RICS Level 2 Survey in EH43

Our RICS Level 2 Survey is the standard homebuyer inspection for conventional properties in reasonable condition. We inspect all accessible parts of the property through our fully qualified chartered surveyors, then issue a written report using the traffic-light condition rating system. Condition Rating 1 means no repair is currently needed. Rating 2 highlights defects that need attention but are not urgent. Rating 3 identifies serious defects needing immediate or significant repair work.

In EH43, where properties are largely traditional stone-built, we pay close attention to external masonry, roofing and internal signs of damp, these are the areas where older stone buildings in the Scottish Borders climate most often show wear. Throughout the inspection, we use a moisture meter on wall surfaces to check for elevated dampness and to help distinguish between different sources of damp.

Our Level 2 survey covers all of the following:

• Roof structure, coverings, chimney stacks, and flashings
• External walls - stone masonry condition, pointing, and movement cracks
• Internal walls and ceilings for staining, movement, and moisture
• Floors at accessible areas
• Windows, external doors, and joinery condition
• Services - visible condition of heating, plumbing, and electrical installations
• Damp assessment using moisture meter readings throughout
• Grounds and outbuildings within the boundary
• Legal and insurance matters to flag to your solicitor

We also record environmental risk factors linked to the property's setting. For EH43 riverside homes near the River Tweed, flood risk is one of the key issues we will highlight in the report, along with recommendations for further specialist investigation where that is appropriate.

EH43 lies in the upper Tweed valley, and that setting brings together several reasons why a professional survey is particularly worthwhile. The River Tweed runs along or close to Walkerburn, so some properties are positioned in areas with river flood risk. Add in the substantial rainfall the Scottish Borders often sees across autumn and winter, and homes here can face heavy weather exposure over their working lifetime.

Traditional stone construction is durable, but it has its own weaknesses as it gets older. Lime mortar pointing between stone courses, the original material used in nineteenth-century construction, naturally weathers away over time. In some cases it is replaced during repairs with incompatible cement mortar, which traps moisture in the stonework instead of allowing it to breathe. We check both the pointing material and its condition carefully, because poor pointing repairs are a common cause of damp in this kind of building.

We inspect timber in older Walkerburn homes with real care. Window frames, sills, external joinery and roof timbers in properties of this age can all be vulnerable to rot after long-term moisture exposure. Some warning signs, such as soft or spongy timber, paint blistering and discolouration, may be visible from outside, but decay in roof structures and sub-floor areas needs focused attention during the survey.

Our surveyors work across EH43 and the wider Scottish Borders on a regular basis. Because we know the usual construction patterns in Walkerburn's housing stock, and the maintenance issues that tend to come with them, we can judge both what needs close inspection and how findings should be read in context. That helps us separate what is typical for the area from what is genuinely concerning.

Walkerburn is a village of around 700 residents in the Scottish Borders, set in the Tweed Valley with Innerleithen to the west and Galashiels to the east. The A72 passes through the village beside the River Tweed, and the area has good links to the larger Borders towns. A short drive away, the Borders Railway terminus at Tweedbank provides a connection to Edinburgh Waverley, widening access to the area for commuters.

The village expanded sharply during the nineteenth century with the growth of the Borders textile industry. A large share of Walkerburn's housing stock is still made up of mill workers' cottages and terraces from that period. Built from local stone in the traditional Borders style, these homes are solid, well proportioned and capable of lasting many more decades if maintained properly. For buyers, the real question is what work has already been done and what is still outstanding, and that is exactly what our Level 2 survey is designed to answer.

Over the last year, average prices in the EH43 postcode area were £128,500, which marks a 19% drop from the 2023 peak of £158,500. That gives buyers a chance to enter a market that has moved down from recent highs, in a setting known for the qualities people associate with the Scottish Borders, clean air, access to the Tweed for walking and fishing, and a strong rural community. Even so, a purchase at this level is still a major financial commitment for most buyers, and a survey helps protect it.

Outside Walkerburn itself, the wider EH43 area includes rural homes and smallholdings. Those properties bring extra survey considerations. Drainage systems, private water supplies, access rights and agricultural outbuildings all fall within the scope of our inspection where they are accessible. If you are buying a rural property in EH43, our surveyor will assess all visible structures and flag any matters that are relevant to the rural setting.