Anil Patel
Anil researches and writes guides for Top Rated Surveyors, turning prices, rules and official guidance into plain advice for homeowners. He bakes far more sourdough than the family can eat.
Articles by Anil Patel
What Is a Red Book Valuation and Why Does It Matter?
What the Red Book is, who must follow it, what the RICS Valuer Registration Scheme is, how to check a registered valuer on RICS's Find a Member and firm search, and what registration does not prove.
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Radon Test for Your Home and What It Costs
What radon is, how the UKHSA radon map works, the 200 becquerel action level, how a three month test works, what the test pack costs and what fixing a high reading typically costs.
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Thermal Imaging Survey for a Cold House and What It Shows
What a thermal imaging survey of a house shows, what it cannot show, why conditions and the surveyor's interpretation matter, and how it differs from an EPC, a damp survey and a moisture reading.
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Lease Extension Valuation and Why You Need a Surveyor
What a lease extension valuation is, why the 80 year mark matters, what the surveyor does, who pays which costs, and what the leasehold reforms have and have not changed so far.
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Are Online House Valuations Accurate Compared With a Surveyor?
What online house price estimates can and cannot tell you, how they differ from an estate agent opinion and a surveyor valuation, and when a formal RICS valuation is the right tool.
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Do You Need an EPC to Sell or Let Your Home?
When an EPC is required to sell or let, how long it lasts, what must appear in the listing, which buildings are exempt and what happens if you do not have one.
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Common Problems House Surveys Find and How Serious They Are
The problems house surveys most often flag, which are routine to fix and which deserve a specialist before you commit, using the RICS ratings to judge each one.
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What to Do If Your Surveyor Missed a Problem
What to do if you find a defect after buying that your surveyor missed: check the report, complain to the firm, use the free redress route and get legal advice early.
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Types of House Survey in the UK and Which One to Choose
The main types of house survey in the UK, from Level 1 to Level 3, snagging and mortgage valuations, with what each suits and what they typically cost.
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What a Quantity Surveyor Does on a Home Extension or Self Build
What a quantity surveyor does on an extension or self build, how it differs from a house surveyor, what the fees look like and when one is worth hiring.
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When You Need an RICS Valuation and What It Costs
What an RICS Red Book valuation is, when you need one instead of an estate agent's figure or a lender's valuation, how to check the valuer and what it costs in 2026.
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Buying a House at Auction and Getting a Survey Before You Bid
How property auctions work, why the survey, legal pack and finance must be sorted before you bid, what conditional and unconditional sales mean and the extra fees to check.
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What a Dilapidations Surveyor Does When Your Lease Ends
What dilapidations are, the documents and deadlines at the end of a commercial lease, and how a dilapidations surveyor helps tenants and landlords.
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How to Renegotiate the House Price After a Survey
How to use your survey report to renegotiate the price or ask for repairs before exchange, and what to do if the seller says no.
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