Why get a Home Survey?

Many homeowners underestimate the value of commissioning a report of their prospective new home. In some cases, this is due to not understanding the benefits of a property survey, while others mistakenly believe that their mortgage valuation will tell them about any defects. Having a RICS survey is the only way to get a professional opinion about the condition of the building you are about to buy. Even if you think the property is sound, surveyors are trained to spot the symptoms of a problem that typically go missed by the average person, potentially allowing you to save thousands in unexpected repair costs when you move in. A comprehensive survey will help you determine the true value of any property so that you can make an informed decision about proceeding.

Which key questions should you ask your surveyor?

You can minimise the risks of purchasing a property by asking a Surveyor to answer these questions: Is the agreed price reasonable? Are there any drawbacks I don’t know about? Are there any significant defects or urgent repairs? If so, what do I do about them? At Hammond & Shaw, we offer friendly and professional advice to help you make the right property decision, with a full survey and valuation service for all types of residential property. Get in touch today to discuss your specific requirements and get a free, no obligation quotation.

Is a mortgage valuation the same as a property survey?

Many people wrongly believe a mortgage valuation is a property survey. However, a mortgage valuation is purely for the use of mortgage lender and cannot be relied upon by you to protect your interests. Increasingly, mortgage lenders are willing to accept a mortgage application without a surveyor having physically inspected the property. Although the cost of a survey may seem an unnecessary extravagance when making a decision to buy it could highlight costly repairs, help to re-negotiate the purchase price and potentially save thousands. The following advice is given by both the consumer association Which? Magazine and the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML): Even if you are seeking a mortgage and may be paying for a Mortgage Valuation report, it is advisable and prudent to arrange a property survey by your own Surveyors. The best way to reach an informed decision on such an important investment is to have a professional property survey before you decide to go ahead and commit yourself legally.

Coastal homes along a stone wall, with boats and clear water, typical properties surveyed by chartered surveyors in Devon.

Chartered Surveyors in South Devon

h&s Surveyors Ltd provides RICS residential surveys and property valuations across South Devon, helping home buyers and property owners make informed decisions with clear, straightforward advice.

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Welcome to h&s Surveyors

Professional Residential Surveys

We are well known in the area for our quality of service and professional approach providing a fast, friendly service with concise, jargon-free reports. All reports are organised in an easy to follow format, with any urgent issues clearly highlighted using a traffic light system. Buyers can quickly see the level of work that the building potentially requires and can plan accordingly.

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Our Services

We offer a full range of survey and valuation services for all types of residential property.

Modern coastal housing development with colourful cladding, private balconies, and a moored sailboat in a marina.

RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Surveys

Generally suited to conventional residential properties in reasonable condition. It provides an assessment of the property’s condition and highlights significant defects or areas requiring attention.

A stone-built detached house representing a recent property valuation provided by h&s Surveyors.

RICS Level 3 Building Surveys

A detailed survey generally suited to older, altered, unusual or visibly defective properties, or where substantial renovation work is planned.

Thatched cottage with whitewashed walls and bay window, a typical property type suited for a Level 3 Home Survey.

Property Valuations

An independent assessment of a residential property’s market value where a formal valuation is required.

Modern waterfront homes with balconies overlooking a quiet harbour at sunset.

Insurance Valuations

A valuation used to help determine the appropriate reinstatement value of a property for insurance purposes.

Modern red-brick terraced houses with front gardens, typical of properties assessed in a Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey.

Help-to-Buy Valuations

An independent property valuation for situations where a compliant valuation is required as part of the Help-to-Buy process.

Modern apartment block with balconies, typical of properties requiring a shared ownership valuation.

Shared Ownership Valuations

A residential valuation carried out for shared ownership transactions and related requirements.

