SurveyFirst

SurveyFirst: RICS valuation and home survey reports

SurveyFirst is a property surveying and valuation services company operating under the regulation of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Its activity focuses on producing RICS Home Survey and RICS Valuation Reports for residential home buyers. The company states that it is fully regulated by RICS, which means that every inspection and every report complies with the institution's standards of accuracy, transparency and integrity.

Main survey and valuation services

SurveyFirst's catalogue is organised into three main products:

• RICS Valuation Report: a valuation report prepared by an RICS Registered Valuer in accordance with RICS global valuation standards. It is presented in a clear format and is priced from £350. It is aimed at procedures such as Help to Buy loan repayments, Shared Ownership properties, probate, inheritance tax or simply obtaining the current market value.
• RICS Level 2 Survey Report: also known as a Homebuyers Survey, it provides a concise report with high-resolution images. Its price starts at £473. It is recommended for traditional properties built in the last 60 years or so that are in reasonable condition, as well as for flats of specific construction.
• RICS Level 3 Survey Report: known as a Building Survey, it involves a thorough inspection and a detailed report with high-resolution images. Its price starts at £667. It is intended for older or dilapidated properties, non-traditional constructions and period conversions.

In addition to these services, the company offers a full range of RICS-compliant valuations, including Help to Buy Valuations, Shared Ownership Valuations, Probate Valuations and other forms of residential valuation. Each valuation is prepared by an RICS Registered Valuer who follows strict professional standards.

Working process

SurveyFirst structures its work in four phases. It begins with an initial consultation to understand the property, the client's concerns and what is needed from the report. Then a surveyor visits the property and uses advanced equipment to collect accurate data. The data is then carefully processed into a detailed report. Finally, the company offers ongoing support to answer follow-up questions or clarify doubts once the report has been delivered.

The company makes calls before and after all home surveys: it contacts the client the day before the survey and within 24 hours after the inspection. The stated turnaround times are 5 days for a Level 2 report and 6 days for a Level 3 one. For more urgent needs, there is the SurveyFirst Plus+ service.

Geographic coverage

SurveyFirst serves Hertfordshire, central and south Bedfordshire, and north, west and part of east London. In Hertfordshire, the locations mentioned include St Albans, Watford, Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead, Potters Bar, Bushey, Borehamwood, Radlett and Elstree. In Bedfordshire, coverage includes Luton, Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable. In north London, Barnet, Finsbury Park and Islington are included. In Middlesex and west London, Enfield, Hendon, Wembley, Harrow and Stanmore are listed. In east London, Walthamstow and Stratford are mentioned.

Complementary services and target audience

Alongside its main services, SurveyFirst can put the client in touch with trusted professionals for related matters such as Party Wall, structural engineer reports, housing disrepair reports and mortgage brokers. The company works mainly with residential home buyers.

Team and professional approach

Surveys are carried out by an RICS member and valuations by an RICS Registered Valuer. The company presents itself as an option with competitive prices and offers a price match guarantee for Level 2 surveys. Its approach combines technical expertise with customer service, seeking to make the process smooth and professional from instruction to report delivery.