Guides, Advice and Tips from Chartered Surveyors

Browse through our blog posts for the latest industry news, discover more about surveying, Chartered Surveying guides and find out what the Harrison Clarke team have been up to.

Managing The Unexpected In Construction And Surveying

No matter how much you plan, prepare and assess risks, any project can still experience delays. There is always a chance of something unexpected popping up, and if it does, then the only thing you can do is manage the impact. But in the world of construction works and surveying, even small delays can cause […]

How do I Become a Chartered Surveyor?

If you have a passion for property, land and the built environment, then a career as a chartered building surveyor might be just for you! It’s a varied career option with lots to learn and a whole lot more to do, which has made it quite a popular option for those with an architectural interest. […]

How to Create and Serve a Valid Party Wall Notice

How to create and serve a valid party wall notice today we’re going to walk you through how to draft and serve a valid party wall notice, so that you know exactly what’s going on every step of the way. https://youtu.be/26Am0lcxbM0 What Are The Three Types of Party Wall Notices? Under the Party Wall etc […]

How to Choose the Right Surveyor for Your Property Purchase

When you’re buying a new home, you have a lot of decisions to make. How many bedrooms do you need? Where do you buy? Do you want a period home, or a more modern style? And so on. Some of those decisions are exciting, while others are less so. One of those potentially less interesting […]

Japanese Knotweed: Threat to Your Property Value!

When surveying a house, there are a lot of things you’re supposed to look for. Some of those things could be causing problems already or may cause problems in the future. For today’s blog we’re looking at a plant which you definitely don’t want to find on the property or near to it. Specifically, Japanese […]

Should I settle a dilapidations claim quickly?

Our team of specialist dilapidations surveyors at Harrison Clarke is often asked, “How quickly can I settle my dilapidations claim?” In this article, we explore both the benefits and drawbacks of a quick settlement, as well as what is in the best interests of both a landlord and a tenant. https://youtu.be/zbuxQZaamFU Benefits of settling a […]

Party Wall Act 1996: Damage to a Neighbours Property

Is your neighbour about to start construction works to build a nice new extension, or are you a building owner planning to transform your home? Whatever side of the fence you’re on, you might be a little bit worried about the Party Wall Act and damage to neighbours property. After all, construction is a big, […]

Why Is My House Damp? Part Two

Damp is possibly one of the most annoying issues a homeowner can face. It drives up your heating costs trying to keep it away, increases your cleaning requirements, and if left untreated it can lead to some serious health problems for everyone living in the house. In the first part of this series, we talked […]

Radon Danger In Your Home: What Homebuyers Need to Know

When you’re talking to a surveyor, you probably aren’t expecting a science lesson. But here we are! This week’s topic is radon. What it is, why it’s an issue, and why it could have an impact on your home purchase. It’s one of the lesser-talked about parts of surveying, but it’s very important from a […]

Ex Parte Surveyor Explained: What It Means in a Party Wall Dispute (Party Wall Act 1996)

If you’ve ever been involved in a property dispute, you know how crucial it is to have the right information on your side. Surveyors are the experts who provide that information, helping to sort out property boundaries, ownership, and other important details. But when things get complicated, especially in party wall disputes, you might come […]

How Are Building Works Actually Valued?

If someone is overseeing building works under a formal contract, one of their key roles is to make sure that the works are properly valued. This ensures that the contractor has suitable cash flow and is being paid fairly for the works they’ve done, as well as making sure the client isn’t being asked to […]

Survey or Valuation – Which Do I Need?

In 2019, a survey by mortgage broker John Charcol found that 8 out of 10 property purchases go ahead without a formal survey. Now, that’s something we found quite alarming! But we’re also not too surprised. We believe it’s likely due to a combination of factors like tight cashflow, misunderstanding a vendor’s responsibility to reveal […]