The SurveyChecker Standard™
One consistent, transparent, evidence-based methodology, applied identically to every report — whoever wrote it and whoever uploads it. Not opinions: a published set of benchmarks every review is anchored to.
The RICS Home Survey Standard
The recognised benchmark for what each survey level should deliver — reports are assessed against the level commissioned, never marked down for depth they were not asked for.
Property-specific risk profiles
Every property era carries its own expectations. A pre-1919 terrace raises lime mortar, solid walls and original ceilings; a 1960s house raises different questions entirely.
Construction defect libraries
The known failure modes of each material and era — nail sickness in aged slate, bridged damp-proof courses, cement repointing over lime — and whether the report addresses them.
Property intelligence
The property's official record: EPC construction data, listed status, conservation areas and sale history, so descriptions can be checked against something other than the report itself.
Environmental information
Flood risk zones and location-based designations that a complete report should acknowledge, drawn from public data.
Quality assurance criteria
The five tests every substantive section is measured against — materials identified and explained, defects diagnosed with cause and consequence, evidence trails followed, recommendations proportionate.
AI-assisted document analysis
Software applies the methodology at document scale — reading every section, every page. The benchmarks are professional and public; the scoring is computed from recorded outcomes, never from an impression.
What each survey level owes its reader
Every survey level carries its own expectations, and each report is assessed against the level commissioned — nothing more, nothing less.
Level 1
Condition Report
A concise picture of condition using clear ratings — no detailed advice expected, but ratings must still be supported by what the surveyor describes, and serious matters clearly identified.
Level 2
HomeBuyer Report
Condition plus advice: defects that affect value, maintenance needs, and matters for your legal adviser. Ratings must match the described condition, with practical next steps.
Level 3
Building Survey
The full picture: construction and materials identified and explained, defects diagnosed with their cause and consequence, and proportionate recommendations — including who to instruct and how urgently.
What a complete report covers
Your report is reviewed section by section, using its own headings and page numbers — so anything we raise can be found in seconds.
Roof & loft
Coverage of the roof structure, coverings, drainage and loft space, with condition ratings the described evidence actually supports.
Damp & timber
Whether damp observations follow the evidence trail to a likely cause — DPC, ground levels, readings, salts — rather than asserting a diagnosis.
Structural movement
How cracking, settlement or movement is described: pattern, width and location considered, severity judged, and monitoring or investigation advised where warranted.
Walls, floors & finishes
Construction and materials identified for the property's actual age — solid or cavity walls, lime or cement mortar, original or replaced ceilings.
Windows, doors & joinery
Realistic assessment of condition and lifespan, with attention to safety glazing and escape windows where relevant.
Services
Electrics, gas, heating, water and drainage: what was tested, what wasn't, and whether recommended checks are clearly flagged.
Grounds & boundaries
Garages, outbuildings, boundaries and site conditions, including anything that could affect value or insurance.
Legal & environmental matters
Points your conveyancer should chase: rights of way, tree risks, flooding, radon, conservation and listing — checked against the public record where you confirm the address.
And how well the report itself is written
Beyond what's covered, we review how it's communicated. A good survey doesn't just list defects — it helps you make decisions.
Computed from evidence, never impression
Every section's five-test outcomes are recorded, and the headline score is calculated from them. A report with a section serious enough to mislead a buyer cannot present as strong — whatever the rest of it does.
One section's recorded outcomes
A fair review — both ways
Most surveys are professionally produced, and when yours meets the standard we say so in writing — that reassurance is just as valuable. Where it falls short, you'll see exactly where, why it matters, and what to do about it.