Home Buyers Survey Essex

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


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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.

Home Buyers Survey Essex

Local Essex 
Building Surveyors

Our Building Surveyor uses their local knowledge of Essex 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 Essex

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.

Essex 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 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, whether a Building Survey (which used to be known as a Full Structural Survey) or a HomeBuyers Report, is non-intrusive.

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, our Surveyor will flag them up in the Home Buyers Survey and give you advice on what you should do to solve them.

If you are concerned about woodworm in connection with buying or selling a property in Essex, or 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 Essex


Essex is a home county to the east of London and it includes places as diverse as Southend-on-Sea, Harlow, Epping, Basildon and Colchester (which is Britain's oldest recorded town, dating back to its days as Roman Camulodunum.

The pattern of settlement in the county is diverse. The Metropolitan Green Belt has effectively prevented the further sprawl of London into the county, although it contains the new towns of Basildon and Harlow, originally developed to resettle Londoners following the destruction of London housing in World War II, since which significantly developed and expanded. Epping Forest also acts as a protected barrier to the further spread of London. Because of its proximity to London and the economic magnetism which that city exerts, many of Essex's settlements, particularly those on or within short driving distance of railway stations, function as dormitory towns or villages where London workers raise their families.

Part of the southeast of the county, already containing the major population centres of Basildon, Southend and Thurrock, is within the Thames Gateway and designated for further development. Parts of the southwest of the county such as Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell are contiguous with Greater London neighbourhoods.

To the north of the green belt, with the exception of major towns such as Colchester and Chelmsford, the county is rural, with many small towns, villages and hamlets largely built in the traditional materials of timber and brick, with clay tile or thatched roofs.

There are many new build developments in the county, including in Chelmsford, Stanway, Colchester, Great Dunmow, Great Wakering and Walton-on-the-Naze.



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Properties in Essex which are in close proximity to the major water courses and rivers such as the Thames, the Stort, the Lea, the Chelmer, the Ching, the Brain, the Crouch and the Roding as well as some coastal areas, 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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A recent Environmental Search indicated that a property on Clenshaw Path, Basildon, SS14 2FP, is within 50m of an area with potential for natural ground instability.

The British Geological Survey has assessed the area of search as having moderate potential for natural ground instability. This does not necessarily mean there is cause for concern in terms of the property's stability. Active subsidence will be dependent on local conditions, such as the proximity of trees or areas where trees have been removed, which require an inspection of the site to identify the nature of the ground on which the property is built. A house buyers survey is advised to look for signs of property damage that may indicate poor natural ground conditions.
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When a RICS surveyor carries out either a building survey or homebuyer report in the Essex area, they will switch the lights on and off but not test the whole electrical system. If they suspect that there is an electrical problem, they will recommend that you consult a local electrical contractor.

A local electrician within the Essex area is Reactive Electrical, 50 Scratton Rd, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 0PA.
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. 

Listed Building Surveyors Essex
We have local RICS surveyors who specialise in listed building surveys in the Essex area including its surrounds including e.g. Chelmsford and Basildon.

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Essex Planning Application Search

You can review what planning applications have been granted or denied for properties in your area by contacting Essex County Council at County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford CM1 1QH, telephone 03457 430 430, 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 Essex

Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Chelmsford, Colchester, Basildon, Harlow, Grays, Enborne Row and Benfleet.

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


  • 18 Carlton Court, Craven Gardens, Barkingside, Essex IG6 1LT
  • 46 Cranstone Park Avenue, Upminster, Essex, RM14 3UT
  • 196 Willowfield, Harlow, Essex, CM18 6RZ
  • 11 Featherstone Court, 287 - 295 High Road, Chadwell Heath, Essex, RM6 6DJ
  • 55 Bentry Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 3PA

 

Is a Mortgage valuation a defect survey?

It is a common misconception that a mortgage valuation is a HomeBuyers Survey and this can leave HomeBuyers exposed to high repair costs that could have been negotiated with the seller. A mortgage valuation is conducted by the lender’s surveyor to assess the value of the property you are considering buying in Essex and they do not provide a detailed report on structural defects. 

A HomeBuyers Survey details defects and includes a full appraisal of the property independently to anyone else including the mortgage lender. You can use the information to obtain quotes to fix any defects and gives you the evidence to potentially share the costs with the seller.


Most savvy buyers make sure they get a HomeBuyers survey from an independent surveyor to make sure the property they are buying is free from defects. Call us on 01245 330 486 to get the best HomeBuyers survey for your property in Essex.

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HomeBuyers Survey Essex

HomeBuyers Report in Essex

A HomeBuyers Report is general visual inspection for flats, new properties or bungalows of standard construction. Most leasehold flats in Essex 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 Essex >

Building Survey in Essex

Most freehold houses in Essex 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 01245 330 486.

Which survey suits your style of property in Essex
Choose which survey based on its type, style and age
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