What Our Clients Say

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
    kieran newcombe 
 13 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Me and my partner have been going through the process of purchasing our first house and was recommended to get a Level 3 survey completed.
From start to finish, H&S have been great. Quick and friendly correspondence, and communication was very good! The survey write up was in great depth and easy to understand. We have been in touch with them a couple times after the survey was completed and they have been incredibly helpful!
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone, especially if you’re a first time buyer and this is all new to you.
Reasonably priced and very happy customers.
Thanks you! 👍
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Janet Bartholomew 
 31 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We used this company nine years ago when we bought our house,and Andrew was excellent ,very thorough and went out of his way to come back when we needed some extra advise,he did a full home buyers  report for us.
Today - nine years on Chris and Jack came round.they did an excellent job and gave good advice.
I can’t praise these guys enough,
Very thorough and professional.with all the latest technology!
We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend h & s
Chartered surveyors.
Thankyou very much!
I
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Katie Griffiths 
 20 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would highly recommend this company. I am very impressed with the service provided particularly the excellent communication, customer service and willingness to provide guidance and answer questions at all stages.

I am in the process of purchasing a house in Teignmouth. Firstly, h&s were recommended by the Estate Agents. I looked on the website and liked what I saw, clear and concise in explaining all the options. When I rang the office I was also very pleased after speaking with Saffron, she is very helpful, she clearly explained everything and arranged the next steps. Chris soon got in contact with me and really has been excellent from there onwards. Firstly, he explained that as the property was an older building and had been converted he would be able to best assess whether it should require a Level 2 or Level 3 Survey on inspection. Chris said he would keep me informed on the day, which he did, via WhatsApp at my request as I was at sea on a Transatlantic Cruise at the time! He deemed that it just needed the Level 2 which was great.

I got the report in a timely manner both electronically, and a bound hard copy. It is clear and easy to understand. I spoke to Chris after I’d had time to digest it, and he spent over an hour on the phone with me going through it all, explaining the recommendations and answering lots of questions which I had mainly about next steps to take, which was so helpful. What amazing customer service! Chris also reassured me that I can contact him again via a call or email should I need to.

I very rarely write reviews but this service was so exceptional that I just had to. I would not hesitate to use this company again. This has by far been the most seamless part of the process of purchasing my new property! Thank you so much Saffron and Chris 😊
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Luke Brisco 
 21 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service provided by the team four our survey needs. The Surveyor was very knowledgable and helpful with providing advice, with the report produced and sent over to us the following working day. Great communication and customer service, would definitely recommend!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    oliver ware 
 31 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Friendly and professional company. Detailed and accurate report. Highly recommended and will use again in the future.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Simon McGlynn 
 31 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris visited carried out two valuation reports for us, offering help and advice that went above and beyond (and probably saved us some money). Would highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Liyam Laraba 
 30 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ian at h&s Surveyors provided an excellent survey.
He provided a comprehensive report with lots of details and answered our specific queries really quickly. I would highly recommend h&s to anyone who needs surveyor services.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Michelle Egan 
 28 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service, very good reports and was most helpful for follow up advice for conveyancing would and have recommended to others to use their services.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Miss E Pierce 
 3 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am really thankful and appreciate of the service that the H&S Team have given me every step of the way since the very first phone call back in July.
Their service has been exceptional - from the customer care over the phone to the surveying process itself - the efficiency and professionalism truly is 5 star!
I would highly recommend the team for any survey and valuation report needs!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Louise White 
 9 December 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was our fourth house purchase and H&S Surveyors were far and away the best we have used. Our surveyor, Chris, was extremely professional and approachable with excellent attention to detail. He was happy to follow up the report with further clarification over the phone as needed, and even supported with additional enquiries on some matters. After our first property fell through we had a second survey by Chris on our subsequent purchase. He had advised that the first required a Level 3 survey due to its age and condition; for the second, he advised that only a Level 2 was necessary as it was a newer build. We were very happy to trust his judgement and expertise. Office staff were also extremely helpful and communicative. We would thoroughly recommend H&S.

