William Elliott15 April 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. h&s Surveyors conducted a level 2 survey ahead of our house purchase last year. Their communication was excellent from start to finish, and their report was thorough and very well written. One year on, the report describes everything we've learned from living in our home and we haven't hesitated to recommend h&s Surveyors to our friends and family. Hopefully, we won't need to move home for some time, but when we do, we will use h&s Surveyors. Kerry Mann26 March 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wonderful and simple process to book in our survey and received back very quickly. Thorough and insightful report and lovely team to work with. Thank you so much. Jennifer Harvey14 March 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely first class service, I had additional questions after the survey and nothing was too much trouble. I would highly recommend this company. Paul Sampson10 February 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. H&S provided an efficient service at a very competitive price. Communication was great. The report was detailed and comprehensive and even our solicitor was impressed with it. We would use them again. Mike McGrove1 February 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Andy provided a really thorough RICS Level 3 survey for us, which was clear and easy to understand, for an excellent price. Would definitely recommend. Simone Talfourd23 January 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We recently had a Grade 3 survey conducted as part of the process of purchasing a house, and we couldn’t be happier with the service provided! The survey was incredibly thorough, detailed, and professionally executed, giving us a clear and comprehensive understanding of the property's condition. The report was not only easy to understand but also highlighted important areas to address, which has been invaluable in helping us plan for possible future works. Chris' expertise, attention to detail, and willingness to answer any questions made the whole process seamless and reassuring. We truly feel that this survey was worth every penny and gave us the confidence to move forward with our purchase. Highly recommend to anyone looking for reliable and meticulous survey services! Aidan Dominy21 January 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Survey was promptly booked with helpful admin staff responding quickly by email. Survey was detailed (including plenty of photos) and arrived within the time promised. Seems to be much better value for level 2 surveys than other local providers. Would recommend - thank you! sylvia punter7 November 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris is knowledgeable, efficient and helpful and provides an excellent professional service Teresa Smaridge25 July 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was the second time using H&M Surveyors. They were quick to respond to my initial enquiry and also arranging a date for the survey. Chris phoned me beforehand to ask if I had any particular concerns about the property. The level 2 homebuyers report was provided in the timescale advised and Chris was also happy to discuss the findings of the survey once I had seen the report, which I found very useful. Chris was friendly and explained everything I needed to know. Would definitely recommend h&s and will be happy to use again in the future.
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