letchworth. There are two airports just outside Hertfordshire's borders; Luton and Stansted. It also has a university, the University of Hertfordshire, which is in Hatfield. There are a number of independent schools in the area, including, for example, Haileybury (Turnford), St George's Harpenden, Haberdasher's Aske's (Elstree) and Berkhamsted.

For random facts; St Alban, who gave his name to the city in the county, was the earliest British saint - he was reputed to have been beheaded where the cathedral now stands; also Sele Mill near Hertford was the site of the first paper mill in Britain, established about 1488. 

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Berkhamsted Planning Application Search

You can review what planning applications have been granted or denied for properties in your area by contacting Berkhamsted Town Council at 161 High Street, Berkhamsted HP4 3HD, telephone 01442 800146, 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 Berkhamsted

Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Hemel Hempstead, Chesham, Tring, Ringshall, Great Missenden, Marlow and Bourne End.

We employ only expert RICS Building Surveyors to undertake surveys in Berkhamsted. 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 Berkhamsted 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 - 


Recently completed Home Buyers Survey in Berkhamsted:


  • 1 Heron Place, Berkhampsted, HP4 2FW
  • 24 Granville Road, Northchurch, Hertfordshire, HP4 3RN
  • 10 Avenue House Park Road, Chesham, HP5 2JR
  • High St, Berkhamsted HP4 1BL
  • North Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 3DU

 

Does the surveyor climb onto the roof of the property?

The surveyor carries with them a ladder that allows them access to areas above head height. Due to Health and Safety, a RICS surveyor is not allowed to go higher than 3 meters.

The surveyor will use powerful binoculars to inspect the roof of a property to see signs of damage to the roof, tiles, chimney, soffets and fascias.

Flat roofs can be inspected from opening a window in the property and looking out to view the same.

If there is a need for a closer inspection of the roof, then scaffolding will be required to be obtained to allow safe access to the roof. It is very rare for this type of survey to be completed during the purchase of a property.


HomeBuyers Survey Berkhamsted

HomeBuyers Report in Berkhamsted

A HomeBuyers Report is general visual inspection for flats, new properties or bungalows of standard construction. Most leasehold flats in Berkhamsted should have a HomeBuyers Report, however the only exception are converted properties which may need a Building Survey.

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

HomeBuyers Survey Berkhamsted

Building Survey in Berkhamsted

Most freehold houses in Berkhamsted that are over 50 years old, that have been refurbished/developed or are unusual in style should get a Building Survey. A Building Survey used to be called the Full Structural Survey and is the most comprehensive visual inspection a surveyor can provide. Choosing a HomeBuyers Report when you should have a Building survey can be costly if key defects don't get reported in the detail you require.
Click to see a RICS Level 3 Building Survey example.
If you are unsure which survey to choose you can call our surveyors and they'll help you choose - Call 0333 344 3234.

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