FAQS
For any detailed questions or clarification, please contact the team directly.
The RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) is responsible for the regulation of the surveying industry. Appointing an RICS-regulated Chartered Building Surveyor to undertake your building survey is essential. It is also just as important to find a reputable one. By using a surveyor that holds RICS status you can feel confident that you will receive expert, professional advice from a fully qualified and experienced individual that you can trust. RICS-regulated surveyors have to adhere to strict codes of conduct and high professional standards. All of our surveyors are RICS Chartered Building Surveyors and you can rest assured that they will be acting independently and in your best interests at all times.
Deciding whether a Full Building Survey or a Homebuyer's Report is right for you will depend on the house you are buying and your individual circumstances. For example if you are buying a fairly standard house in need of some attention our HomeBuyer’s Report could suit you well. However if you are buying a larger, older property or a house that has is unusual or has been altered, or if you intend to do building works to the house once you own it, then we would recommend our more comprehensive Full Building Survey.
We strongly recommend you call us to discuss your individual circumstances, once we know a bit more about the property you are intending to buy we will be able to give you advice on which survey will be best for you. Call us on: 0191 260 2222 or email: hello@silverstoneresidentialsurveys.com
We offer three types of surveys. An RICS HomeBuyer Report, an RICS Full Building Survey and a specific defect report.
An RICS HomeBuyer Report is our most basic form of report and is recommended by the RICS for houses that are “fairly standard and potentially in need of some attention”. Follow the link to find out more about our HomeBuyer’s Report.
The RICS Full Building Survey is our most comprehensive form of survey. It is a thorough inspection of the structure and fabric of the property and is recommended for a larger, older or run-down property, a building that is unusual or has been altered; or if you are planning to do major works once you own the property. Follow the link to find out more about our Full Building Survey.
Whether you already own or are looking to buy a property that has a specific defect such as damp ingress, a leaking roof or structural cracking in the walls and you just want a surveyor to look at specified elements we can assist you. We can prepare a targeted report to provide our recommendations on remedial works.
Once the physical survey is complete we will get the completed report to you within five working days. We will try to accommodate a quicker turnaround if required.
The cost depends on the type of residential survey required and also a number of other factors including the size and age of the property. Please contact us to discuss your individual requirements and once we have some more information about the property you are buying we will be able to give you a free no obligation fixed quote. You can call us on: 0191 260 2222 or email us: hello@silverstoneresidentialsurveys.com
We carry out residential building surveys across the whole of the North East region including; Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, Durham and Tees Valley. We do travel further afield though and have completed surveys in London, the North West and the midlands.
Here are our top 5 reasons to choose Silverstone Residential Surveys for your next house purchase:
- We are an established team of qualified Building Surveyors (MRICS & AssocRICS) with over 60 years’ combined building surveying experience. This provides an exceptional level of service that is professional and tailored to your individual needs
- We are regulated by the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) and adhere to its strict code of conduct and high professional standards.
- We are independently owned, which means we have no ties or associations to any estate agent, bank or any other party, we will give you non-conflicting advice written exclusively for your benefit.
- We constantly invest in the most up to date technology to improve our surveys. We use iPads with specific software, digital dictation, high quality cameras, the highest quality moisture meters, thermographic cameras, laser measurement devices, and drones wherever possible. This investment provides you with the best possible survey and it sets us apart from other firms.
- Our advice is clear and jargon-free and delivered in a way that is easy to understand and within your required timescales.
Take a look at our testimonials page to see what some of our customers say about our services.
Budget costs are only provided in the RICS Full Building Survey Report. This is our most comprehensive form of survey and is the only one that provides you with a full picture of what you are buying, as well as our professional opinion as to what additional costs you might have to pay out after purchasing the house.
We offer two types of survey - either a Homebuyer's report or a full building survey. A Homebuyer's report will provide certain information about the property which will help you to make an informed decision. A Homebuyer's report is not, however as comprehensive as a full building survey and is therefore not appropriate for all property types.
We can provide advice on which type of survey will be most suitable for you and your particular circumstances. Please contact a member of the team on 0191 260 2222 or 0191 384 6000 to find out more.
A surveyor looks for defects in the construction or the materials that could cause problems with the property in the future. A surveyor will look at symptoms of potential defects which are often hidden, e.g. a brown stain on a ceiling tile is a symptom of a roof defect.
This depends on the size and age of the property and the number of issues identified. It would take a minimum of 1 hour and usually no more than 4 hours.
As early as possible in the purchase process. The survey may identify defects and future maintenance costs that can be used to re-negotiate the purchase price or even affect your decision to proceed with the purchase at all.
A bank valuation is not a survey. It is a report that allows the lender to make sure that they will get their money back and they are not lending more than the property is worth. A bank valuer acts only in the interests of the bank and not the person borrowing the money/buying the house.
A bank valuation will not provide any information on the state and condition of the property nor would it give you any comments on ongoing or future maintenance costs.
We would recommend a survey for any property including new builds. We can give an independent view on the quality of design, materials used and workmanship and any defects that might arise as a result of that. We can also assist with the snagging process following completion of the building process.
No. Silverstone will liaise with the estate agents or if there isn't an agent, with the owner directly to arrange access for the survey. We will keep you updated throughout the process.
Yes, we do offer this as an additional service if you wish as an 'up-close' survey of the roofs, chimneys and gutters is only possible using a drone. Due to some restrictions the drone cannot be used in every situation. We can give more advice on this once we have further information on the property we are inspecting.
Yes, wherever possible we do use a thermographic camera in our surveys. Our investment in the very best and up to date technology to identify potential defects sets us apart from other firms. This allows us to spot some 'hidden' defects such as cold spots in underfloor heating systems and missing wall and roof insulation. Best of all, there is no additional charge to you.