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What a building surveyor does
A chartered building surveyor gives you independent professional advice on the condition of a property before you buy it, invest in it or carry out major works. We identify defects, maintenance liabilities, structural concerns and the risks that follow from them, then set out what they mean in practical terms. The point is not a list of faults. It is the information you need to negotiate with confidence, budget properly, or walk away.
Building surveying covers the inspection, assessment and reporting of a building's physical condition. It is distinct from a valuation, which tells you what a property is worth rather than what state it is in.
When you need a building surveyor
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Before you exchange contracts on a purchase, commercial or residential
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Before an acquisition or investment decision, where capital expenditure needs consideration
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At lease events, where repairing obligations are in play
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When planning maintenance spend across a building or portfolio
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Before major works, to establish a baseline condition
What we do
Technical due diligence
Pre-acquisition and investment surveys for buyers, funders and their advisers. We report on condition, compliance, risk and forecast capital expenditure, framed around the decision you are making.
RICS Level 3 Home Surveys
The most detailed survey available, appropriate for older, altered or unusual buildings. We identify defects, explain the possible causes, set out the risks and recommend next steps.
Planned preventative maintenance
A forward maintenance plan for a building or portfolio, so spend is planned rather than forced by failure. Prioritised, costed and phased.
Also available
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RICS Level 2 Home Surveys: for conventional properties in reasonable condition.
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Schedules of condition: recording a building's state at a fixed point, usually at lease commencement.
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Dilapidations: acting for landlords or tenants, managing exit liability.
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Defects analysis: diagnosing cause where a specific problem has appeared.
How it works
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Enquiry and fixed-fee quotation, within one to two working days.
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Inspection arranged around your transaction timetable.
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Site inspection, typically completed within a day or two depending on the size of the property.
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Report issued. RICS Level 3 within 7 to 10 working days of inspection. Technical due diligence and planned maintenance within 10 to 14 working days.
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We talk it through. A report you cannot act on is not much use.
Why Acton & Co
RICS regulated, so you have independent professional advice delivered to a recognised standard.
A chartered building surveyor does the work, with experience across residential, commercial and high-value assets.
Reports typically within 7 to 10 working days, so a survey does not hold up your transaction.
Breadth across the building lifecycle. Surveys, due diligence, party wall and project management, so the advice joins up.
The most common thing we hear is, "I wish I had known before I exchanged." A survey identifies defects, repair liabilities and future costs while you can still renegotiate, budget or reconsider.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the property's age, condition and construction. A Level 2 suits many conventional homes in reasonable condition. A Level 3 is the right choice for older, larger, altered or more complex properties. We advise which is appropriate before you instruct us.
It depends on the property's size, age, value and complexity. We provide a fixed-fee quotation before you instruct, so you know exactly what it will cost with nothing added later.
Most inspections are completed within a few hours to a day, depending on the property. Your report is normally issued within 7 to 10 working days of the inspection.
Yes. We identify visible structural defects, movement, damp, timber decay and other significant issues. Where opening up or specialist investigation is needed, we say so and explain why.
Yes. We carry out building surveys and technical due diligence across offices, industrial units, retail premises and mixed-use buildings.
A building survey does not normally include a valuation. Where one is needed we work with RICS Registered Valuers who can provide it alongside our report.
