FAQs

What are your fees?

The size, age, and value of the property, as well as the level of survey you require, determine the fee for the survey. Call or email our friendly team for a quote specific to your needs.

How do I pay?

Once your survey has been booked in with one of our surveyors, you can pay by bank transfer or by card over the phone.

How do I book my survey?

Call our friendly team or complete the enquiry form on our contact us page, and our team will organise the survey with the selling agent and one of our RICS qualified surveyors. You will receive confirmation of the date of the survey once it has been booked.

How will I receive my report?

Once your report has been completed, it will be sent to you via email.

When will I receive my report?

Valuation reports are normally available with 3 working days, Level 2 survey reports are normally available within 5–7 working days, and Level 3 survey reports are normally available within 7–10 working days. Although uncommon, delays to these timescales can occur for reports on complex properties, for example a large Listed building with multiple issues.

How long does a survey take?

The time a survey takes depends on the type of survey, as well as the age, size, and characteristics of the subject property. Usually, our surveyors are at the property for between 1.5 and 4 hours.

Will the surveyor be RICS qualified?

All of our surveyors are RICS qualified and have a wealth of experience in the property industry.

Does the survey include photographs?

Our Level 1 Survey and Level 3 Survey include photographs of various parts and characteristics of the property as part of the report, but the Level 2 Survey and Valuation reports do not.

Do I need a valuation?

When you take out a mortgage, the lender typically carries out their own valuation of the property. If you are not taking out a mortgage and, thus, no valuation has been carried out, you may wish to ask Fuller Surveyors to provide an independent valuation for you.

Does the survey include a valuation and insurance reinstatement assessment?

The Level 1 Survey does not include a valuation. You can request a valuation and insurance reinstatement assessment with the Level 2 Survey (RICS Home Survey Level 2 Survey + Valuation), or with the Level 3 Survey for an additional fee.

What is a reinstatement cost?

The reinstatement cost of a property is how much it would cost to completely rebuild the property from scratch to its condition prior to the incident. It is not the same as the value of the property, and this value also covers the cost of materials and labour.

There are specific elements I would like the surveyor to look at and consider. How should I go about this?

If you have any specific queries or concerns that you would like to communicate to the surveyor, please speak to our team about this when you book your survey with us.

Will you test the electrics, gas, heating, and drains during the survey?

Surveyors are not qualified to test the electrics, gas, heating, or drains during their inspections, and sometimes, parts of these services may be inaccessible. However, the surveyor will carry out a visual inspection of these services to identify any obvious issues.

Will the surveyor check for asbestos?

Our surveyors will highlight areas of the property that may be likely to contain asbestos based on their age and characteristics. However, you will understand that we are not asbestos specialists, so we are not qualified to provide detailed comments on the presence or absence of asbestos in our reports.

Will the surveyor lift floor coverings and move furniture?

For health and safety reasons and to avoid causing any damage to the property, our surveyors will not move any furniture or lift the floor coverings during the inspection. They will carry out their inspection based on what can reasonably be seen in the property without doing so. Where floor coverings, furniture, or stored items have limited their ability to inspect certain areas of the property, this will be highlighted in the report.

Do I need to be at the survey?

You are not required to attend the inspection.

What can I do to the property that is listed?

You should ask your legal adviser to confirm this and explain the implications of owning a building that is of ‘architectural or historic interest’. Typical issues include having to get permission from the relevant authority before you repair, alter or renovate the property and having to use traditional building materials and experienced contractors. Please bear in mind unauthorised works to a listed building are a criminal offence and continue in perpetuity, transferred to a new owner.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/what-is-designation/listed-buildings/#HowItAffectsMe

What is Japanese knotweed?

Japanese knotweed is the most common of 4 invasive knotweed plant species in the UK.

These include the following:

• Japanese knotweed
• Dwarf knotweed
• Giant knotweed
• Bohemian (hybrid) knotweed

Although you do not have a legal obligation to remove Japanese knotweed from your land unless it’s causing a nuisance, you must stop it from spreading off your property, as you can be prosecuted for causing it to spread into the wild. Companies exist that specialise in treating knotweed.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading

What is subsidence?

Subsidence is instability in the ground beneath the property, which causes structural damage. It can be detected by new or expanding cracks in plasterwork and brickwork, doors and windows becoming stuck, or rippling wallpaper that isn’t a result of damp. A surveyor can identify structural problems in the property and advise on the best course of action.

https://www.ricsfirms.com/residential/maintenance/structural/rics-consumer-guide-
subsidence/