RICS-qualified surveyors, detailed property reports
Our surveyors carry out detailed building inspections across Exeter, where the market includes terraces, detached homes and flats in the same postcode area. home.co.uk records show an average asking price of £378,790 in May 2026, while homedata.co.uk records show an average sold price of £336,000 across the Exeter postcode area between April 2025 and March 2026.
In a market with 7,100 property sales in the previous 12 months, and only 209 newly built homes making up 3.0% of those sales, many buyers are still taking on older fabric, later alterations and hidden maintenance. Our building survey team looks past decoration and focuses on the parts that matter most, from the roof space to the drains, so you can see the real condition before you commit.
£378,790
Average asking price (May 2026, home.co.uk)
£336,000
Average sold price (Apr 2025-Mar 2026, homedata.co.uk)
7,100
Sales in the last 12 months (homedata.co.uk)
209 properties, 3.0%
Newly built sales (Apr 2025-Mar 2026, homedata.co.uk)
4% decline, £15,000
12-month sold price change (homedata.co.uk)
33.9%
Detached sales share (homedata.co.uk)
31.7%
Terraced sales share (homedata.co.uk)
21.5%
Semi-detached sales share (homedata.co.uk)
12.9%
Flat sales share (homedata.co.uk)
Using listing data from home.co.uk and property data from homedata.co.uk
A building survey is the deepest inspection level we offer for a home purchase. Our surveyors inspect the visible fabric of the property, which means the roof structure, roof coverings, walls, floors, ceilings, windows, chimneys, rainwater goods, drainage, and any accessible loft or subfloor spaces. We also note signs of movement, damp, timber decay, poor alteration work and maintenance that has been left too long.
Exeter's sales mix gives us a strong clue about what we are likely to see on site. homedata.co.uk records show 33.9% of sales were detached homes and 31.7% were terraced homes in the previous 12 months, so our building survey team regularly deals with both larger plots and tighter urban layouts. That mix can hide very different problems, from roof spread in a bigger house to patch repairs, altered layouts and damp entry points in a terrace.
The report does not stop at the obvious defects. We check accessible service runs, look for irregular floor levels, examine retaining walls and boundary features where they affect the structure, and flag anything that needs a specialist opinion. If the property has a cellar, flat roof, lean-to extension or converted loft, those areas get extra attention because they are often where leaks, condensation and previous bodges show up first.
Rather than rely on a town-wide figure, we check the specifics for your exact address. We judge each building on what we can see and test on the day. That matters in Exeter because the same postcode area includes 7,100 sales in a year, with homes that range from compact flats to larger detached plots, and each type carries a different set of risks.
Mixed housing stock calls for a careful eye. homedata.co.uk records show terraced homes made up 31.7% of sales and detached homes 33.9% in the Exeter postcode area between April 2025 and March 2026, which tells us the local market is not built around one house type. A terrace can hide older drainage runs, sealed fireplaces and patchy roof work, while a detached house can come with extensions, outbuildings and heavier maintenance around the envelope. Our surveyors inspect those details because they are where expensive repairs begin.
Price data also helps buyers think clearly. home.co.uk records show an average asking price of £378,790 in May 2026, while the average sold price across the Exeter postcode area stood at £336,000 over the 12 months to March 2026, down by 4% or £15,000. That gap does not tell the whole story, but it does show why a thorough inspection matters before the final offer is settled. A building survey puts repair cost, condition and urgency into plain language, so the purchase decision is based on evidence rather than optimism.
In Exeter, the issues we uncover are often the kind that sit behind fresh paint or a neat viewing presentation. With 7,100 sales recorded in the last 12 months and 209 newly built homes in the same period, our surveyors spend a lot of time looking at older fabric, later alterations and incremental repairs. That is where slipped tiles, failing mortar, blocked gutters, weak seals and hidden damp usually start.
A mixed stock area can produce a mixed defect list. On one property we may find roof issues, timber decay around a leaking valley or worn flashing around a chimney, while another may show outdated electrics, ageing plumbing or signs of condensation in a loft conversion. If the walls, floors or boundaries tell us there is a problem, we say so plainly.
We also look hard at the areas sellers tend to overlook. Flat roofs, rear extensions, bay windows, soffits, parapets, retaining walls and drainage runs can all reveal older water ingress or poor workmanship. Exeter's sales data shows 12.9% of transactions were flats and 21.5% were semi-detached homes, so our surveyors regularly inspect homes with shared walls, extensions and altered rooflines where hidden defects often cluster.
Choose the property and the instruction is passed to our building survey team, which then matches the job with a surveyor used to older, altered and mixed stock in Exeter.
We review the property details, age, type and any known issues before the visit, so the inspection can focus on the parts most likely to affect cost and risk.
Our surveyor spends around 3-4 hours at the property, where access allows, checking roofs, walls, floors, damp signs, timber, drainage and visible services.
We write up the findings in clear English, add condition ratings, explain the seriousness of each defect and set out what needs immediate action, further investigation or routine attention.
You usually receive the final report within 5-10 working days, depending on the property size, complexity and any extra checks we need to make.
After the report lands, we can talk through the findings so you know which points are negotiation items, which need a builder, and which call for a specialist report.
The report is written to help you make a decision, not to drown you in jargon. We set out the condition of each part of the property, explain why a defect matters and assign a condition rating so the most serious issues stand out fast. Photographs, practical notes and repair priorities are all included, because a buyer needs a clear picture rather than a long list of loosely connected observations.
