RICS Level 2 Survey in DD8

Our RICS Level 2 Survey is carried out to the RICS Home Survey Standard, with a clear condition-rated report for all visible and accessible parts of the property. We grade each element as 1, 2 or 3, where 1 means satisfactory, no action needed, 2 means defects are present and repair is needed but not urgent, and 3 means urgent attention is required. It gives you a straightforward view of where the property stands before you commit to buying.

We look at every part of the property that can be assessed without invasive investigation. During the inspection, we examine the full range of visible and accessible elements.

• Roof coverings, chimney stacks, and roof space where safely accessible
• External walls, pointing, render, and cladding
• Windows, doors, and external joinery
• Internal walls, ceilings, and floors throughout
• Signs of damp, timber decay, and woodworm
• Rainwater goods, gutters, and drainage
• Heating, plumbing, and electrics - visual assessment only
• Outbuildings, garages, gardens, and boundaries
• Legal issues to raise with your solicitor
• Recommendations for any specialist reports or further investigation

The written report also gives you a market valuation and an insurance reinstatement figure. Those figures are not pulled together by a desk-based analyst, they come from the same RICS-qualified surveyor who has carried out the physical inspection, so condition and value are assessed together.

Each condition rating is backed by plain-English commentary from our surveyors. You do not need specialist knowledge to follow the findings, and you can raise any concerns with your solicitor or conveyancer in a sensible, informed way. If we recommend extra work, such as a specialist damp report or drain survey, we explain the reason and can help you arrange it.

A sizeable number of DD8 properties are older, including Victorian stone terraces, traditional semi-detached homes, and rural farmhouses built over 100 years ago. Homes of this age and build tend to throw up familiar problems, and our surveyors know where those weak spots usually appear.

In older stone-built and traditionally constructed properties across the DD8 area, our inspectors pay close attention to:

• Damp penetration through solid stone walls - common in pre-cavity wall construction, particularly at ground level and around window and door openings
• Roof coverings - aged slates and tiles can slip, crack, or develop gaps, allowing water ingress into roof spaces
• Chimney stacks - flaunching and lead flashings deteriorate over time and are a common source of water entry in period properties
• Timber decay in roof spaces and ground-floor structures - older properties with solid floors or suspended timber floors may show signs of rot or beetle infestation
• Pointing and masonry - older lime mortar pointing can erode and require repointing; stone faces can spall in exposed locations
• Electrics - pre-1970s wiring systems may be approaching end of life and failing to meet current safety standards
• Drainage - older clay or cast-iron drainage runs are prone to root ingress, joint failure, and structural deterioration

Modern detached homes and newer builds call for a different focus. Our surveyors look closely at flat-roof extensions, drainage connections, garage construction, and the state of external cladding and render. Even recently built properties can show defects if workmanship was poor or materials have aged faster than expected.

Our Level 2 Survey report sets out every defect found during the inspection, grades its seriousness, and points to the right next step, whether that means repair, specialist investigation, or keeping an eye on it over time. There is no guesswork left for clients.

DD8 covers the Forfar area of Angus, plus a substantial surrounding rural and semi-rural hinterland. Forfar itself is Angus's county town, and the DD8 postcode reaches from Forfar's streets out to smaller towns, villages, and scattered rural properties.

home.co.uk data shows an average sold price of £198,179 across DD8 over the last 12 months, a 4% increase on the previous year. The market now sits 4% above the 2022 peak of £190,735, so buyers are paying elevated prices compared with recent history. Against that backdrop, a professional survey is not just helpful, it is sound financial practice.

The split by property type is wide. Detached properties average £286,949, the most common type sold in DD8, while semi-detached homes sit at £184,732 and terraced homes at £131,639. In sub-areas such as DD8 3ER, flats average £89,625. That range gives buyers a useful benchmark when judging whether an asking price makes sense against recent DD8 sales.

DD8 has a notable proportion of older properties. Victorian stone terraces and traditional farmhouses over a century old are common throughout the area, and many need careful survey coverage because their construction methods and materials differ from post-war or modern homes. Our RICS Level 2 Survey suits most of these properties in standard condition, but where age, visible defects, or non-standard construction is apparent, we may recommend our Level 3 Building Survey.