Home Buyers Survey Hemel Hempstead

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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

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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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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 Hemel Hempstead

Local Hertfordshire 
Building Surveyors

Our Building Surveyor uses their local knowledge of Hemel Hempstead 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 Hemel Hempstead

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.

Hemel Hempstead 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 Hemel Hempstead and Building Surveys in Hemel Hempstead.

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 these, among others; damp, subsidence, infestations, cracks and damage.

Whichever you opt for out of a Building Survey (which used to be known as a Full Structural Survey) or a HomeBuyers Report, they are both excellent for peace of mind if you are considering buying a property in Hemel Hempstead.

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 Hemel Hempstead survey and the readings included within the report.


Read more about asbestos

Should any issues be flagged up in the HomeBuyers Survey, our surveyor will tell you what you need to do to get more in-depth advice on the extent and seriousness of the issue affecting your property in Hemel Hempstead and what needs to be done to remedy it. 

If you are worried about a crack or cracks or indeed any other defects that you think your property has, we strongly recommend you get a Home Buyers Survey as the cost of remedying the problem might snowball into many thousands of pounds further down the line. 

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 Hemel Hempstead


Hemel Hempstead was built as a new town in 1946 after the 2nd world war, although its parish church of St Mary's was built in the Norman period in 1140 and there are a few property survivals predating the new town development, including some medieval cottages in Piccotts End.

The railway arrived in 1877, after which the old town grew steadily, although it was extensively bombed in the 2nd world war and this destroyed a large amount of property.

Much of the present housing is therefore post-war 1950s standard construction and largely consists of semi-detached houses, terrace houses and some larger detached properties, such as can be found in Kiln Ground, Bennetts End and in Adeyfield. Boxmoor has older Victorian properties and Felden has much larger and wealthier detached houses.

Woodhall Farm was built in the mid to late 1970s and has properties ranging from 4-bedroom detached houses to 1-bedroom low-rise flats. New builds are available in Boxmoor Village, some of which fall under Help to Buy.



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Properties in Hemel Hempstead which are built near the River Bulbourne or the River Gade, such as in Kingsland Road and Lawn Lane, 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 on Wadley Close, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4JJ, stated that the property was within 50m of an area with potential for natural ground instability, although there were no natural cavities within 250m. This does not mean the property has subsidence as the only way to assess this is through a surveyor attending the property and looking for physical signs of movement.

This data is obtained from the British Geological Survey who assessed the Hemel Hempstead area.
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Section E1 within a HomeBuyer Report discuses about the condition of the Chimney Stack at the property. For adjoining properties such as terrace or semi-detached, you may share a chimney stack with your neighbour.

An example of this, in a recent HomeBuyer Report in Windmill Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. HP2 4BY it was noted "There is a shared brick built chimney stack with the property adjoining. The weather proof seal (flashing) between the stack and the roof covering is formed in lead. A gas cowl is fitted for the central heating boiler flue. Remaining chimney flues are no longer in use. The stack is showing general effects of wear, age and weathering. There are no indications of urgent or significant defects. Condition Rating 1. This chimney stack or stacks should remain serviceable providing regular checks and maintenance are carried out."
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. 

Listed Building Surveyors Hemel Hempstead
We have local RICS surveyors who specialise in listed building surveys in the Hemel Hempstead area including its surrounds including e.g. Kings Langley and Bourne End.

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Hemel Hempstead Planning Application Search

You can review what planning applications have been granted or denied for properties in your area by contacting Dacorum Borough Council at Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre Marlowes Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP1 1HH, telephone 01442 228000, 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 Hemel Hempstead

Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Kings Langley, Berkhamstead, Bourne End, St Albans, Church End, Loudwater and Sarratt.

We employ only expert RICS Building Surveyors to undertake surveys in Hemel Hempstead. 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 Hemel Hempstead 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 Hemel Hempstead

Recently completed surveys near you:

  • 23 Feacey Down, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP1 3ES
  • 8 Claymore, Grove Hill, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 6LL
  • 88 Weymouth Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 9SH
  • 26 Trebellan Drive, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 5EL
  • 7 Charles Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1JH

 

Is a Mortgage valuation a defect survey?

Many mistakenly think that a mortgage valuation is the same as a HomeBuyers Survey and the consequence is that home buyers can subsequently have to shell out money for repairing faults and defects that could well have been part of the bargaining process with the seller on purchase. The surveyor appointed by the lender conducts a mortgage valuation to estimate the value of the property: this survey is not concerned with detailing structural defects.


A HomeBuyers Survey lists and reports on defects and includes a full appraisal and valuation of your property in Hemel Hempstead which is completely independent of the mortgage lender. This knowledge can be used to get quotes for the cost of fixing defects and, most importantly, gives you evidence which can be used to bargain with the seller about sharing any such cost.

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HomeBuyers Survey Hemel Hempstead

HomeBuyers Report in Hemel Hempstead

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

Building Survey in Hemel Hempstead

Most freehold houses in Hemel Hempstead 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 01442 800 889.

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