"Competitively priced service, the agent I dealt with was very helpful. On the day of the survey itself I received a call from the surveyor to run through his initial findings. The quality of the report produced was excellent, very detailed and thorough. If needed I will be using SAM Conveyancing's services again in the future for sure."
Local Building Survey Chester
Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Macclesfield, Liverpool, Warrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Widnes, St Helens and Stockport.
We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in Chester. 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 building surveys on properties in Chester we'll be able to give you the detailed Chester HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.
Defects flagged in a Chester Home Buyers Survey
Local Tip: Subsidence
Some parts of Cheshire have been licensed for the exploration of oil and gas. This activity can be detrimental to your present or future enjoyment of a property you're thinking of buying in the area and can lower any future selling price.
If you're a mortgage buyer, getting some conveyancing searches is mandatory and often it may be recommended to you to purchase additional searches and your lender might even insist on you doing this as a condition of granting you a home loan.
One of our recent clients, who was considering buying a property in Church Lane, Stoak, Chester, CH2 4HP, was advised to purchase an Energy and Infrastructure Report, which is an additional search. This search reported that the property was sited within 4km of an area licensed by the Oil and Gas Authority(OGA) for the exploration of oil and gas.
The report stated that the presence of a licence did not mean that the exploration would definitely happen but gave the name of the operator concerned and advised contact with Cheshire West and Chester Council to find out more details.
It should therefore be clear how important this information is: you might discover that there are no definite plans for future exploration of this type however given the impact such exploration could have, you, your solicitor and your lender would certainly want to know more about the matter.
Local Tip: Damp
Whether you're a cash or mortgage buyer, if you're thinking of purchasing a property in Chester, the detail to be found within a Local Authority Search is particularly important in assisting your conveyancing solicitor's work, which is all about ensuring that you know as much about the property in question before you commit to buying it.
A client in this position recently bought this search for a property in Sherlock Lane, Wallasey, CH44 5TF and it revealed that the property was within a Local Authority area where there was a project, as part of the Wirral Waters Regeneration Project, which had proposals for a light rail system known as Wirral Streetcar.
The building of such infrastructure could impact a buyer's enjoyment of their property during the construction phase although in the longer term the completed project could cause a rise in nearby house prices. Either way, any skilful conveyancing solicitor would do further research into the proposed project to gauge the likelihood of it going ahead in order to advise you.
Local Tip: Asbestos
Parish church claims on parishioners for chancel repair, where these occur, can be fairly costly, with individual households possibly being legally required to pay £1,000s.
Buying a chancel repair indemnity insurance policy for a property you're looking to buy Chester's locale is an easy and efficient way of protecting yourself against this possible eventuality and among many others, one such policy was taken out for a property in Dovedale Road, Wirral, Cheshire CH47 3AN. This policy generally costs around £20 to buy and normally covers the policy holder for claims to the limit of £1 million.
Types of property in Chester?
Chester's architecture has excellent diversity. Alongside the fairly commonplace housing developments built this century and in the 20th century, there are many examples of fine building going back to the Roman era.
Chester's Victorian town hall was opened in 1869 and is an example of the Gothic Revival style. The cathedral was formerly the church of St Werburgh's Abbey and it dates back to the Norman era, with additions made most centuries since. The oldest church in the city is St John's, which is outside the city walls. Much of the interior is in Norman style and this is considered to be the best example of 11th–12th-century church architecture in Cheshire.
The most important Roman era feature is the amphitheatre just outside the walls. An original hypocaust system discovered in the 1720s can be seen in the basement of the (current) Spudulike restaurant at 39 Bridge Street.
Why Choose SAM Conveyancing for your Home Survey?
In helping over 15,339 survey clients since 2014, we've learned a lot about surveys in Chester using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your Chester surveyor will be local to your property, so whether you're worried about subsidence, damp, infestations, extensions, or even just for peace of mind, we've got you covered.
Our HomeBuyers Survey costs are fixed and competitive, as you'll see from all our Excellent reviews on Trustpilot. This means you don't have to break the bank to get a full health check on your new home. Get a Home Buyer Survey Quote today, or if you're not sure which survey to choose and want to know the difference between a Level 2 Home Survey and a Level 3 Building Survey, then give us a cal,l and we'll happily tell you what you need - 0333 344 3234 (local call charges apply).
What defects are flagged in a Homebuyer's Survey?
Cracks are inspected and in the report will confirm if you need a structural engineer as there are signs of historical or current movement.
The RICS surveyor will use a moisture meter in the rooms and report any high levels along with any mould or damp causing damage to the walls/windows.
The wooden door frames and windows will be inspected for rotting and wood worm.
The surveyor looks for signs of infestations through droppings, damage to piping/flooring and in some cases finding where the nest is.
The surveyor will check the grounds of the property and, where possible, check over the fences to neighbouring plots to identify if there is a risk of Japanese knotweed.
The surveyor lifts up accessible man hole covers to check if the drains are blocked. You may need to get your drains inspected with CCTV.
The surveyor will enter into the roof/loft space if there is a safe and accessible ladder. They'll look for insulation, signs of leaking and and damage.
Average Cost of Building Surveyor in 2026 in Chester
The cost varies depending on the size and condition of the property, with the average cost of our HomeBuyers Survey starting at £375 EXC VAT. The average cost of a Building Survey is higher. Our fixed fees start at £499 EXC VAT.
To ensure accuracy, we utilise Rightmove or Zoopla to assess the property type, guaranteeing a fixed quote tailored to your needs. For guidance on choosing the right survey, contact our survey specialists at 0333 344 3234.
Thinking of moving to Chester?
Cheshire is a highly picturesque walled city in Cheshire near Wales' border. It dates back to being a Roman fort called Deva Victrix, founded c. 79 CE.
It is marked out by its ancient, and Grade I listed, city walls and black-and-white architecture. Landmarks and attractions include the Grosvenor Museum; Chester Castle, which dates back to the medieval period; Grosvenor Park, a major public park; Handbridge, which contains the Roman Minerva's Shrine and Chester Little Theatre.
Frequently Asked Questions: Homebuyers Survey Chester
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RICS Level 2 Home Survey with a Valuation
A RICS Level 2 Home Survey, which used to be called the HomeBuyer Report or a Home Buyer Survey, is generally suitable for:
- Bungalows
- Flats
- Standard construction houses
The majority of Chester's leasehold flats require only a RICS HomeBuyer Report but for any Victorian conversions, a Building Survey may well be required.
RICS Level 3 Building Survey
A Level 3 Home Survey, also known as a Building Survey or a full structural, is the most comprehensive visual inspection a RICS surveyor can provide on a property in Chester. It is suitable for:
- complex buildings, for example those that have been extensively extended and altered
- unique or older historic properties
- properties in poor condition; or
- those where the client is planning to carry out extensive repair and refurbishment work.
Speak to one of our team on 0333 344 3234 to find out if your property suits a RICS Building Survey, or read our article Which Home Buyers Survey suits your property .
