Guides · Buying a house
Buying a house, explained.
Surveys, viewings, and what a report is really telling you.
Buying a house · 5
Read before you book.
House survey cost: what you pay, and what you actually get
Typical prices for RICS Level 1, 2 and 3 reports, why a mortgage valuation is not a survey, and how to decide which one a property needs.
ReadLevel 2 vs Level 3 survey: which one does this house need?
A practical test based on the age, construction and condition of the property, rather than on your budget or the estate agent's suggestion.
ReadWhat to look for when viewing a house
The things worth twenty minutes of a second viewing, in the order a professional would look at them, and the ones that genuinely do not matter.
ReadHouse viewing checklist: what to take, and what to check
A room-by-room checklist you can work through on a second viewing, with the four things worth taking with you.
ReadSnagging a new build: what it is, when to do it, what it costs
Why a new build still needs inspecting, the difference between snags and defects, and how the warranty period actually works.
ReadThe Service Behind the Guides
Buyer risk reports.
The guides explain it. The service page says what we record, what you get, and what it costs.
Other Categories
EPCs & energy
Ratings, the law, and what actually moves a D to a C.
8 guidesInspections
Intervals, notice, HMOs and empty property.
5 guidesDeposits & tenancies
Inventories, wear and tear, and how disputes are decided.
6 guidesCommercial leases
Schedules of condition and dilapidations, explained plainly.
4 guides