Home Buyers Survey Chelmsford

Get an Instant Quote for a RICS Home Buyers Survey Chelmsford or call us on 01245 330 486 (Mon-Fri 8-6 Sat 11-1)

 
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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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Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - RICS Surveyors

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House Survey Cost

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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.

Chelmsford HomeBuyers Survey

Local Essex 
Building Surveyors

Our Building Surveyor uses their local knowledge of Chelmsford 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.

Chelmsford 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 RICS Home Buyers Survey involves an examination of the structure of the inside and the outside of a property aimed at pinpointing issues such as subsidence, damp, cracks, infestation and damage.

The survey is non-intrusive. If you are thinking of buying a property in Chelmsford, it is highly advisable to book one, whether a Building Survey (which used to be known as a Full Structural Survey) or a HomeBuyers Report,.

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 they find any issues during the inspection of your property in Chelmsford, our surveyor will flag them up in the Home Buyers Survey and give you advice on what you should do to solve them. An example of this is where the surveyor finds evidence of woodworm infestation. 

If you are concerned about any other defects with the property you MUST get a Home Buyers Survey as the costs of repairing the defects can run into thousands of pounds. 

You can find a local RICS surveyor by using the search at the bottom RHS of this page.
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Survey tips for properties in Chelmsford


Chelmsford was built near the site of the old Roman road from London to Colchester (now the A12) and its city centre has mainly Victorian and Edwardian homes of varying sizes. Moulsham has many examples of smaller Victorian terrace houses.

The city has been growing larger since the 1970s and this has brought about new settlements in the locale such as Chancellor Park, Beaulieu Park and Chelmer Village. Beaulieu Park has some very large modern detached houses.

There are many period houses in the surrounding villages of Little Baddow, Danbury, Writtle and Galleywood.

There are 3,600 new homes planned to be built around Beaulieu Park and shared ownership is available in Mary Munnion Quarter, for example.


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Properties in Chelmsford which are built near to the Rivers Chelmer and Can, such as in Seventh Avenue and Beachs Drive, are subject to flood warnings and 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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Section I3 of the HomeBuyer Report reports on Other Matters to be answered by the client's solicitor. These can vary from information relating to the lease term to information about service charges.

In a HomeBuyer Report in Wickham crescent ,Chelmsford, CM1 4WD it stated "Your legal adviser should confirm that the property is leasehold. We understand that the remaining term on the lease is approximately 800 years. Your legal adviser should confirm if there are any current or future repairs which are planned explain your liability as a lessee for the repair and maintenance of the communal areas. Your legal adviser should also confirm that the maintenance/service charge is £575 payable biannually, that the ground rent is £25pa as well as your rights and liabilities in respect of the allocated parking".
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Section J3 of the HomeBuyer Report sets out any Risks to People in the property.

An example of the type of risk stated here is "Due to the age of the property it is highly unlikely that there will be asbestos present in the textured ceiling finishes due to it being phased out by the time of construction. However, due to the small chance that ‘old stock’ may have been used it would be prudent to have a sample laboratory tested prior to sanding, cutting or drilling the textured finishes".
EssexEssex is not only a coastal county (the North Sea is to its east) but a home county because it touches Greater London on its eastern borders. Its settlements vary from Colchester, which is very historical and used to be the capital of England as Camulodunum, to Southend, a seaside resort, to Basildon, which is a comparatively modern urban development. The western side of Essex hosts many London workers and there are fast rail links to, for example, Shenfield from London Liverpool Street which aid many city workers.

Essex's county town is Chelmsford (and is the county's only city), where Essex County Cricket Club are based. Essex hosts Stansted Airport and attractions such as the Lakeside Shopping Centre, near Thurrock and Epping Forest, a popular forest for camping and other activities. A large proportion of Essex's boundaries are water (the River Thames and the North Sea), the remainder includes Greater London, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. Kent is across the River Thames to the south. 

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Chelmsford Planning Application Search

You can review what planning applications have been granted or denied for properties in your area by contacting Chelmsford City Council at Duke St, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1JE, telephone 01245 606606, 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 Chelmsford

Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Great Baddow, Newney Green, Writtle, Broomfield, Howe Green, Broxbourne and Boyton Cross.

We employ only expert RICS Building Surveyors to undertake surveys in Chelmsford. 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 Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford:


  • 28 Donald Way Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 9JD
  • 41 Albemarle Link, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 6AH
  • 112 Chelwater, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 7UR
  • 32 Wembley Ave, Maylandsea, Chelmsford, Essex. CM3 6AY.
  • 10 Ashmeads, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 9FJ

 

Does the RICS Building Survey provide a breakdown of costs?

A standard level 3 RICS Building Survey provides a visual inspection of an extensive list of possible defects. The survey also provides a summary of issues which may need remedial work with an indication of their severity.

The report does not usually include a breakdown of costs although this can be provided at an additional cost.

It is worth noting that a local builder would be able to provide costs of repair based on the surveyor’s itemised list of defects and would not charge to do so. Moreover when negotiating with a vendor, the vendor expects to be provided with a builder's quote rather than a RICS building surveyor’s quote as it more accurately reflects the actual money to be spent on repairs rather than an industry standard indication.

Read more about RICS Building Surveys


HomeBuyers Survey

HomeBuyers Report in Chelmsford

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

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

HomeBuyers Survey in Chelmsford

Building Survey in Chelmsford

Most freehold houses in Chelmsford 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.

Click to see a RICS Level 3 Building Survey example.

You can research into which survey best suits your style of property by reading our comparison guide above or call our survey team of experts on 01245 330 486.

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