"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."
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Panel of RICS Surveyors
Same week availability*
Cost from £400 EXC VAT
Reports in 5 Days**
Defects flagged in a St Helens Home Buyers Survey
Local Tip 1
Sometimes for certain areas you might look to buy in around St Helens, you'll be advised to get a further ground stability search or coal mining search. This advice will be apparent as a recommendation from the findings of the main searches and/or your lender might insist on you getting one as a condition of getting a mortgage, should you be buying with one.
Such a report – in this case a Terrafirma Ground Report – was taken out for a property in Nutgrove Road, St Helens WA9 5JS. This detailed report had an in-depth assessment concerning whether coal or other mining nearby would be likely to cause ground instability and also considered other natural ground perils, recorded ground movement, the presence of radon gas, oil and gas activity and whether there were any mineral mining activities planned.
In the case in question, the only matter flagged up was that the property was located within 1000m of a valid mineral planning permission, however the report also stated that the permission did not mean the area in question had actually been developed and further, that any development was unlikely given the increasing urbanisation of the locale.
Local Tip 2
The Local Authority Search's main strength is in flagging up any land charges and matters relating to planning permission and building control which might affect the value of a property you're looking to buy.
For example, such a search, bought for a property in Richards Grove, St Helens WA9 2DN revealed that the dwelling was in an area subject to a smoke control order and that while there were no planning permissions lodged for the building, the correct building regulations sign-off had been noted for a gas fire installation and FENSA certificates lodged for a total of 18 windows and 2 doors.
Even an absence of planning permission records can be invaluable to your conveyancing solicitor; if your surveyor notes that alterations have been made to the property which would normally require planning permission, this can trigger your solicitor to make further enquiries to attempt to ascertain the true situation. This might ultimately result in negotiations with your seller, if remedy is required, or you deciding to pull out of the purchase if subsequent projected costs and hassle are adjudged to be too much to proceed to exchange of contracts.
Local Tip 3
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 in the St Helens area 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 Tickle Avenue, St Helens WA9 1RS. 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 St Helens?
St Helens mainly developed in the Industrial Revolution period so most properties observable there only go back as far as this period, barring the odd survival from earlier times. This latter includes the Quaker Friends' Meeting House, which, although it was converted for use by the Quakers in 1678, it had been used for another purpose a long time before then.
St Helens' modern Town Hall was built in 1876 and the Mill Street Barracks were completed in 1861. The Gamble Institute was built in 1896 and is now the town's central library. There are a number of Victorian residential properties visible, mainly terraced and cottages.
St Mary's Low House Catholic Church in North Road was opened in 1929 – it has a 40m tower and a dome of a mixed Gothic and Romanesque style. There are numerous standard construction properties built in various decades of the 20th century, built both privately and municipally, consisting of terraced, semi-detached and detached properties with a number of flat developments.
Church Square shopping centre was built in the early 1970s. Construction has continued to the present day and there are a number of new build developments.
Why Choose Sam Conveyancing for your Home Survey?
After 10 years of helping over 30,000 clients we've learned alot about surveys in St Helens using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your St Helens surveyor will be local to your property so whether you're worried about subsidence, damp, infestations, extensions or even the 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 call 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?
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Cracks/Subsidence
Cracks are inspected and in the report will confirm if you need a structural engineer as there are signs of historical or current movement.
Find out more - What is subsidence and how do you spot it?
Damp
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.
Find out more - What is rising damp?
Wood Rot
The wooden door frames and windows will be inspected for rotting and wood worm.
Find out more - What to do with a Rotten Window Frame?
Infestations
The surveyor looks for signs of infestations through droppings, damage to piping/flooring and in some cases finding where the nest is.
Find out more - Can You Sell A House With Rodents?
Japanese Knotweed
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.
Find out more - Do surveyors check for Japanese knotweed?
Drains and Manhole Covers
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.
Find out more - Should You Get a CCTV Drain Survey When Buying a House?
Roof and Loft Space
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.
Find out more - What is a roof survey?
A Level 2 HomeBuyers Report is for newer, conventional properties. A Level 3 Building Survey is for a comprehensive analysis, for older or larger properties.
For conventional properties, a HomeBuyers Survey is invaluable. Identified defects can be used as leverage during price negotiations with the seller and can save 1000s of pounds.
Average Cost of Building Surveyor in St Helens
The cost varies depending on the size and condition of the property, with the average cost of our HomeBuyers Survey starting at £400 EXC VAT. The average cost of a Building Survey is higher. Our fixed fees start at £500 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.
