Posted on Google
kieran newcombe13 October 2026Trustindex 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 GoogleJanet Bartholomew31 July 2026We 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! IPosted on GoogleKatie Griffiths20 June 2026I 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 GoogleLuke Brisco21 April 2026Great 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 Googleoliver ware31 March 2026Friendly and professional company. Detailed and accurate report. Highly recommended and will use again in the future.Posted on GoogleSimon McGlynn31 March 2026Chris 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 GoogleLiyam Laraba30 January 2026Ian 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 GoogleMichelle Egan28 January 2026Excellent 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 GoogleMiss E Pierce3 January 2026I 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 GoogleLouise White9 December 2025This 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.
Which home survey should you choose?
Buying a residential property can be an exciting and daunting time. An investment of this magnitude may well be the biggest purchase you have ever made, so before you commit to the purchase it’s wise to investigate the asset thoroughly.
The risks of not carrying out a home survey can be substantial. Did you know that new homeowners spend an average of £5,750 on repairs after moving into the property? According to research carried out by Churchill Home Insurance, over 13 million home owners reported that they had to carry out unexpected building works on their property after moving in. What’s more, over half of those who had major building work said that prior knowledge of this would have influenced their purchase decision.
Roof defects, damp and structural issues are among the main problems that an experienced surveyor will identify and warn buyers about. Not only is this critical information that can affect your decision to proceed with the purchase, it also allows you to draw up realistic budgets for remedial work that you could use as a basis for negotiating the purchase price.
Experienced Surveyors
At Hammond & Shaw Surveyors, we have a wealth of experience of conducting all types of property survey for our clients and are always happy to discuss which of the following home surveys would suit your needs best:
- A RICS HomeBuyer Report is a detailed inspection and report to provide prospective buyers with important information about the condition of the property. It is a mid-range survey and the most popular report requested by buyers. A HomeBuyer Report is suitable for most UK residential properties – those of conventional design and standard construction that are in good overall condition. Our surveyor will carry out a visual inspection inside an out, then present the report in a standardised, jargon-free format, using a traffic light system to highlight areas of concern. A market valuation will also be given.
- A Smartr Survey is an alternative type of mid-range home survey that is delivered using digital technology. It is a photo-based report that uses the same traffic light rating system as the HomeBuyer Report, but the online portal gives you direct access to view the report and reorganise the data according to your priorities. The digital report can be downloaded onto a computer, tablet or smartphone, viewed on any device, and shared with any stakeholder. Of course, you can print off a hardcopy too. This type of survey is suitable for the majority of conventional residential properties in good order.
- A Building Survey is recommended for older properties including period homes and listed buildings, those of non-standard construction and buildings that have undergone (or are planning to undergo) major renovations. This is the most comprehensive type of home survey available, providing a wealth of valuable information about the property’s condition, faults and defects, estimated costs of repair, maintenance advice and recommendation for further investigation.
A home survey can potentially save you thousands in surprise repairs, thanks to the expert eye of a qualified surveyor who can spot signs of trouble that they layman simply cannot see including damp and timber decay, outdated plumbing and electrics, subsidence, roof defects and much more.
Contact Us
At the end of the day, choosing the right report for your needs depends on the property itself, your timeframe and personal circumstances, as well as your preferred report delivery. For any advice on surveys and valuation services offered by Hammond & Shaw, or to discuss your particular property purchase in South Devon, please feel free to get in touch with our expert team on 01626 335008 or book a free quotation here.
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Last updated: 24th April 2025