Harriet Cole
Harriet is a writer and editor for Top Rated Surveyors, covering house surveys and buying a home. When she's not writing guides, she plays five-a-side on Tuesday nights.
Articles by Harriet Cole
What Is the Pyramus and Thisbe Society and Why Does It Matter?
What the Pyramus & Thisbe Society is, its history since 1974, what MPTS and FPTS mean, how members are admitted, its protocol, its Find a Surveyor page and what membership does not prove.
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What to Look for When Viewing a House Before You Offer
What to check when viewing a house before you offer: the paperwork to ask for, visible warning signs, free online checks, how many viewings buyers usually make and what to leave to a surveyor.
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First Homes Scheme Explained and Why the Valuation Matters
How the First Homes discount works, the price and income caps, who can buy, why an independent RICS valuation sets the price now and at resale, and what the rules say about letting and improving.
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Flood Risk Checks to Make Before You Buy a House
Which free flood checks to run before you buy, what the official check cannot tell you, how Flood Re helps with insurance, and what your surveyor and conveyancer can and cannot cover.
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How to Prepare Your Home for the Buyer's Survey
What a buyer's surveyor will and will not do in your home, how to make access easy, which certificates and guarantees to have ready, and what to expect after the inspection.
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EPC Cost and How to Find an Accredited Energy Assessor
What an EPC costs in 2026, what changes the price, who can legally produce one, how to check for an existing certificate and how to compare assessors.
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What a Condition Rating 3 Means in Your Survey Report
What a condition rating 3 means in a RICS survey report, what it does not mean, and the steps to take before you commit to buying.
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Do You Need a Survey When Buying a Flat?
Why a survey matters when you buy a flat, what the surveyor can and cannot inspect, which level suits and how shared repairs can reach you through service charges.
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Who Arranges the Survey When You Buy a House?
Who arranges a survey when you buy a house, how it differs from the lender's mortgage valuation, who pays, and how to book yours at the right time.
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How to Check Your Surveyor Is Qualified and RICS Regulated
How to check a surveyor is a genuine RICS member and a RICS regulated firm, what the letters mean, what regulation gives you and what the RPSA is.
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Probate Valuation of a House and What It Costs
How to value a house for probate and Inheritance Tax, whether an estate agent or a chartered surveyor should do it, what HMRC may check and what a probate valuation costs.
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Do You Need a Structural Survey or a Structural Engineer?
What people now mean by a structural survey, how it differs from a structural engineer's report, which one you need and what each costs.
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How to Choose a Chartered Surveyor for Your Home Purchase
How to choose a chartered surveyor. The letters to look for, what RICS regulation gives you, and the questions to ask before you book.
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Do You Need a Level 2 Survey or a Level 3 Survey?
Level 2 or Level 3? A plain guide to what each RICS home survey covers, which homes each one suits, and how to choose with confidence.
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