RICS Level 2 Survey in IP23

Our RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey is the usual choice for conventionally built properties in reasonable overall condition. It fits most homes sold in IP23, from post-war semis and detached family houses to newer plots at developments such as Castleton Grange in Eye. For Grade II Listed buildings and older timber-framed properties in the town's historic core, a RICS Level 3 Building Survey gives a fuller assessment and is normally the better option.

We inspect all accessible parts of the building from the outside in. That means the roof covering and structure, chimney stacks and rainwater goods, external walls, windows and doors, internal floors, ceilings and walls, the loft space where we can reach it, fitted heating and electrical services, plus the grounds and outbuildings. Each item receives a Condition Rating, 1 for no repair needed, 2 for repair or maintenance needed but not urgent, or 3 for a serious defect that needs urgent attention or specialist investigation.

The finished report also sets out matters your solicitor should look into, gives a valuation at the time of inspection, and flags any areas where specialist reports may be sensible. We use calibrated moisture meters to check for damp that is not obvious to the eye. Our surveyors also inspect loft spaces and any cellar or basement areas that can be accessed, and all of that goes into the report.

• Roof covering, tiles, slates, ridge and chimney flashings
• External walls, brickwork, render and pointing
• Windows, doors and external joinery condition
• Internal floors, ceilings and plasterwork
• Damp readings throughout all elevations
• Loft structure, insulation and roof timbers
• Visible heating and hot water systems
• Electrical installation condition
• Outbuildings, garaging and boundary structures

Eye is an ancient market town in mid-Suffolk, with a recorded history that reaches back to the Saxon period. Its historic core holds a high proportion of listed buildings, which reflects development across many centuries. Across Eye's older streets, Grade II Listed properties range from thatched cottages to substantial Georgian townhouses built in traditional Suffolk brick.

Where a property has listed building status, or sits within any conservation area designation in IP23, a RICS Level 3 Building Survey is usually a better fit than a Level 2. Listed buildings often use non-standard construction, thick solid walls, lime mortar rather than modern cement, exposed timber framing, handmade clay tiles or natural slate roofs, all of which call for a surveyor's deeper narrative assessment, not just the traffic-light ratings. A Level 3 report gives that narrative and makes the likely costs and implications of maintenance or repair much clearer.

For any unlisted property in IP23 that looks pre-1919, we look at it case by case to decide whether the Level 2 or Level 3 format is the right one. If there is any doubt during booking, our team will talk it through before the survey is confirmed. We want you to get the level of scrutiny that suits that specific property.

The largest new build development in IP23 is Castleton Grange in Eye, a sizeable residential scheme with a wide spread of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. At Castleton Grange, prices run from around £255,000 for smaller semi-detached properties up to £520,000 for larger detached executive homes, including the five-bedroom Hadleigh and four-bedroom Brightstone designs. Shared ownership options are available too, which opens the development to a broader range of buyers.

New build homes on schemes like Castleton Grange are usually covered by an NHBC Buildmark structural warranty for the first ten years after construction. Even so, buyers of new homes can still make good use of our snagging survey service, which picks up cosmetic and minor construction defects before legal completion, while the developer is still required to deal with them. A snagging survey is a separate product from a RICS Level 2 survey and is designed specifically for homes bought new.

There is also a small bespoke development at Elm Tree Farm in Eye, with barn-style homes, vaulted ceilings and open-plan living areas. One-bedroom apartments and a few other small developments have also come to the IP23 market. For all re-sale properties in IP23, whether post-war, Edwardian, Victorian or earlier, the RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey remains the standard first step for an independent assessment.