Survey Hut

Survey Hut: RICS home surveys and valuations for buyers in North West England

Survey Hut is a surveying practice that began as a traditional RICS practice providing Level 2 and Level 3 Home Surveys for buyers across the north west of England. According to its own account, the firm later widened its offer because buyers needed more than a single type of survey: clear guidance, reliable expertise and coordination of the right inspection for each property. The current proposition combines RICS-qualified oversight with access to a broader range of specialist surveys, presented under the idea of everything under one roof before purchase.

James Raspin is identified as Chief Surveying Officer. The practice arranges its work so that a standard survey and any additional inspections can be booked together, with one visit and a single report stack, although the gas and electrical checks can also be ordered on their own.

Home survey options

The core service is the RICS-regulated home survey, offered at two levels. The Level 2 Survey is described as the standard choice for conventional homes in reasonable condition, giving a picture of defects, repairs and maintenance issues to know about before buying. The Level 3 Survey is presented as a step up in detail for larger, complex or non-traditionally constructed properties, including conversions and homes built over 100 years ago, and includes advice on repairs and ongoing maintenance.

At the time of writing this profile, the site listed starting prices of £485 for the Level 2 Survey and £685 for the Level 3 Survey, with the stated aim that the price shown is the price paid and an instant quote available in about two minutes.

Specialist inspections and add-ons

Beyond the standard survey, Survey Hut offers a set of extras that can be attached to a survey or booked separately:

• CCTV Drain Survey: a camera inspection of the drains covering blockages, cracks, root ingress and collapsed sections, priced per property.
• Gas tests: gas safety testing arranged through the firm's vetted partner engineers.
• Electrical checks: electrical installation checks carried out by partner-qualified electricians.
• Drone inspection: roof, chimney and bird's-eye footage of the property, reaching areas a ladder cannot safely access.

Valuation work

The practice arranges RICS valuations for a range of purposes. The site names Help to Buy, probate (inheritance tax valuation), shared ownership, capital gains tax, expert witness valuations and private RICS valuations, alongside residential valuations more generally.

Standalone reports for non-buyers

Survey Hut also produces reports that stand on their own for clients who are not purchasing. These include a Housing Disrepair Report, described as independent evidence of disrepair for tenants, landlords and legal claims, and a New Build Snagging Survey, which documents defects in a new build before the builder's window closes.

Guides and client feedback

The site includes a resources section with a blog, frequently asked questions and guides on surveying, valuations and how to read a survey report, including material on condition ratings and a list of what it calls deadly home defects. It also displays customer reviews attributed to Trustpilot, in which clients describe thorough reports, follow-up phone calls to discuss findings and the use of drone footage of roofs and chimneys.

Coverage

The areas named on the site are Altrincham, Blackpool, Bolton, Cheshire, Chester, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool, Oldham and Preston.