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We carry out many Surveys on Victorian terraced houses each month. Generally a Building Survey is the better option for this type of house as it can go into more detail about actual defects, possible defects, repair options and future maintenance. Here are ten of the more common problems which you can look for when…

The Help to Buy (HTB) scheme has been launched with the aim of helping thousands of people buy their own home. It was announced in April 2013 with the first phase for new build properties. The second phase is for the second hand market and was due to start in January 2014 but the government…

Our last work experience candidate has successfully secured paid employment and we are now able to offer a weekly placement for a student (undergraduate or post graduate) of a RICS accredited Residential Surveying course. Applicants must be smart, professional, punctual and enthusiastic. The position is unpaid but will provide high quality work experience which will…

Survey Fees increased slightly in September 2013. The quoted fees will remain competitive reflecting our low over-heads. We generally undertake only one Survey inspection each day and on average no more than four each week. To include travelling and producing a report a Building Survey is 12-15 hours work excluding secretarial time and proof-reading which…

The property market in Bath and Bristol has really turned a corner in the last six months. Our Private Client instructions for home surveys have always been consistently high but over recent months the lead-in time for carrying out a Survey has increased from around one week at the start of the year to three…

Our Edwin Lake Ltd website has been given a makeover to keep it looking fresh and “of the moment”. It is also now fully responsive which means that its size will automatically adapt to any screen size, making browsing on the move even easier. “More and more people are using their iphones or smart phones…

This video shows Bristol and Bath-based Chartered Surveyor Richard Lake, MRICS, describing the three different types of home survey we provide. For further information, please click here to read the RICS publication entitled “Choosing Between Surveys”.

Solid fuel stoves are an attractive and popular addition to a home. The video clip below outlines some of the points a Chartered Surveyor would be looking for when carrying out a survey inspection of a house with a solid fuel appliance. The most important point is to ascertain whether the appliance has been fitted…

The offices of Edwin Lake Ltd Chartered Surveyors will be closed from 12 noon on 24th December until 9am on 2nd January 2013. The next date available for building surveys, homebuyers reports, condition reports and other home survey services will be 4th January at the time of writing. We would like to wish all our…

This video gives a brief overview of the some the points we look for when carrying out a loft space inspection as part of a RICS HomeBuyer Report. Common roof related problems which will be covered in a Survey include: 1. Distortion of the roof frame. 2. Rot or wood-beetle damage to roof timbers. 3….