Level 3 Building Su...
 

Level 3 Building Surveys (Buying Property) are they all the same?

Posts: 9
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Anyone have much advice or experience on what you get for your money with these?

Got a load of quotes through a market comparison type website, starting at £600inc VAT at cheapest end and have been calling around more local surveyors and now have quotes at £1350+ VAT, and then loads in-between. They are all quoting on a level 3, following the standard RICS template. Have asked for sample reports from some to look at but big difference in costs 


 
Posted : 02/02/2026 7:10 pm
Posts: 19522
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Good question.

Recently I was thinking of buying my current rented flat but abandon the idea after it was over valued (ex-council).  Before that I was asked to make a survey of my own.  Was thinking of making some enquiries but decided to use AI instead to find surveyor.  Found several good ones as suggested by AI.  Gave one a call and was quoted Level 3 survey for £470.  Not sure what L3 means btw as I didn't ask AI.  They surveyor did explain but I was not listening properly.  I didn't follow up because I decided to find another place to rent instead.  As far as my currently property is concerned, my view is that it is overvalued by £30k (market value?).  I ain't paying. I think they saw me coming. 😆  I also noticed property in my surrounding area ended selling £10k less on average and rent had also started to go down too.  Mortgage is between 4.6% then 6% to 7%.

My gut feeling, if I wish to buy, is to give it another year(s) or so to see how the value (market) stack up against buying power.  0.4%  economic growth in last Nov?  Ya, right.  That's just leading to Xmas period.  Let's see how this year performs instead. 🙄 (think last year was 1.4%)      


 
Posted : 02/02/2026 7:48 pm
Posts: 15554
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This is quite a good source of info regarding surveys: https://www.reallymoving.com/surveyors

 

£600 sounds a little pricey for say, a level 3 survey on a 2 bed terrace, (mine was £480) maybe not so much on a 4 bed house... but it depends how complex the house is..is it structurally origonal/ had it been modified, extended, etc? that would add a bit of complication, and therefore survey cost.

 

Probably area dependent too... central london I'd imagin you can double that easily.

 

 

 


 
Posted : 02/02/2026 8:24 pm