Hamlin Iles and Crago, Chartered Building Surveyors

Commercial building surveys:
As with buying a home, you
should have a full building survey for new commercial premises …

Find out more >

Useful links

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Ordnance Survey

British Geological Survey (BGS)

Building Research Establishment

National House Building Council

Building Standards Institution (BSI)

Hamlin Iles and Crago
Todd House
The Street
West Clandon
Surrey
GU4 7TG

Telephone 01483 211144
Fax 01483 210105
Email us

Download our brochure
(PDF 364Kb)

Choosing between residential surveys

There are four main types of pre-purchase survey for residential property:

  1. A valuation carried out on behalf of a mortgage lender. This is to determine the amount and terms of a mortgage offer. It is not a survey and the inspection is limited. Purchasers should not just rely on the information provided by a valuation. Hamlin Iles and Crago do not undertake valuations.
            If you are taking a mortgage – and may be paying for a mortgage valuation report – it is still advisable and prudent to arrange a survey by your own Surveyor. Both the consumers’ Association Which? magazine and the Council of Mortgage Lenders give this advice. The reason is simple: the mortgage valuation report is prepared for the lender – not for you, the borrower. It answers only the lender’s questions about the appropriate security for the loan. You cannot rely on it to answer the questions which concern your personal interests
  2. Building surveys are comprehensive inspections and reports and are carried out by Hamlin Iles and Crago. We are specialist building surveyors and provide an in-depth report on our detailed inspection on all accessible parts of the property. We pride ourselves on high client satisfaction and our surveys are tailor-made to suit client’s individual needs and concerns. As specialist Chartered Building Surveyors, we do not offer valuations (except for rebuilding cost assessments for insurance purposes, if required). Our advice will be independent, professional and impartial.
            Building surveys are a bespoke service suitable for all residential properties and provide a full, detailed picture of their construction and condition. They are particularly suited to properties that are unusual in construction, dilapidated or have been extensively altered, or where a major conversion or renovation is planned. Our reports include extensive technical information on material and construction, as well as details of the whole range of defects, major to minor, with illustrative photographs
  3. The Homebuyer Survey and Valuation is a standard format and designed specifically as an economical service. It is intended only for particular types of conventional properties in reasonable condition. It only focuses on essentials. This is not a detailed survey. It is not suitable for properties built before 1900, those in need of renovation or those the purchaser is planning to extend. Hamlin Iles and Crago do not undertake Homebuyer reports.
  4. Vendor’s report or seller’s pack home condition reports: due to absolute independence and our belief that our clients, as perspective purchasers, will require a more complete survey prepared by specialists, we will not become home inspectors and undertake these reports.