RICS Level 2 Survey in Easington

Our RICS Level 2 Survey gives you a detailed visual inspection of every accessible part of the property. We check the condition of the walls, roof, floors, doors and windows, as well as the building's external and internal joinery. We also assess services including plumbing, heating and electrical installations, looking for obvious defects that could affect the property's value or lead to future expenditure.

In Easington, a place with plenty of traditional brick homes and some properties dating back several decades, we pay close attention to roof coverings, chimney stacks and any evidence of damp or structural movement. Because Easington is on the coast, we also look carefully at exposure-related wear, including the state of external render and any sign that salt air has affected building materials.

The end result is a clear report that is easy to follow, built around a traffic light rating system for each element. Red marks urgent issues needing immediate attention, amber points to defects that may need negotiating over, and green shows satisfactory condition. It is a simple format, but a useful one, because it makes it much easier to see what you are buying and gives you solid backing in any price discussions.

If we spot anything that needs a specialist follow-up, such as possible structural concerns or hidden defects, we set this out clearly in the report and include specific recommendations for further investigation. That way, you have a fuller picture of the property before committing to the purchase.

A RICS Level 2 Survey can be especially useful in Easington because the housing market has a few particular features. The village has seen marked price movement recently, with values down around 31% from their 2022 peak. In a market like that, it matters even more to understand the real condition of a property, since a reduced price may reflect the wider market, the building's actual state, or both.

Traditional construction is common in Easington, with many homes built in brick and finished with pitched roofs. Older properties, especially those marketed as period cottages or impressive period homes, can hide defects that do not show up in a casual viewing. Our surveyors know what to look for in older buildings, from damp penetration and worn roof coverings to concerns affecting load-bearing elements.

Being close to the sea changes the picture a bit. In Easington, salt air can speed up corrosion on metal components and wear away external render. We note any signs of weather-related deterioration and set out practical maintenance advice suited to coastal properties. Although our research did not identify a specific flood risk in Easington itself, the wider coastal setting means we always check drainage, ground levels and the condition of any basement or below-ground areas.

Semi-detached homes account for most sales in Easington, and terraced properties also make up a notable part of the housing stock. These types of home, especially those built between the 1950s and 1980s, often come with recurring issues that our surveyors are used to spotting, including original windows, ageing roof coverings and signs of movement within the structure.

Each time we inspect in Easington, we draw on our knowledge of the construction methods commonly found in the area. Traditional brickwork is widespread, and many properties have solid walls rather than cavity wall construction. That has a direct bearing on how we assess insulation and thermal efficiency, both of which we record in the report. In older homes, we also review any original features that remain, as these may add real value or call for specialist maintenance.

Buyers need to be careful in a market as changeable as Easington's. With prices falling over 30% from their 2022 peak, it is important not to overpay for a property that may need substantial remedial work. A thorough survey helps on that front. Our inspectors have seen properties throughout the village and can add context on local issues that may not be obvious to someone who does not know the area.

Period properties in Easington are a good example of where our surveys come into their own. Many of these homes were built before 1919 and include traditional features that need specialist understanding to assess properly. Our surveyors are familiar with the methods used in different building eras and can identify problems that may affect both long-term performance and value.

We also look closely at any extensions or alterations carried out over the years. A lot of homes in Easington have been extended or changed at some stage, and our inspection considers whether those additions appear to have been properly built and, where visible, whether they comply with relevant building regulations.

After the inspection, we provide a detailed report written to be straightforward and easy to follow. Every part of the property is graded through our traffic light system, red for urgent issues needing immediate attention, amber for defects that should be raised in negotiations with the seller, and green for areas in satisfactory condition.

At the front of the report, we include a concise summary of the main findings so you can get a quick sense of the property's overall condition. That is particularly helpful if you need to talk matters through with your mortgage lender, or simply want to decide quickly whether the property still fits your requirements.

For each element we survey, the report sets out the condition we found, the likely impact on the property and any action we recommend. Where specialist input is needed, such as a structural engineer's assessment or a damp survey, we make that recommendation clearly in the report.