Chartered Building Surveyor Blog | James Ross & Co Ltd

The Hidden Risks of Cheap Building Surveys

In most businesses, by careful advertising and product promotion, you can convince someone to purchase a product that they would not normally have bought in the normal course of events. The same is n... Read More

Do you really need a level 3 building survey?

Going back into the mists of time centuries ago, if you were purchasing a property, the facility to commission a Building Survey of any type was not possible. There were few professionals worki... Read More

Roof Inspection Guide for Homebuyers: What Main and Subsidiary Roof Surveys Should Cover

Inspecting the main and subsidiary roofs to a property is a vital part of any building survey. Not only is it important to determine the condition of the roof covering, whether it be slates, ti... Read More

A Guide to Period and Modern Windows: Maintenance, Pitfalls, and Replacement Costs

Unless you are buying a house three or four hundred years old, you are unlikely to have to deal with extremely old, hinged, single-glazed timber casements or the other window dating from that period,... Read More

Building Survey Case Study - Finding The Unexpected

Think you know what your surveyor needs to investigate during a survey? An experienced surveyor can spot some very unexpected - and expensive - problems.

Why a Home Survey Can Save You Money

Having a Building Survey or Homebuyer Report can save you money in the long run. Here are three situations in the past six months that demonstrate this.

Unsupported Chimney Stack? What You Need to Know

Surveys sometimes reveal chimney breasts that have been removed on lower floors, leaving unsupported chimney stacks above. Read about the dangers of insufficient structural support for chimney breasts.

Building Surveyor Glossary of Terms

Before you go ahead and purchase your new home, you’ll need to hire a building surveyor to identify any underlying issues with the property. After all, buying a home is always going to be a sub... Read More

Understanding Subsidence

One of the most serious issues a building surveyor may come across when inspecting a property is subsidence. If left untreated, it can affect not only the structural safety of your home, but its resa... Read More

Case Study - Surveying a Lower Ground Floor Flat in London NW6

Our survey alerted the prospective purchaser of this lower ground floor flat in London's NW6 area to penetrating dampness and rising dampness which might cost around £15,000 to put right.

Using a Building Survey Report to negotiate with a vendor

You’ve received your Building Survey Report and some expensive defects have come to light. What are your options? Can you re-negotiate the asking price with the vendor?