A chartered surveyor from h&s Surveyors using binoculars during a property inspection, holding a clipboard and documents.

Our Clients

Who We Help

h&s Surveyors Ltd offer a full range of survey and valuation services for all types of residential property. In addition to serving individual homeowners and buyers, we also work closely with charities, lenders, solicitors, accountants, and other professional organisations.

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A team photo of h&s Surveyors' team of Chartered Surveyors, standing outside a commercial office building.

About Us

Our Surveyors

All our qualified surveyors are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). We are compliant with the RICS requirements for Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) and Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP) should anything go wrong. Our team are experienced in residential surveys and valuation.

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Choosing the right survey

Buying a house is possibly the single largest transaction that you are likely to undertake in your lifetime. A building is a major asset, so how can you be sure it’s worth the investment? Houses in this country can be of different ages and forms of construction; they may have defects or design faults or show signs of poor workmanship. The problems can be numerous and serious and prove expensive to remedy.

This is why it is important for you to arrange for a Surveyor to carry out a property survey prior to commitment to purchase. Commissioning your own home survey is the simple, economical way to avoid unpleasant and perhaps costly surprises after moving in.

Which survey is right for your property?

If you are buying…	Usually consider…	Why?
A conventional property in reasonable condition	RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey	Provides a clear assessment of the property’s condition and highlights significant defects or areas that may require further attention.
An older property	RICS Level 3 Building Survey	Provides a more detailed assessment that is generally more suitable for older buildings and properties with more complex construction.
A significantly altered or extended property	RICS Level 3 Building Survey	Offers greater detail where alterations, extensions or changes to the original building may need closer assessment.
A property that appears to need substantial repairs	RICS Level 3 Building Survey	Gives a more detailed review of defects, condition and areas that may require further investigation or repair.
A property where you need an independent assessment of market value	Property Valuation	Provides an independent opinion of the property’s market value rather than a detailed assessment of its condition.

Areas We Cover

Serving clients throughout the South Devon area, listed below are some of the main areas we have previously worked in:

Babbacombe
Bovey Tracey
Ashburton
Dartmoor
Dartmouth
Dawlish
Exeter
Ivybridge
Kingsbridge
Modbury
Paignton
Plymouth
Salcombe
Sidmouth
South Hams
Teignmouth
Topsham
Torcross
Torquay
Totnes

Frequently Asked Questions

H&S offers two main types of home survey depending on the type, style and location of the property. A RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey is described as a mid-range survey that highlights issues needing attention, while a RICS Level 3 Building Survey is the more detailed option for properties that need a more comprehensive assessment.

The right survey depends on the property’s age, construction, condition and style. H&S explains that homes can vary significantly in age and construction and may contain defects, design faults or signs of poor workmanship, so the most suitable survey should be chosen according to the individual property.

A property survey can help identify defects, structural problems and areas that may require further investigation or repair before you commit to a purchase. H&S highlights issues such as damp, timber defects, roof damage, poor drainage, subsidence, settlement and problems with services as examples of defects that may be uncovered during a survey.

Yes, a property survey can highlight a range of defects that may affect the condition or suitability of a property. H&S specifically discusses issues including damp, timber decay, roof defects, subsidence, settlement and structural problems that may not be obvious during a normal property viewing.

Yes. H&S provides residential surveys and valuation services throughout South Devon, including areas such as Newton Abbot, Exeter, Dartmouth, Dawlish, Kingsbridge, Paignton, Plymouth, Salcombe, Teignmouth, Torquay and Totnes. The firm is based in Newton Abbot and states that it has operated there for more than 25 years.

Get in Touch to Arrange a Survey or Valuation Today

We are happy to help with any query you may have. Get in touch with our expert team for a free, no obligation quote. You can call us, email us, or fill in the quotation form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

01626 335008 admin@hammondandshaw.com

Unit 9 Millwood Business Park
Collett Way
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 4PH