What is 'Building Surveying'?

Building surveying encompasses a wide range of property-related services. The chartered building surveyors at Purslows possess the expertise to assess and advise on all aspects of the built environment, including property inspections, project management and architectural design. We provide up-to-date guidance on matters such as building regulations and structural integrity, helping our clients to make informed decisions and achieve their property goals.

Residential Property Surveys

Surveying services for homeowners.

Exterior shot of an old country home with ornate windows and a scupture in the garden

RICS Level 3 building survey
Comprehensive report for property purchase, appropriate for any type of home, whatever its age or state of repair.
Defect report
Diagnosis of specific issues such as damp, cracking, or structural concerns.

Commercial Property Surveys

Schedules of dilapidations
Reports outlining tenant obligations for repair.
Schedules of condition
Documentation of property conditions before leasing.
Reinstatement cost assessments
Accurate insurance valuations.
Planned maintenance programmes
Long-term property maintenance strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

A RICS Level 3 Survey, often referred to as a Building Survey, gives a rounded and detailed view of a property’s condition. It involves a careful visual inspection of the building itself, the main services, and the surrounding grounds. It goes further than a Level 2 Survey and is suitable for virtually any type of home, whatever its age or general state of repair.

The inspection covers the structure and the key elements of the property, including:

The overall structural condition
Essential services such as plumbing, electrics, heating and drainage (checked in normal operation where possible)
External features such as windows, doors, roofs, and walls
Concealed or less accessible areas such as roof spaces, basements and cellars, provided they can be entered safely
Any signs of problems, including damp, rot or insect activity
Party walls and boundary structures

The report does more than describe defects. It also:

Explains the type of construction and the materials used
Comments on the significance of issues found and what might be causing them
Outlines the likely extent of remedial work and what could happen if repairs are delayed
Offers guidance on the priority and timing of any recommended work
Flags any risk of hidden defects in areas that could not be inspected

As part of our Level 3 service, we include indicative costings for repair work, giving clients a clearer idea of potential future expenditure.

The purpose of a Level 3 Survey is to equip clients with enough detail to make a confident decision about the property and to plan sensibly for maintenance or repair in the future.

It really depends on the property you’re buying and how much detail you want. A Level 1 report is the most basic and usually only suits newer homes in good order. A Level 2 report gives more detail, including advice on repairs, and is often used for fairly standard properties. A Level 3 survey is the most thorough and is suitable for all properties including older buildings, unusual designs, or houses that may need work. At Purslows we only carry out Level 3 surveys to ensure that our clients receive detailed advice regarding properties that they are intending to purchase.

Yes, Purslows has surveyors who specialise in surveys for historic and listed buildings.

What Our Clients Say

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and how much we appreciated your help and advice. You made the project so much more straightforward for us especially considering the additional work that was required with your attention to detail and clear explanations.

Residential Customer

I would recommend Purslows without hesitation and of course will do should occasion arise.

Residential Customer

I just wanted to say again how very grateful we are to you. The house is amazing. You are a brilliant and impressive project manager. You were very knowledgeable, efficient, sensible and hard working throughout the whole project

Residential Customer

Thank you for all your work on this. Your leadership and expertise to facilitate this feasibility study for this project is greatly appreciated. It has enthused us and encouraged us to continue to move forward to bring this project to a place where it can be realised.

Heritage Project

It has been a real pleasure working with you, and we are very grateful for all you have done to help us create our lovely home.

Residential Customer