If you’re looking to buy a house, it’s a good idea to get a house survey done first to help you make an informed decision on your purchase and budget for any potential repairs.
The type of house survey that you need will depend on several factors, including the age and condition of your property and any extensive alterations since construction. As valuers registered with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), we can carry out three different types of home surveys.
If you’re not sure which type of house survey will be best for your property, our guide aims to help you decide.
RICS Home Survey Level 1
The Level 1 survey is the most basic type of house survey, providing an affordable insight into the property while foregoing the more in-depth aspects of the Level 2 and 3 surveys.
We use an easy to understand traffic light system to indicate the seriousness of any defects, and report individually on main building elements such as the floors, roof, and walls. This type of survey is best suited for modern properties that are in good condition, where you may want to confirm that everything is in order before buying.
At Torus Surveyors, we always aim to get the completed report to you within two working days of the inspection. We also encourage our customers to speak to our surveyors by telephone regarding any questions before or after the inspection, no matter the level of survey.
RICS Home Survey Level 2
Formally known as the Homebuyer Report, the Level 2 survey is more comprehensive than the Level 1 survey. In addition to the report, you can get advice on which parts of the building may require particular maintenance, as well as a market valuation and reinstatement value for insurance purposes — just let us know in advance.
The inspection is non-intrusive, which means only the visible elements are inspected. The surveyor won’t check behind furniture, for example.
This level of house survey is a good choice for most properties that:
- Have been constructed after 1930
- Are in a reasonable condition, and without any extensive alterations
It’s more affordable than Level 3 but still goes into a sufficient amount of depth for most homes, making it a good general option.
RICS Home Survey Level 3
The Level 3 survey is also known as a Building Survey or Structural Survey. It is the most comprehensive house survey you can get and includes a thorough property analysis.
At Torus Surveyors, we have extensive experience surveying houses in Manchester and nearby, so we are acutely familiar with the construction techniques and defects that are common to the area. If agreed upon in advance, this type of survey can include an estimate of costs on repair work, so it gives you a better idea of what you will actually be paying for the house.
The Level 3 survey is the ideal choice if the property is old, in poor condition, or has seen extensive alterations. Alternatively, if you’re planning to do significant work later, it’s a good idea to see if the property is suitable.
For a better look at what you can learn from a report, you can read example reports for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 house surveys on our website.
House surveyors you can trust
At Torus Surveyors, we can carry out all levels of house survey in Manchester and North Cheshire. We’re an RICS registered valuer, which means you can be sure our surveys meet the standards of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch, or get an instant quote on our website today.