Do I need a Level 2 Home Survey or a Level 3 Building Survey in Yeovil?
The type of survey you require depends entirely on the age, size, and general condition of the property you are purchasing. Use the comparison below to determine which RICS inspection is right for your transaction:
Inspection Detail | RICS Level 2 Home Survey (formerly HomeBuyer Report) | RICS Level 3 Home Survey (formerly Full Structural Survey) |
|---|---|---|
Inspection Best Suited For | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Conventional, modern properties (built post-1990) of standard construction. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Older, historic, or large properties, or those of non-standard construction. |
Inspection Property Condition | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Homes appearing to be in a reasonable, well-maintained state. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Homes that are noticeably dilapidated or have been extensively altered. |
Inspection Depth of Inspection | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Surface-level visual inspection of accessible areas to highlight major faults. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey In-depth analysis of the property's structure, fabric, and integrity. |
Inspection Future Plans | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Buyers looking for a general overview before moving in. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Buyers planning significant structural renovations or extensions. |
Inspection Advice Provided | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Highlights urgent defects that may affect the property's value. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Detailed advice on defects, repair options, and ongoing maintenance consequences. |
Local Property Characteristics in Yeovil
Properties built in this area have certain standard characteristics which dictate what type of survey you'll need for your property. Here is a table of different factors that could affect your property and require further investigation by your RICS surveyor:
Characteristic/Risk | Details |
|---|---|
Japanese Knotweed Risk: | Check the Environet heatmap to confirm. Source: Environment Agency & Environet UK Heatmap Data |
Listed Buildings: (Such as Grade I, Grade II*, and Grade II in Yeovil) | There are circa 1 to 20 listed buildings in the local area. Note: Estimated based on the location's common property types and proximity from the data at Historic England. Your actual property may have a different characteristic or risk. Source: Historic England |
Ground Stability: Flags a risk for subsidence. | This area is generally considered low risk for ground stability issues. Source: The British Geological Survey (BGS) |
Yeovil Specific Property Info |
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Expert Tip: Investigate Historic Coal Mining Risks
Properties in Yeovil are located within known coal mining areas, which can lead to hidden structural movement or ground subsidence over time.
Your RICS surveyor will look for historical cracking or leaning, and you can find full historical data in a specialised Coal Mining Search purchased during the conveyancing process.
Izuka Francis-Soligbo AssocRICS
RICS Associate, RICS Registered Valuer
Local Building Survey Yeovil
Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Bournemouth, Bridgwater, Taunton, Frome, Dorchester, New Forest and Weymouth.
We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in Yeovil. Whether you are buying an old run down 'doer upper' or standard construction freehold house, our RICS surveyors have seen them all.
With a vast number of years of experience completing building surveys on properties in Yeovil we'll be able to give you the detailed Yeovil HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.
Defects flagged in a Yeovil Home Buyers Survey
Local Tip: Subsidence
One of our clients recently bought a Local Authority Search for a property in Fosse Park Road, Yeovil BA20 2FW which revealed that plans had been lodged in 2015 for the erection of 6 apartments with associated parking, landscaping and communal gardens, all within the vicinity of the property. Under Building Regulations, there was an NICEIC record for a full electrical rewire and a Gas Safe record for installation of a gas fired boiler.
Planning applications lodged can give you as a prospective purchaser of a property an idea of possible threats to your enjoyment of a property should a plan or plans go ahead. Building control records can reassure that work done has been done properly - such as an electrical rewire - however they can also flag up matters if the property has been developed but there are no corresponding building control sign-offs.
In sum, this is why this conveyancing property search is so important and why lenders insist on its purchase if you're a mortgage buyer. Depending on the report's contents, your solicitor might wish to raise further enquiries so you are more informed about the dwelling you're thinking of buying.
