Our Services
Clear, detailed and independent assessments of the property you are buying, at every RICS survey level.
Quartz provides the full range of RICS home surveys: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. We are an independent, RICS-regulated practice, and every report is written for the property in front of us, never assembled from templates.
If you are buying a house or flat, the survey is your only independent account of its condition before you commit. The mortgage valuation is prepared for the lender, not for you. A survey tells you what is serious, what is urgent and what can wait, in plain English.
A RICS Home Survey is an inspection and written report on the condition of a residential property, carried out to the survey standard published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It is available at three levels of detail, from a basic condition report to a comprehensive structural inspection.
The right level depends on the age, construction and condition of the property. The three levels build on one another.
The RICS Level 1 Home Survey (previously the RICS Condition Report) shows the condition of the property, highlights urgent defects and offers guidance to legal advisers. It suits conventional, newer homes in apparently good condition.
About the Level 1 surveyThe RICS Level 2 Home Survey (previously the RICS HomeBuyer Report) includes everything in a Level 1 report and adds advice on defects, repairs and ongoing maintenance. It is the right choice for most conventional properties in reasonable condition.
About the Level 2 surveyThe RICS Level 3 Home Survey (previously the RICS Building Survey, sometimes called a full structural survey) is our most comprehensive inspection. It examines the structure, fabric and services in detail, and suits older, extended or unconventional properties.
About the Level 3 surveyMost buyers choose between Level 2 and Level 3. The comparison below sets out the practical differences. If the property is older, extended or visibly altered, Level 3 is usually the sound choice, and we will tell you so before you instruct us.
| Consideration | Level 2 survey | Level 3 survey |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Conventional houses and flats in reasonable condition | Older, extended, altered or unconventional properties |
| Depth of inspection | Visual inspection of accessible areas | Detailed examination of structure, fabric and services |
| Defect advice | Identifies defects and maintenance to plan for | Explains defects, their causes and repair options |
| Typical use | Reassurance before exchange | Evidence for negotiation and repair planning |
Please contact us to discuss the right survey for your purchase. We will advise on the appropriate level before you instruct, at no cost and with no obligation.
For most conventional houses and flats in reasonable condition, a Level 2 survey is the right choice. For older, extended, altered or unconventional properties, we recommend a Level 3 survey. If you are unsure, tell us about the property and we will advise before you instruct, at no cost.
A homebuyer survey is the old name for the RICS Level 2 Home Survey, a condition report for conventional properties. A building survey is the old name for the RICS Level 3 Home Survey, a more detailed inspection of the structure, fabric and services. The Level 3 survey goes deeper and suits older or altered properties.
The fee depends on the size, age, value and construction of the property, and on the survey level. We provide a clear written quotation before you instruct us, with no obligation. Please contact us with the property address and we will confirm the fee for each suitable level.
A mortgage valuation is prepared for the lender, not for you, and tells you little about condition. A survey is the only independent account of the property you are about to commit to. Buyers regularly use survey findings to renegotiate the price or ask the seller to put defects right before exchange.
Tell us the property address and we will confirm the right survey level and the fee, with no obligation.