Choosing the right survey doesn't need to be complicated. A RICS Home Survey Level 2 is your go-to for a conventional home in good nick. A RICS Home Survey Level 3 digs deeper for older, altered or unusual properties. Take the quiz below and we'll match you to the right one in seconds.
Take the quiz
Three short steps about the property. You'll get a recommendation on screen, with the reasoning behind it.
The two main survey levels
Under the RICS Home Survey Standard there are three levels of survey, each designed for a different type of property and a different depth of inspection. A Level 1 Condition Report exists too, but it is a light-touch overview suitable only for the newest, simplest homes, so in practice most buyers choose between the two below.
RICS Home Survey Level 2
Best for: Flats, terraced, semi-detached and detached houses of standard construction and in reasonable condition, regardless of age. If the property is extended, altered or unusual, we'll recommend a Level 3 instead, honestly and at no charge.
A detailed visual inspection of the property with clear traffic-light condition ratings. The right choice for conventional homes in reasonable condition, and it includes a call with your surveyor to talk through the findings, with our report back within 5 working days.
RICS Home Survey Level 3
Best for: The right choice for properties that are older, extended or significantly altered, of non-standard construction, listed buildings, or any home in visibly poor condition. Also for buyers planning major works.
Our most comprehensive inspection. A full structural review with detailed defect analysis, cause and remedy advice, and guidance on repair priorities. Essential for older, larger or non-standard properties, with our report back within 7 working days.
Construction type and condition matter most
Construction type is the strongest predictor of what a surveyor will find, and it often tracks with age. Modern-standard stock tends to have cavity walls, damp-proof courses and modern services. Older stock is more often solid-walled, with lime mortar, older timbers and services that have been added to over generations. The two need different levels of inspection.
Extensions, conversions and non-standard construction (concrete, steel-framed, timber-framed, listed) also nudge the recommendation up a level, because these are the properties where hidden defects are most likely to become expensive problems after completion.
The quiz takes about a minute. You'll see the recommendation here, with the reasoning.
It's about what you want out of it too
A survey isn't just about the building, it's about you. What's your budget flex, your risk tolerance, your plans for the place? If the purchase price is a stretch, if you don't have a buffer for surprises, or if you just want the full picture before you commit, stepping up a level is money well spent, even on a property that would technically pass a Level 2.
Buy-to-let investors weighing yield against risk, and anyone planning to renovate soon after moving in, almost always get more value from a Level 3. It hands you a solid basis to renegotiate, plus a costed roadmap for the work ahead.
Ready for your recommendation?
Take the quiz and we'll match your property to the right survey level, with the reasoning behind it.