Local Tip: Damp
As a parishioner you can actually face a claim from your local parish church for chancel repair, which is where the local church, due to ancient statutes, can claim on parishioners to share the costs of making repairs or refurbishments to the church chancel/church roof and where these occur, they can be fairly costly, with individual households possibly being legally required to pay £1,000s.
Buying a chancel repair indemnity insurance policy for a property you're looking to buy is an easy and efficient way of protecting yourself against this possible eventuality and among many others, one such policy was taken out for a property in Eliotts Drive, Yeovil, BA21 3NN. This policy generally costs around £20 to buy and normally covers the policy holder for claims to the limit of £1 million. One other approach is to get a Chancel Search, which reveals if the property you're looking to buy is in a parish where your local church can make such a legitimate claim on you.
Local Tip: Asbestos
If you're buying a relatively modern property of standard construction and normal size in Yeovil's area, you're always advised to get a RICS Level II Survey - known as a HomeBuyer Report – because of its importance in flagging up suspicions of serious property defects.
Your RICS surveyor not only assesses the visible areas of the dwelling from top to bottom but also, in the report, makes invaluable recommendations either to correct potential faults or keep a property maintained.
In a recent such report taken out for a property in West Camel Farm, West Camel BA22 7HH, near Yeovil, recommended that any buyer should ask a roofer to quote for redressing and repointing lead flashings to prevent water ingress and further deterioration and that the downpipe on the garage be connected to the gutter spigot to prevent leaks.
Why Choose SAM Conveyancing for your Home Survey?
In helping over 15,339 survey clients since 2014, we've learned a lot about surveys in Yeovil using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your Yeovil surveyor will be local to your property, so whether you're worried about subsidence, damp, infestations, extensions, or even just for peace of mind, we've got you covered.
Our HomeBuyers Survey costs are fixed and competitive, as you'll see from all our Excellent reviews on Trustpilot. This means you don't have to break the bank to get a full health check on your new home. Get a Home Buyer Survey Quote today, or if you're not sure which survey to choose and want to know the difference between a Level 2 Home Survey and a Level 3 Building Survey, then give us a cal,l and we'll happily tell you what you need - 0333 344 3234 (local call charges apply).
What defects are flagged in a Homebuyer's Survey?
Cracks are inspected and in the report will confirm if you need a structural engineer as there are signs of historical or current movement.
The RICS surveyor will use a moisture meter in the rooms and report any high levels along with any mould or damp causing damage to the walls/windows.
The wooden door frames and windows will be inspected for rotting and wood worm.
The surveyor looks for signs of infestations through droppings, damage to piping/flooring and in some cases finding where the nest is.
The surveyor will check the grounds of the property and, where possible, check over the fences to neighbouring plots to identify if there is a risk of Japanese knotweed.
The surveyor lifts up accessible man hole covers to check if the drains are blocked. You may need to get your drains inspected with CCTV.
The surveyor will enter into the roof/loft space if there is a safe and accessible ladder. They'll look for insulation, signs of leaking and and damage.
Download an Example Level 2 and Level 3 Home Survey
Property Survey FAQs for Yeovil
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RICS Level 2 Home Survey with a Valuation
A RICS Level 2 Home Survey, which used to be called the HomeBuyer Report or a Home Buyer Survey, is generally suitable for:
- Bungalows
- Flats
- Standard construction houses
The majority of Yeovil's leasehold flats require only a RICS HomeBuyer Report but for any Victorian conversions, a Building Survey may well be required.
RICS Level 3 Building Survey
A Level 3 Home Survey, also known as a Building Survey or a full structural, is the most comprehensive visual inspection a RICS surveyor can provide on a property in Yeovil. It is suitable for:
- complex buildings, for example those that have been extensively extended and altered
- unique or older historic properties
- properties in poor condition; or
- those where the client is planning to carry out extensive repair and refurbishment work.
Speak to one of our team on 0333 344 3234 to find out if your property suits a RICS Building Survey, or read our article Which Home Buyers Survey suits your property .
