RICS Level 2 Survey in CR6

Our RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey is a thorough visual inspection of all accessible areas of the property. Our surveyors examine the structure, exterior elements, interior spaces, and the condition of services such as heating, plumbing, and electrics - though these services are not tested in detail as part of a Level 2 inspection. The aim is to give you a complete picture of the property's condition so you can make an informed decision about your CR6 purchase.

When we inspect a CR6 property, we examine every accessible part of the building from the roof to the foundations. Our surveyors check for signs of damp, structural movement, rot in timber, condition of the roof covering, guttering and drains, condition of windows and doors, and the general state of internal rooms and finishes. Any issue that cannot be seen without opening up walls or floors is noted as something you may wish to investigate further with a specialist before exchanging contracts.

• Roof structure, covering, chimney stacks, and guttering
• External walls, pointing, render, and cladding
• Windows, doors, and external joinery
• Floors, ceilings, and internal walls
• Fireplaces and flues
• Damp-proof course and sub-floor ventilation
• Garage and outbuildings
• Drainage and visible services

Our report also includes a market valuation of the property and an estimated rebuild cost for buildings insurance purposes. We include a summary of any issues we recommend discussing with the seller before you exchange, along with recommendations for any specialist reports that should be commissioned. If our inspection reveals areas that need a structural engineer, damp specialist, or other expert, we will say so clearly so you know exactly what further steps are needed.

Our RICS Level 2 Survey reports use a standardised three-tier condition rating system developed by RICS to make the findings easy to understand for any buyer, regardless of property experience. Each element of the property is assessed and assigned a rating. This approach replaces vague language with clear, consistent categories that tell you at a glance which parts of the CR6 property need attention and how urgently.

• Condition Rating 1 (green): No repair is currently needed. The element is performing as expected and requires no immediate action at the time of inspection.
• Condition Rating 2 (amber): Defects which need repairing or replacing but are not considered serious or urgent. The property will need these addressed in the future, but they pose no immediate risk.
• Condition Rating 3 (red): Defects that are serious and require urgent repair or replacement. These items may affect the value of the property and need to be addressed promptly.

Our report also includes a separate section for legal issues - items that your solicitor should investigate as part of the conveyancing process, such as rights of way, boundary disputes, or planning permissions for extensions. We highlight environmental risks where relevant and clearly indicate any areas where specialist investigation is recommended before you proceed to exchange.

A key feature of the RICS Level 2 format is the executive summary at the front of the report, which flags the most significant findings before the full detail. Our CR6 clients frequently find that this summary is the starting point for discussions with their solicitor and for negotiations with the seller. Having a clear, structured summary from an independent RICS professional carries weight in those conversations and gives your position credibility.

Once you receive your RICS Level 2 report, the first step is to read through it fully, paying close attention to any Condition Rating 3 items flagged in red. These are the defects needing urgent attention and are most likely to affect your decision about whether to proceed with the purchase or at what price. Our executive summary at the front of the report lists the most significant findings at a glance, and this is usually the best starting point when reading the document.

If the report identifies significant defects, the most straightforward next step is to use those findings as grounds for renegotiating the purchase price. Our survey comes from an independent RICS professional, which gives your negotiating position credibility. In the CR6 market, where 109 properties sold in the last 12 months - a 22 percent fall on the previous year - sellers are often willing to negotiate when presented with documented evidence of defects. A well-evidenced renegotiation based on survey findings can save you many times the cost of the survey itself.

If our report recommends specialist follow-up investigations - such as a structural engineer's assessment of cracking, or a damp specialist's investigation of moisture ingress - we strongly recommend commissioning those reports before you exchange contracts. Proceeding without this information means you accept the financial risk of unknown remediation costs. Our report will specify what type of specialist is needed and why, giving your solicitor a clear basis for requesting these investigations from the seller.

In some cases, survey findings may give you grounds to reconsider the purchase entirely. This is a significant decision but it is far less costly than completing a purchase and then discovering that major structural remediation is required. A phone call with your surveyor is available after you receive your report - we can explain what the identified defects mean in practical terms, the likely scale of remediation costs where we can estimate them, and what questions to ask specialist contractors when getting quotes.