Every old building is different, so we quote for each survey individually. Below is what our surveys cost, what you get for the fee, and why a specialist survey of an old building takes longer than a standard report. We are not the cheapest – and we explain why.
Typical fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Timber & damp survey | From £1,200, depending on location |
| Telephone consultation | £250 |
| Listed building survey | Fixed quote for your building |
| Timber-framed building survey | Fixed quote for your building |
| Old & period property survey | Fixed quote for your building |
| Drone survey | Fixed quote for your building |
What’s included in the fee
- A full day on site, recording the building and its defects.
- One to three days on the report, analysing up to 200 photographs.
- Research for listed buildings: the listing itself, previous planning applications and other relevant records – up to another day.
- Proper moisture measurement with around £10,000 of equipment: thermal imaging cameras, thermo-hygrometers, carbide testing, pole cameras and drones.
- A detailed report, often 50 to 60 pages or more, written for your building with no cut-and-paste.
- An indication of repair costs, based on extensive practical experience of repairing old buildings.
- All the above, done by an Expert, Experienced professional with many years of hard earned experience working with old properties. Experience counts – not academic qualifications.
How we compare with RICS
| A typical low-cost survey | A Heritage House survey | |
|---|---|---|
| Time spent | Often surveyed and written up the same day | A day on site, plus one to three days on the report |
| Moisture | A handheld “damp meter” A few meaningless damp meter readings. | Thermal imaging, thermo-hygrometers and carbide testing Fully documented moisture history |
| Listed building history | Usually left for your conveyancer to check | The listing and planning history researched for you |
| The report | Many caveats: “we couldn’t lift this, we couldn’t reach that” | 50 to 60+ pages specific to your building |
| Repair costs | Rarely given | An indication based on practical experience |
See the full comparison with a RICS survey →
Why a cheaper survey can cost more
A RICS survey quoted at around £900 simply can’t cover a day on site and several days of analysis. Much of our expert witness work involves buyers whose low-cost survey missed serious problems with an old building.
In one recent case, a timber-framed manor house worth around a million pounds was surveyed by a conservation-accredited surveyor who missed structural problems with the frame – problems visible from the road. The owner is now claiming nearly £400,000.
They were not the cheapest, but they were certainly competitive. In the long run, it has actually saved us money… so worth the slightly higher cost!
Sarah
Full building survey, Grade II listed Georgian house, Worcestershire
Get a fixed quote for your building
Send us the address and the estate agent’s listing link, and we’ll confirm the right survey, the fee and a date. Or call head office on 01746 862 640.