Download an Example Level 2 and Level 3 Home Survey
Frequently Asked Questions: Homebuyers Survey St Helens
You don't need to contact your lender to arrange a HomeBuyer Survey in St Helens. While they may recommend specific survey companies, we advise obtaining a quote online directly from a RICS-certified professional familiar with your property's locality, ensuring a comprehensive HomeBuyers Survey quote.
Typically, home buyers and investors request a Valuation and a Survey simultaneously, which is encompassed in our RICS HomeBuyers Report. For older or unconventional properties, consider a Level 3 Building Survey. Get your online quote for a property survey from our experienced house surveyors in St Helens now.
A standard HomeBuyers Survey in St Helens takes approximately 3.5 hours, including local travel, property visitation, and report generation at the office.
With national coverage across England and Wales, including St Helens, our back-office systems enable us to identify available RICS surveyors, even outside your locality. If you need a survey carried out urgently, our knowledge, contacts, and systems allow us to find you the best RICS surveyor at the most competitive cost.
We’re committed to equipping you with the necessary tools, information, and pricing to make informed decisions. You'll get a same day call with your St Helens RICS Surveyor to discuss your survey, as part of our service to you. You'll always receive full contact details of your RICS Chartered Surveyor when arranging with us.
We offer professional and comprehensive HomeBuyers Survey services in St Helens. Our RICS-certified professionals know the local property market intimately. Get an instant online price quote for a survey from our experienced house surveyors in St Helens:
The cost of a HomeBuyers Survey varies depending on the type and size of the property, among other factors. At SAM Conveyancing, the average cost for our HomeBuyers Survey in St Helens starts from £400 EXC VAT. Remember, a survey could save you significant money in the long run by identifying potential issues early.
Absolutely. Our team at SAM Conveyancing provides a thorough HomeBuyers Survey checklist, guiding you through what our surveyors will inspect. This includes the property's interior and exterior condition and advice on necessary repairs or potential problems.
We understand that sometimes surveys are urgent. While a typical survey takes around 3.5 hours, a Level 3 building survey will often take longer as it is a more thorough inspection. We pride ourselves on our national coverage and extensive network. Even for urgent requests, we strive to find you the best RICS surveyor in St Helens to complete the survey promptly.
Your satisfaction is our priority. If you have any issues, you can raise a formal complaint. If you remain unsatisfied, you can resort to a third-party dispute resolution service. Our St Helens-based RICS surveyor will work diligently to resolve your concerns, potentially revisiting the property if necessary.
We take problems very seriously, and if you encounter an issue, we ensure your concerns are addressed promptly and professionally. The initial step involves submitting a formal, written complaint, outlining the problem and supplementing it with any supporting evidence, like photos.
Our Manchester-based surveyor will send you their Formal Complaints Procedure outlining the expected response timeframes. They will work to rectify your complaint and might even propose revisiting the property in Manchester. After a comprehensive review, they will write back to you, hopefully resolving your complaint through the provision of further information.
If you remain unsatisfied, you can resort to a third-party dispute resolution service to which the surveyor is registered. This service becomes accessible only after you have formally complained to your surveyor.
The details of the dispute resolution service for RICS surveyors are as follows:
Service Provider
Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
Address
100 St. Paul's Churchyard, London, EC4M 8BU
Website
We have local RICS Listed Building Surveyors who specialise in listed building surveys in St Helens. To find out more go to - Listed Building Surveys - Building Surveyor and Survey Cost in St Helens
We cover the whole St Helens area and have recently completed HomeBuyer Reports and Building Surveys near you, at:
- Lower Hall Street, St Helens WA10 1GD
- Ilfracombe Road, St Helens WA9 4NN
- Milton Street, WA9 4BQ
- Gregson Road, St Helens L35 5DL
- Prescot Road, St Helens WA10 3HR
You can review what planning applications have been granted or denied for properties in your area by contacting St Helens Council at 3rd Floor, Wesley House, Corporation St, St Helens, Saint Helens WA10 1HF, telephone 01744 676 789, or you can check the local authority website.
Read the following article if you are thinking about building an extension.
Local Building Survey St Helens
Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Liverpool, Widnes, Warrington, Salford, Bolton, Wigan and Southport.
We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in St Helens. 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 St Helens we'll be able to give you the detailed St Helens HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.
*Subject to availability. If your survey date is longer than 1 week then ask and we will try to fit you in sooner.
** Survey prices vary depending on type of survey, size of property and the property's location.
FREE Online Conveyancing Process For Buyers
Our conveyancing process area includes:
- online checklists
- videos
- free downloads
- useful tips
It is completely free to use - from start to finish - and saves your progress along the way.
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 St Helens'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 St Helens. 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 .
