Do I need a Level 2 Home Survey or a Level 3 Building Survey in Honiton?
The type of survey you require depends entirely on the age, size, and general condition of the property you are purchasing. Use the comparison below to determine which RICS inspection is right for your transaction:
Inspection Detail | RICS Level 2 Home Survey (formerly HomeBuyer Report) | RICS Level 3 Home Survey (formerly Full Structural Survey) |
|---|---|---|
Inspection Best Suited For | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Conventional, modern properties (built post-1990) of standard construction. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Older, historic, or large properties, or those of non-standard construction. |
Inspection Property Condition | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Homes appearing to be in a reasonable, well-maintained state. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Homes that are noticeably dilapidated or have been extensively altered. |
Inspection Depth of Inspection | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Surface-level visual inspection of accessible areas to highlight major faults. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey In-depth analysis of the property's structure, fabric, and integrity. |
Inspection Future Plans | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Buyers looking for a general overview before moving in. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Buyers planning significant structural renovations or extensions. |
Inspection Advice Provided | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Highlights urgent defects that may affect the property's value. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Detailed advice on defects, repair options, and ongoing maintenance consequences. |
Local Property Characteristics in Honiton
Properties built in this area have certain standard characteristics which dictate what type of survey you'll need for your property. Here is a table of different factors that could affect your property and require further investigation by your RICS surveyor:
Characteristic/Risk | Details |
|---|---|
Japanese Knotweed Risk: | Check the Environet heatmap to confirm. Source: Environment Agency & Environet UK Heatmap Data |
Listed Buildings: (Such as Grade I, Grade II*, and Grade II in Honiton) | There are circa 1 to 20 listed buildings in the local area. Note: Estimated based on the location's common property types and proximity from the data at Historic England. Your actual property may have a different characteristic or risk. Source: Historic England |
Ground Stability: Flags a risk for subsidence. | This area is generally considered low risk for ground stability issues. Source: The British Geological Survey (BGS) |
Honiton Specific Property Info |
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Expert Tip: Assess Surface Water and River Flooding
Given the flood risk profile in Honiton, it is crucial to check not just the property's history, but also the effectiveness of local drainage, damp proofing, and sub-floor ventilation.
Your surveyor will check for signs of rising damp or water damage, while your conveyancer will secure a comprehensive Environmental Search to confirm formal flood risks.
Local Building Survey Honiton
Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Exeter, Yeovil, Taunton, Barnstaple, Torquay, Bridgwater and Paignton.
We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in Honiton. 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 Honiton we'll be able to give you the detailed Honiton HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.
Defects flagged in a Honiton Home Buyers Survey
Local Tip: Subsidence
The Local Authority Search, which you'll have to get when using a mortgage to buy a property in the Honiton area, is brilliant when it comes to being quickly briefed about building control matters, and whether the property you're thinking of buying has had the appropriate local building authority sign-off for any improvements or alterations.
A recent such report which a client bought for a property in Wyndham Road, Silverton, Exeter EX5 4JU revealed, among other things, that the correct sign-off had been given for both electrical rewiring and the installation of a gas boiler.
But let's say your property had a multi-storey extension in this case. Because no entries are present for this work, this would at the very least cause your conveyancing solicitor to frame enquiries to find out more about the situation.
Local Tip: Damp
Lenders insist on you getting a Regulated Drainage & Water Search as a mortgage buyer. However a brief look at the contents of such a report, such as one bought by a client for a property in Honiton's locale, specifically in Newton St. Cyres EX5 5BJ, shows how important the findings in the report are.
For example, the report revealed that, should any building which is or forms part of the property be at risk of internal flooding due to overloaded public sewers, then insurance is in place to cover any damages and provide compensation. Additionally, the report revealed that should the property suffer from low water pressure or flow, insurance was also in place. People underestimate how important having decent pressure in the water supply to a home can be - but you'd want to know that insurance is in place for this eventuality because the displeasure caused by low water pressure in terms of how taps and particularly baths function is not to be underestimated.
Local Tip: Asbestos
According to the UK Health Security Agency, Honiton, including streets such as South Gate and Magdalen Street - B3212, is in a raised radon area, with properties built there having a higher probability than average of experiencing ground Radon emissions.
The raised Radon area has a maximum radon potential of 10-30% (the percentage is the chance of a property being built where Radon emissions might measure above the action level).
If you are concerned that a property you are buying is in an area of raised Radon, please check the UK Radon Map . Click also to find out more about Radon, Radon property searches and much more.
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 Honiton using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your Honiton 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.
Download an Example Level 2 and Level 3 Home Survey
Property Survey FAQs for Honiton
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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 Honiton'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 Honiton. 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 .
