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.
Where are the best places to live in Devon?
If you are planning to relocate to the West Country, Devon has plenty to offer. Are you looking for a more relaxed pace of life and a town or village with a strong community spirit? How about plenty of space and a stunning countryside or seaside location? Whether you are longing for a country cottage, a family home or a modern apartment, Devon provides some of the best places to live in the UK. If you are thinking of heading West for the long term, you are sure to be spoilt for choice.
However, relocating to a part of the country you are unfamiliar with can be a stressful experience. Without a clear idea of where the best places to live are, or who to consult locally for property advice and guidance, it can make the job of finding your new home in Devon much harder than it needs to be.
That’s where Hammond & Shaw come in. Our long established team of Surveyors in South Devon is well known for the quality of service we deliver to HomeBuyers in Devon. Covering Exeter, Dartmouth, Salcombe, Torquay and beyond, we can provide the local property knowledge you need along with quality property survey and valuation reports that are designed to be jargon-free and user friendly.
So, where are the best places to live? Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for. Exeter is a thriving regional hub with several booming industries, plenty of amenities and culture. Totnes is a picturesque medieval market town with an independent spirit and alternative culture. Salcombe, recently dubbed ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’, is a pretty coastal town boasting prime seaside homes. Dartmouth aka ‘the jewel of the South Hams’ is a picturesque historic harbour town, rich in maritime history and overlooked by the famous Royal Naval College. We could go on…
Interestingly, in a recent list of ‘best places to live in the Southwest of England’ compiled by The Times, three lesser-known Devon towns made it into the top 10: Topsham, Kingsbridge and Chagford. Let us take a look at each of these in turn.
Topsham
A small estuary town on the Exe, Topsham has a much calmer ambience than the vibrant city of Exeter only 4 miles north. Loved by locals and visitors alike, there’s a great village vibe with a pretty high street running through the centre of town offering a wide selection of local independent shops, pubs and restaurants.
The Strand in the town centre is one of the most prestigious and well-known streets where those who have the budget have a choice of historic Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian period homes and beautiful Dutch-style gable houses. For those looking for more modern accommodation, consider one of the many new developments on the outskirts of town.
Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a bustling market town located at the northern end of the Kingsbridge Estuary and easily reached via the A38 Devon Expressway and A381 that runs through the heart of the South Hams. It’s close to the beach but far enough away from the Salcombe crowds to provide a welcome contrast as an ‘unassuming’ town with a strong community spirit. There’s a proper town centre with a cinema and weekly farmers’ market, and plenty of shops aimed at local residents rather than the tourist trade.
Kingsbridge has excellent education facilities and good schools including Kingsbridge Community College. Local properties here range from barn conversions and bungalows to historical properties with extensive plots of land.
Chagford
Chagford is a small market town situated on the north-eastern edge of Dartmoor where the microclimate provides more sunshine and less rain than on the other side of the moor. Exeter is about half an hour away by car and easily accessible via the A30.
Thanks to its rural location, the town is popular with nature lovers but it has also made a name for itself as a place of culture. The highlight of the year is the annual Chagstock music festival.
Property for sale in Chagford ranges from beautiful old cottages and barns to family houses and impressive estates. Expect to pay a premium for living in one of the most sought-after places to live in Devon and the Dartmoor area.
If you are looking for a property to buy in South Devon and need professional advice, H&S Surveyors should be your first port of call. Contact the team to discuss your upcoming purchase and for guidance with the best choice of home survey for your property. We look forward to welcoming you to Devon, the best county in the UK according to a recent YouGov poll.
Published on:
Last updated: 24th April 2025