INDEPENDENT ARTICLES, CLEAR INSIGHTS, STRAIGHTFORWARD ADVICE FOR INFORMED PROPERTY DECISIONS.
Helping you understand retrospective valuations
A retrospective valuation is a professional opinion of a property’s value at a past date, not today. It’s used when you need a defensible figure for a specific historical point in time—often because a legal, tax, or financial event happened on that date. A...
Getting to grips with probate valuations
A probate valuation is a professional assessment of a property’s value for estate administration after someone has died. It’s commonly needed because the property value can affect: Inheritance Tax (IHT) calculations how the estate is reported and administered fairness...
Will I Be Able To Review The Party Wall Award Before It Is Served?
It is a common expectation that an owner will be able to “sign off” a Party Wall Award before it is issued. In practice, many owners do have an opportunity to comment on key points in advance, particularly where two surveyors are involved. However, it is important to...
Working With Party Wall Surveyors To Get The Best Results
A party wall process runs best when surveyors have the right information, neighbours feel informed, and the build team understands the Award. The goal isn’t just “getting an Award”—it’s keeping your project moving while protecting both properties and reducing the...
Will a Level 3 Survey advise on property movement?
Yes — a Level 3 Survey will advise on property movement, and it’s one of the key reasons many buyers choose Level 3 in the first place. Movement can be benign (historic settlement that has stabilised) or serious (progressive movement linked to foundations, drainage,...
Will a Level 2 Survey find defects?
Yes — a Level 2 Survey (typically the RICS Home Survey – Level 2) is specifically designed to identify and report defects, but with an important caveat: it mainly finds significant visible defects that are apparent at the time of inspection and within accessible...
Will a Level 2 Survey check for subsidence?
Yes — a Level 2 Survey (typically the RICS Home Survey – Level 2) will look for signs of movement that could indicate subsidence and will report on what’s seen during a more extensive visual inspection of the building, services and grounds. What it won’t usually do is...
Will a Level 2 Survey check for damp?
Yes. A Level 2 Survey (typically the RICS Home Survey – Level 2) will check for signs of damp as part of the inspection, and the surveyor will usually use basic inspection equipment—RICS specifically notes the surveyor uses equipment such as a damp meter as part of...
Why Are There Three Party Wall Surveyors Involved?
It can look confusing at first: you appoint a surveyor, your neighbour appoints a surveyor—and then you hear there’s a third surveyor as well. In most party wall matters, there are not three surveyors actively working day-to-day. The “third surveyor” is best...