Home Buyers Survey Plymouth

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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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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.

Home Buyers Survey Plymouth

Local Devon 
Building Surveyors

Our Building Surveyor uses their local knowledge of Plymouth 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 Plymouth

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.

Plymouth 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 Plymouth and Building Surveys in Plymouth.

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 Plymouth 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. A damp meter is used in a HomeBuyers Report Plymouth survey and the readings included within the report.


Read more about asbestos

If they find any issues during the inspection of your property in Plymouth, 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 Plymouth


Plymouth is a city on the south coast of Devon and its history goes back at least to the Bronze Age. It is where the Pilgrim Fathers set off for North America. It grew as a shipping port during the Industrial Revolution and became a city in 1928. It was hit hard in the 'Plymouth Blitz' of the 2nd world war, which caused considerable rebuilding of the city centre.

Between 1951 and 1957 over 1000 homes were completed every year mostly using innovative prefabricated systems and by 1964, over 20,000 new homes had been built and mostly according to the Modernist zoned low-density garden city model around large thoroughfares like Armada Way.

the Saltram estate has a Jacobean and Georgian mansion and on the northern outskirts of the city, Crownhill Fort is a well restored example of a "Palmerston's Folly".

New build developments include detached houses in Plymbridge Road, and in Brixton and Brixton Village, terrace houses in Chapel Street (where Help to Buy can be available), sea view apartments in Hoe Road and semi-detached houses off Haye Road.



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Properties in Plymouth which are built in close proximity to the north bank of the River Plym, in streets such as Lanhydrock Road and Mirador Place, are in an area where flood warnings and alerts are issued 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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When a RICS surveyor carries out either a building survey or homebuyer report in the Plymouth 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 in the Plymouth area is Shave & Son Electrical, 13 Mayfair Cres, Plymouth PL6 5PA.
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Raised levels of noise pollution from roads in the Plymouth area are highest around where the A38 Devon Expressway and the A374/B3416 Plymouth Road interchange, and affects nearby streets such as Dunclair Park, Military Road and Longbridge Road.

The railway passes close by to this area as well, raising noise pollution to higher levels and particularly around where it runs alongside the A374 Plymouth Road, affecting streets such as Laura Avenue and Finch Close.
Devon.pngDevon is a county in South West England and Exeter is its county town. It has two coastlines with both cliffs and sandy shores and the county has many seaside resorts and fishing ports on the coast whereas inland, terrain is rural and predominantly hilly. Population density is low compared to many other counties. The county also contains Dartmoor, the largest open space in southern England. Adjoining counties include Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

Largest towns in the county, other than the city of Exeter include Plymouth (a city twice as large in population as Exeter and which is its own unitary authority), Torquay, Paignton, Exmouth, Newton Abbot and Barnstaple.

The county has motorway, the M5 (connecting Exeter with Birmingham), and Exeter has an international airport. There are 3 universities in the county; the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth and the University of St Mark & St John.

The county contains the national parks of Dartmoor and Exmoor (shared with Somerset). Devon is famous for cream teas, has its own form of wrestling and contains the only place with an exclamation mark in its name in the UK - Westward Ho! 

Listed Building Surveyors Plymouth
We have local RICS surveyors who specialise in listed building surveys in the Plymouth area including its surrounds including e.g. Portwrinkle and Saltash.

PL3 5DD

Plymouth Planning Application Search

You can review what planning applications have been granted or denied for properties in your area by contacting Plymouth City Council at 71 New George St, Plymouth PL1 1RF, telephone 01752 668 000, 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 Plymouth

Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Portwrinkle, St Germans, Saltash, Wembury, Woolwell, Ivybridge and Yelverton.

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

Recently completed surveys near you:

  • 28, Compton Avenue, Plymouth PL3 5DD
  • 79, Peverell Park Road, Plymouth , Devon, PL2 3PG
  • 55, Eggbuckland Rd, Plymouth PL3 6QB
  • 12, Beechwood Avenue, Plymouth, PL4 6PW
  • 81, Lipson Road, Plymouth PL4 8PN

 

Why can’t I have a Building Survey on a flat?

As a rule, flats/maisonettes/post 1950s standard construction properties are best suited to HomeBuyer Reports.

The surveyor has substantially less to check and remark upon when surveying these types of property, additionally more modern buildings benefit from better construction techniques in the main.

To carry out a full Building Survey on a property such as this would be overkill, whereas a Homebuyer Report is designed for and is more than adequate for completing the task and, most importantly, for reporting any signs or suspicions of defects.


HomeBuyers Survey Plymouth

HomeBuyers Report in Plymouth

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

Building Survey in Plymouth

Most freehold houses in Plymouth 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 Plymouth
Choose which survey based on its type, style and age
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