RICS Level 2 Home Survey
The RICS L2 Survey (previously the ‘Homebuyer Survey’) is suitable for most conventionally built houses and flats, and will provide you with information about the condition of the property, highlighting structural defects and other significant issues. This report helps you make an informed decision before you buy. For most properties, this report provides the appropriate balance of detail and value.
What is included in the L2 survey?
This survey provides an assessment of the key structural building elements as well as a review of, timber/damp issues, drainage, insulation, subsidence, visual inspection of all major indoor features including ceilings, roof, walls, and bathrooms, visual inspection of the roof, pipes, gutters, outdoor walls, windows, and doors. The focus of the report is on serious or urgent problems that could need specialist attention, costly repairs and those which might affect the property’s value.
Why choose us?
Unfortunately, in recent years, there has been a growth of corporate entities saturating the market with cheap fees and generic reports. At Brecon & Dean, we advocate for a different approach. We are of the firm belief that to deliver value to our clients, a departure from this 'stack them high, sell them cheap' mentality is required. We are committed to producing bespoke, client-centric reports that directly address their specific needs.
When can I speak to the surveyor and what are your turnaround times?
Straight away. From your very first enquiry, you speak directly with the experienced RICS surveyor who will actually be inspecting your property. We quote and book each job personally, discussing your specific needs right from the start.
That direct, personal communication continues throughout the entire process. We promise that your property will be the only property we see that day, giving us the unhurried time needed to carry out a thorough inspection and provide immediate verbal feedback on the day of the inspection. We appreciate that once you have found a home, you are often under pressure to make a quick decision, and our verbal feedback is often enough to give you the initial confidence to proceed.
Following the visit, we are proud not to offer rushed 24-hour turnaround times. Instead, we take the time, usually 5 to 7 working days, to carefully compile a detailed, tailored report. Of course, if a fast turnaround is required for your purchase, we can always prioritise your report as needed.
While we always recommend reading and digesting the written report and sharing it with your legal adviser prior to completion, we remain on hand after the survey to talk through the findings and answer any questions you might have.
Does the survey include a valuation and reinstatement costs?
A valuation can be added to the survey at a small extra cost and will also include the reinstatement cost of the property for insurance purposes.
How the process works
Contact us via telephone or email, or use our online form, for a quote. All we need is the property address and your contact details.
If you would like to proceed then we send out our terms to be signed. At this point you also have the chance to mention any specific concerns about the property, or anything you may like us to pay particular attention to, such as cracking to walls, or possible future extension/conversion plans.
We then liaise directly with the estate agent or vendor to arrange the earliest time for an inspection and provide you with a date.
Once the inspection has been carried out, which for most properties takes around 3 to 4 hours, we will call you the same day to give you verbal feedback and answer any questions. This usually takes around 30 – 40 minutes.
We then write up the report and send it to you in PDF format for speed and convenience, (bound copies can be made on request) which you can then read, before forwarding to your conveyancer.
We are of course available after this to answer any further questions or discuss specific elements highlighted in the report.
How much will it cost?
A Level 2 Home Survey costs around £750 (VAT not applicable) - however you may pay between £500 and £1,000. The cost will vary depending on the value of the property, and age and type. A valuation and reinstatement cost alongside the survey report will usually cost a further £60 - £80 (VAT not applicable).
