RICS Level 2 Survey in Trafford

Our RICS Level 2 Survey gives a clear visual inspection of every accessible part of a property. We check walls, ceilings, floors, doors and windows, along with the roof space where it is safe and accessible, the outside of the building, and important fittings such as bathrooms and kitchens. Each element is then marked using a simple traffic light system, green for no issues, amber for defects needing attention, and red for serious issues requiring urgent repair. Buyers can quickly see what needs action now and what can be dealt with over time.

Trafford has a very mixed housing stock, so that broad inspection is especially useful here. Across the borough you will find Victorian and Edwardian terraced properties in places such as Stretford and Old Trafford, modern detached homes in Bowdon and Hale, and plenty of new build apartments in developments including Trafford Gardens and X1 Trafford Waters. Every type tends to come with its own usual faults, and our surveyors know the patterns well. Victorian terraces, for instance, often show older roof structures and original windows that may need work, while newer apartments can present snagging issues linked to modern construction methods.

The Level 2 survey also comes with a market valuation and an insurance rebuild cost. That can be helpful when arranging buildings insurance, or when the survey uncovers problems that may affect the property's value. Our report sets out the facts you need to negotiate with the seller, ask for repairs, or step back from the purchase if the defects are significant. In Trafford, many buyers have used our findings to secure price reductions or add provisions for necessary repairs to their offer.

There are limits to what a Level 2 survey covers, and we are direct about them. It is a visual inspection only, so we do not open up walls, crawl into inaccessible voids or produce structural calculations. Where our surveyor spots something that calls for closer analysis, we will recommend a follow-up RICS Level 3 Building Survey or advice from a structural engineer. That straightforward approach is part of how we give genuinely useful information.

• Visual inspection of all accessible areas
• Traffic light ratings for condition
• Market valuation and rebuild cost
• Advice on repairs and maintenance

Residential growth is changing Trafford quickly. On Talbot Road in Stretford, Trafford Gardens by the Linear Group is bringing forward 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments. In Old Trafford, the joint venture between Trafford Council and L&Q at Bold Street is delivering 147 new homes, with half marked as affordable housing. Developments like these are reshaping the borough and creating homes for the thousands of workers employed by major companies in the area.

Other schemes are adding to that picture. Latimer by Clarion Housing Group at Brian Statham Way in Old Trafford includes homes from 1 to 4 bedrooms, while X1 Trafford Waters near the Trafford Centre offers 1 and 2-bedroom apartments. Trafford Council's development arm is also bringing forward new homes through Williams Row, The Courts, Lacy Street and Ortus Gardens across the borough. For buyers looking at these new build properties, the details of construction and the standard of the build matter a great deal.

The next phase is even bigger. The Trafford Wharfside masterplan sets out up to 5,000 new homes in the area, with the potential to create 92,000 new jobs and make a major contribution to the UK economy. That scale of change will keep transforming the borough and strengthen its appeal for buyers. We inspect these modern developments with the same care, picking up issues that are not always obvious at first glance, so buyers can judge whether a purchase in one of Trafford's new communities stacks up.

With new build surveys, we pay close attention to window seals, balcony constructions, waterproofing in wet rooms and the standard of finishings that building regulations inspections may not cover. Even brand new homes can have defects, and builders should usually rectify them before the warranty period runs out. Our reports set out those points clearly, giving buyers the evidence they need to go back to the developer and request corrections.