Here’s a solid, no-nonsense way to compare party wall surveyor quotes so you’re comparing like-for-like, not just the cheapest headline number.
1) First, work out what you’re actually comparing
Two quotes can look similar but include totally different scope. Before you compare prices, standardise the job:
- What works are you doing? (extension / loft / steels / chimney removal / excavation / basement)
- How many adjoining owners are affected? (one neighbour vs multiple flats = big fee impact)
- Is it likely to be consent or a dissent/Award?
- Do you want to push for an Agreed Surveyor route (one surveyor), or do you expect two surveyors?
If you don’t set these assumptions, quotes can be misleading by design.
2) Ask every surveyor to quote for the same 3 scenarios
This is the single best way to compare properly.
Scenario A — Neighbour consents (no Award)
- What is your fee to advise + prepare/serve notices (if included)?
Scenario B — Neighbour dissents but agrees to an Agreed Surveyor (one surveyor)
- Total estimated fee to: inspect, schedule of condition, draft/serve Award, and post-works inspection.
Scenario C — Neighbour dissents and appoints their own surveyor (two surveyors)
- Your fees plus your estimate of the adjoining owner’s surveyor fees (since you often end up paying both in typical cases).
A quote that looks “cheap” may only be pricing Scenario A, while another is pricing Scenario C.
3) Compare scope line-by-line (what’s included)
Use this checklist and insist on “Included / Not included / Extra cost” for each item:
Notices
- Advice on whether the Act applies
- Preparing the correct notice(s)
- Serving notices (post/hand/email) and proof of service
- Follow-up letters if no response
- Updating notices if your design changes
Inspections & Schedule of Condition
- Pre-works inspection included?
- Schedule of Condition included (with photos)?
- How thorough: one visit or multiple rooms/specific areas?
- Are photo attachments included in the fee?
Award (if needed)
- Drafting the Party Wall Award included?
- Negotiation time with the neighbour / other surveyor included?
- Serving the Award included?
- Handling contractor method statements / engineer details included?
During & after works
- Interim inspections included (if cracking concerns arise)?
- Post-works inspection included?
- Damage assessment and making-good process included?
Extras & disbursements
- Printing/postage/admin charges
- Travel time/costs
- Specialist monitoring (crack gauges, vibration monitoring) – who supplies and who pays?
- Third surveyor involvement (rare, but can be a cost)
If any of these are excluded, the “cheap” quote can become the expensive one.
4) Understand the fee structure (fixed vs hourly) properly
If it’s a fixed fee, ask:
- What exactly is covered by the fixed fee?
- What triggers extra charges?
- Does it include Award + Schedule of Condition + post inspection?
- Is there a limit on revisions/letters/calls?
If it’s hourly, ask:
- Hourly rate (and whether it differs for admin vs surveyor time)
- Minimum billing increments (e.g., 15 mins, 30 mins, 1 hour)
- Whether they bill for phone calls/emails
- Whether travel time is chargeable
- A realistic time estimate for your scenario (and a range)
Best practice: ask for an estimated fee range and a cap (or at least “notify me before exceeding £X”).
5) Confirm VAT and payment terms (people get caught here)
Always check:
- Are fees quoted + VAT or inc VAT?
- When is payment due? (on appointment, on serving Award, staged?)
- Are there cancellation/abortive fees if the neighbour consents late or plans change?
6) Compare speed and communication (it affects cost and stress)
A surveyor who is slow or unclear often creates:
- more neighbour anxiety,
- more emails/letters,
- longer negotiations,
- higher total fees.
So compare:
- Typical response time to emails/calls
- How quickly they can inspect
- Typical timeline from dissent to Award for similar projects
- Will you deal with a named person or a “team inbox”?
7) Ask for proof of quality (without overcomplicating it)
You’re looking for practical competence, not marketing.
8) Red flags when comparing quotes
- Vague wording like “Award as required” with no inclusions list
- “We can guarantee your neighbour will agree” (nobody can)
- No clarity on hourly increments, travel, admin charges
- Slow replies while quoting (it won’t improve once appointed)
A simple scoring method (fast and effective)
Score each surveyor 1–5 on:
- Scope completeness (does it include what you actually need?)
- Cost transparency (clear inclusions/exclusions, VAT, extras)
- Project fit (experience with your type of work)
- Communication (speed, clarity, tone)
- Process control (fee cap, timelines, how they handle non-response)
The “best value” is usually the most transparent quote with the best process—not the lowest number.
If you want, I can help you compare your actual quotes
Email mail@howorth.uk with:
- the quotes (PDFs or pasted text),
- your project type (extension/loft/basement),
- property type (terrace/semi/flat),
- and whether the neighbour is likely to consent.
We can quickly tell you what’s missing, what’s inflated, and which quote is genuinely best value.