Intermediate Surveys

Our recently-introduced Intermediate Survey, which is broadly comparable with the RICS Level 2 Survey (without valuation), the differences being defined in the Conditions of Engagement, is an economy package intended for use on modern, straightforward properties, in reasonable condition. 

It is like a basic MOT test for a car, in that it will focus on essentials, defects, faults and problems within the building which are "Urgent or Significant" and which should influence the decision to buy or not to buy at the price that has been agreed.

As each house is different, Stilings do not have a standard scale of charges, but gauge the cost based on a number of parameters, for example: age of the building, size of the building, location and purchase price. 

However, the Intermediate Survey is always less expensive than a Building Survey, which is broadly comparable with the RICS Level 3 Survey (without valuation), the differences being defined within the Conditions of Engagement, as the report document adopts a more limited format. To explain this, think of the way in which a tabloid newspaper (the Intermediate Survey style report) covers a news story, by comparison with a traditional broadsheet newspaper (the Building Survey report style), where, although both would give you the headline facts, the latter would usually contain far more background or supporting information.

As we have said above, the Intermediate Survey can only satisfactorily be carried out on more modern properties, generally those built since the 1960s, which have not been significantly altered, this is because the limited report style does not allow for the history of the changes that have been carried out within an altered property, to be discussed.

The Intermediate Survey report would usually be accompanied by photographs, either printed or on a CD/DVD-ROM, with an accompanying caption schedule, to illustrate what is being discussed in the report itself.