Sample reports
Sample survey reports
See what you get before you choose. We have written up the same sample house at all three depths, so you can see element by element what Level 2, Level 2 Plus and Level 3 add.
The sample property
Sample property: 1930s three-bedroom semi-detached house with a rear single-storey extension, North West London
A two-storey semi-detached house of the inter-war period, with a hipped main roof, a shared chimney stack, a rendered bay to the front and a later flat-roofed kitchen extension to the rear. Freehold is assumed. The property was occupied and furnished at the time of the inspection and the weather was dry.
Level 2
Sample Level 2 Home Survey
A condition rating and a clear paragraph for each element, with what to do next.
From £499
Read the sampleLevel 2 Plus
Sample Level 2 Plus Home Survey
The Level 2 report plus a construction and context paragraph for each element.
From £599
Read the sampleLevel 3
Sample Level 3 Building Survey
Adds the likely cause of each defect, the probable repair and what further investigation should cover.
From £699
Read the sampleThe difference in one element
Here is the roof covering (D2) from the sample at each depth. Every level gives the same condition rating and tells you what to do. Level 2 Plus explains the construction; Level 3 explains the likely cause and repair.
D2 Roof coverings
Level 2
The main roof is pitched and covered with concrete interlocking tiles, a later replacement of the original covering. Several tiles have slipped or are cracked, and the mortar bedding to the hip and ridge tiles is loose and missing in places. Water staining was seen within the roof space below the defective areas (see E1). The flat roof over the rear extension is covered in mineral felt, which is aged, with blistering and ponding water near the outlet. Repairs are needed now to keep the property weathertight; obtain quotations from a roofing contractor before you exchange contracts.
Level 2 Plus adds
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on re-roofed inter-war houses. They are durable, but they are heavier than the clay tiles they often replace, and the roof structure should be able to carry the extra weight (see E1). Hip and ridge tiles on older roofs are usually bedded in mortar, which weathers over time and is a frequent source of leaks. Felt flat roofs have a shorter life than pitched roofs, and ponding water shortens it further.
Level 3 adds
The slipped tiles appear to result from failed nail fixings and wind lifting, and the loose ridge and hip tiles from weathered mortar bedding. The staining in the roof space shows water has already been getting in. The likely repair to the main roof is to refix or replace the slipped and cracked tiles, rebed or mechanically fix the hips and ridge (a dry-fix system is now common), and check the underlay where tiles are removed. The extension roof is near the end of its useful life and is likely to need re-covering rather than patching; ask the contractor to check the deck for softness and to improve the falls so water drains to the outlet. Because repairs at height need scaffolding, obtain at least two quotations for the complete scope before you exchange.
How to read the condition ratings
Condition rating 3
Defects that are serious and/or need to be repaired, replaced or investigated urgently.
Condition rating 2
Defects that need repairing or replacing but are not considered to be either serious or urgent. The property must be maintained in the normal way.
Condition rating 1
No repair is currently needed. The property must be maintained in the normal way.
Not inspected
The element could not be inspected or seen. Where this matters, the report says what to do.
Who writes JBS reports
Joe Weaver MSc AssocRICS MRPSA, RICS Registered Valuer
Director of JBS Surveying Ltd, regulated by RICS. The report structure follows the RICS Home Survey Standard, with sections A to K and condition ratings 1, 2, 3 and NI. This sample shows sections B to K; A (about the inspection) and J (energy matters) are omitted here. After every survey you can book a call with Joe to go through the report.