Building Surveys for First Time Buyers
Are you buying your first property? Does it feel like you don’t really know what happens next, or what you’re supposed to do? Maybe...
Browse through our blog posts for the latest industry news, discover more about surveying and find out what the Harrison Clarke team have been up to.
Buying a Victorian or Edwardian home can feel like stepping into history. These properties exude charm with their high ceilings, elegant fireplaces, detailed brickwork, and solid craftsmanship that outlasts most modern buildings. But behind the period features, there can be hidden problems that are costly to fix if you do not know what to look […]
Imagine this. You crash a Fiat Punto. The garage takes a look and tells you the repairs will cost £12,000. Naturally, you think that sounds ridiculous, because the car is only worth £800. Even if it were fixed, you’d still only have a Fiat Punto worth £800 – not a nearly-new hatchback worth £12,000. That […]
In 2020, a two-year-old boy named Awaab sadly died in the social housing flat he shared with his family, following long-term exposure to damp and mould. The landlord ignored repeated reports about the issue, which caused serious illness and eventually led to his death. This tragedy led to the creation of a new set of […]
Buying a home is exciting. You have found the property, agreed a price, and can already picture moving in. It is easy to think that the survey is just another box to tick — another fee in a long list of costs that you could probably do without. But skipping a proper building survey can […]
Every successful project begins long before anyone steps on site. It starts with numbers — the budget that turns drawings into reality. A good budget isn’t just a spreadsheet of costs; it’s the foundation of control, clarity, and confidence for everyone involved. In the UK, construction budgets have to do more than cover materials and […]
Producing a home survey isn’t an easy task for a surveyor. It takes a lot of knowledge and skill, not to mention experience and physical exertion. We clamber into all sorts of spaces to check for defects! But have you ever wondered what the process is like from the client’s side? And more importantly, what […]
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. It can be exciting, but also stressful. What looks perfect during a viewing might be hiding issues beneath the surface. Cracks, damp, or movement can easily go unnoticed until it is too late. A Level 3 Building Survey is the most […]
Have you received a ‘Party Wall’ letter through your door? Sadly, it’s not a party invite, and there’s no cake on offer. It’s a bit more boring, but much more important.Whether you’re a homeowner planning to extend your kitchen or a neighbour worried about next door’s loft conversion, understanding the party wall process can save […]
You notice a hairline crack running across the wall. Then a door that used to close smoothly suddenly sticks. A few weeks later, the gap’s grown wider. At first, it feels like a small issue — maybe just an old house settling. But sometimes, those subtle shifts tell a bigger story. One that starts not […]
Do you get on with your neighbours? Do you talk to them regularly, or just nod and smile when you see them in the driveway? It doesn’t matter how well you know them or how friendly you are, it’s all too easy to end up in a heated dispute about bricks, boundaries and building works. […]
Whether you’re a commercial landlord or a tenant, a schedule of dilapidations is an absolute must. Landlords can use schedules of dilapidations to demand their tenants pay them tens, or even hundreds of thousands of pounds at the end of the lease. Unlike residential tenancies, commercial leases don’t have fair wear and tear clauses. This […]
Gather in folks, who’s ready for a story? Today, rather than tell you about an aspect of surveying, we thought we would share a client story with you, to show you just how important having a survey can be when you’re buying a home. This particular issue is something we come across a lot, and […]
Are you buying your first property? Does it feel like you don’t really know what happens next, or what you’re supposed to do? Maybe...
Whether you’re a regular developer, investor or consultant stepping into the space, there are a lot of things to get your head around in...
Picture this. You’re a business owner looking to take on a new premises in London. You’ve done your research – you know how much...
When a new site is being developed, there are a lot of plates to keep spinning. While all of them are important, there is...
People often describe buying a home as the biggest purchase you’ll ever make in your life. So, it’s not surprising that many buyers are...
Properties are a significant investment – probably the biggest you’ll make. And unlike other investments, they also offer the opportunity to increase their value...
Let’s say you’re renovating a property. Maybe you own the home, manage the building, or you just bought it to fix it up. You,...
Whether you’re building an extension, converting your loft or doing structural alterations, you need to understand your obligations under the Party Wall etc Act...
Unexpected repairs. Costly downtime. Safety concerns. If you’re a property owner or manager, these are very familiar headaches for you! Luckily, there’s a simple...
Adding an outbuilding to your property can be a great way to add extra space, and get some extra functionality too. Especially when more...
When you’re about to buy a home, one of the big things you need to do is look for a surveyor. It’s easy to...
As Chartered Building Surveyors, we often see firsthand just how much fire safety regulations impact homes and businesses, and we want to share that...
If you’re building a new property, renovating, or planning a home improvement, it’s important to know the legal elements. In the UK, building regulations...
It’s a homeowner’s worst nightmare. You look at your walls one day and see cracks that weren’t there before. You tell yourself it’s the...
Buying a house can be a very expensive process. Most people need to save up a large amount for a deposit, and on top...
You’ve put an offer in on a flat, and you’ve just got the call to say it was accepted. Yay! Celebrations all round. You’ve...
If you have an older property with masonry walls, it’s likely that a surveyor will recommend a wall tie survey. They do this for...
Our specialist Party Wall team of chartered surveyors at Southampton-based Harrison Clarke helps clients with Party Wall matters every day. In this article, we...
We talk a lot about the Party Wall Act, and when building owners need to provide notice to their neighbours under this slightly complex...
Chimneys come in all shapes and sizes. From simple flues to just get smoke away from log-burning stoves, to beautiful ornate features topping off...
When you’re planning out works on your home, one of the big things you’ll want to know is how much it will cost. After...
When you’re carrying out building work on your property, there are likely times when you need access to areas that are usually out of...
In the UK we have a huge variety of native wildlife, from the biggest (which is a red deer) to the smallest insects. It’s...
When it comes to party wall issues, the Act is pretty clear about who is allowed to do what. Specifically, the building owner carrying...
Let’s face it, the surveying world is full of acronyms, and we absolutely love using them! It’s mostly because a lot of the things...
In all our years of surveying, there is one thing that every single client we’ve worked with has talked about as a priority –...
In the last few months there has been a lot of information, updates, and talk in the news about spray foam insulation. The government...
When we work with clients whose works are affected by the Party Wall etc Act 1996, they’re usually not too happy about the potential...
When it comes to construction works, there’s a long list of regulations you need to follow. Honestly, it can get a little confusing trying...
Over the last few years, there has been a definite shift in buying culture. Consumers are now looking to support their local businesses, choosing...
When you’re doing works on your residential property, there are a lot of moving parts in the equation. Many of them are simple tasks...
What does it mean and what do I do about it? The first thing you need to do is not panic! There are numerous...
As the milder weather of autumn fades and the cold snaps of winter make themselves at home, it’s pretty common to see more issues...
Hello, and welcome to another blog about The Party Wall Act! It’s something we come across a lot as Chartered Surveyors, and a lot...
We know that a lot of homeowners will worry if a surveyor is due to come into their home. After all, their job is...