Condition ratings matter. A rating of 1 means no urgent repair is expected, a rating of 2 points to defects that need attention, and a rating of 3 flags serious problems that should be dealt with quickly. When our surveyors see evidence of cracking, damp penetration, roof failure or signs of structural movement, we explain the likely cause and say whether a specialist opinion is sensible. In the Exeter postcode area, where homedata.co.uk records show an average sold price of £336,000 and a 4% fall over the last 12 months, facts like these can carry real weight during a purchase decision.
A good report also helps you plan the next move. If the survey shows failing pointing, worn flat roof coverings, unsafe electrics or ageing pipework, you can ask for quotes, revisit the offer or budget for work after completion. Our surveyors often recommend follow-up from a damp and timber specialist, a structural engineer or a drainage contractor when the issue sits outside the scope of a visual inspection. That way, the next step is based on evidence rather than guesswork.
A building survey is the right choice for many homes in Exeter, especially where age, alteration or visible defects are part of the picture. Even though 209 homes in the Exeter postcode area were newly built in the last 12 months, the wider market still contains a large amount of older stock, and that is where inspection depth matters most. Homes built before 1930, listed buildings, timber-framed properties, thatched roofs, and non-standard construction all deserve a close look.
Visible cracking, patch repairs, damp staining, sloping floors or a long chain of past alterations are also good reasons to choose this survey level. We often see buyers ask for a building survey when a property has a loft conversion, a rear extension or a history of reworking rooms without clear paperwork. Those features are common in markets with 31.7% terraced sales and 33.9% detached sales, because both house types often carry changes made over time.
A new build does not automatically mean a detailed inspection is unnecessary. Where a house is a conversion, has a non-standard roof, or shows finishing defects, a building survey can still pick up the issues that a lender's basic check will miss. If the property is straightforward and only a light review is needed, a different survey may suit better, but anything older, modified or visibly troubled deserves the fuller report.
Our surveyors inspect the visible structure and fabric of the home, including the roof, walls, floors, ceilings, windows, chimneys, drainage and accessible loft or subfloor spaces. We also look for damp, timber decay, movement, poor alterations and signs that maintenance has been delayed. The report sets out what we found, why it matters and what should happen next.
A mortgage valuation is for the lender, not the buyer. It is a limited check of value and security, with little or no detail on defects, repair cost or future maintenance. A building survey is much deeper and is designed to help you understand the condition of the property before you commit to the purchase.
Most inspections take around 3-4 hours on site, depending on the size and complexity of the property. Bigger homes, homes with outbuildings or places with access problems can take longer. The written report usually follows within 5-10 working days.
Our building survey prices start from £400 in Exeter. The final fee depends on the size, age, layout and complexity of the property, plus any extra areas such as lofts, cellars or outbuildings that need to be included. On a market where home.co.uk records show an average asking price of £378,790 in May 2026, that fee is a modest part of the overall buying budget.
Yes. If our report finds repair work, hidden defects or items that need specialist attention, you can use the findings to reopen discussion with the seller. Buyers in the Exeter postcode area often use the report to separate cosmetic issues from genuine cost items, especially where homedata.co.uk records show an average sold price of £336,000 and a 4% decline over the last 12 months.
A brand new home often benefits more from a snagging inspection than a building survey, because the defects are usually about finishing quality rather than deep structural condition. Even so, if a new build is a conversion, has unusual construction or shows obvious problems, a building survey can still be useful. Exeter had 209 newly built sales in the last 12 months, but new does not automatically mean problem-free.
Choose a Level 2 survey for a conventional home in reasonable condition where you mainly need a concise overview. Choose a building survey where the home is older, larger, altered, unusual or already showing signs of defects. In Exeter, where terraced and detached homes make up a large share of sales, many buyers prefer the deeper inspection because the building has often been modified over time.
From £350
Concise inspection for conventional homes in reasonable condition
From £400
The most detailed survey for older, larger or altered homes
From £90
Energy rating with practical improvement advice
Quote required
Legal support from offer to completion
Our building survey prices in Exeter start from £400. The fee changes with property size, age, layout and access, because a compact flat near the centre is quicker to inspect than a larger detached house with a loft conversion, cellar access or outbuildings. Older homes, unusual construction and properties with a known defect need more time, more note-taking and a closer look at the areas that can drive repair cost.
The service includes the on-site inspection, the written report, defect analysis and a follow-up conversation once the report has been sent. You also get a clear turnaround, usually 5-10 working days, so the survey fits into the normal purchase timetable. In Exeter, where home.co.uk records show an average asking price of £378,790 and homedata.co.uk records show an average sold price of £336,000, buyers often want the report back quickly so they can decide how to move before the deal drifts.
Price is only one part of the decision. A survey on a home with a few hidden defects can save time, help you plan remedial work and keep the purchase discussion focused on facts. If the property is older, altered or already showing signs of wear, the extra detail from a building survey is usually the right level of inspection. Our surveyors are here to give you the clearest view of what you are buying, not a padded sales pitch.
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RICS-qualified surveyors, detailed property reports
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Homemove is a trading name of HM Haus Group Ltd (Company No. 13873779, registered in England & Wales). Homemove Mortgages Ltd (Company No. 15947693) is an Appointed Representative of TMG Direct Limited, trading as TMG Mortgage Network, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 786245). Homemove Mortgages Ltd is entered on the FCA Register as an Appointed Representative (FRN 1022429). You can check registrations at NewRegister or by calling 0800 111 6768.
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