Donald Leslie & Co

12/11/2024

Seen on today’s shared ownership valuation .

28/08/2024

Level 2 survey with valuation and insurance rebuild cost.
A London client looking to move his family to The Chiltern’s and in need of independent and local professional advice for this important move.
This property sits on a sloping site and so it was important that the implications and limitations were considered fully.
We spent 4 hours on site inspecting, including a video of us replicating rain by using a hose and how the drive performs. The client then had an hour long debrief prior to the full report (75 pages) being issued .
It will enable the client to;

Asses if the house they viewed is what they believe it to be.
Understand if it’s fit for their families needs.
Decide if the purchase price offered reflects the potential costs of works required.
Renegotiate the purchase price if appropriate.

What is the cost of peace of mind on your next home purchase ?

22/08/2024

Building reinstatement cost.

Many insurers are insisting on a reassessment of the cost to rebuild houses in the event of fire.
This is partly due to the huge rise in building costs leaving many people potentially underinsured .
It’s particularly important if you have extended your property since its last assessment.

We carry out a measured survey and asses the costs based on quality of finishes to ensure you pay an accurate fee for building insurance. It can save you money in the long run as many people are over insured too.
Getting it right is ideal.

12/08/2024

First time buyers happy to invest in a survey with valuation for their flat purchase. As they are currently renting the flat they were present for the survey and were able to ask as many questions as possible so they were proceeding fully informed.
Good value for money for a critical and expensive purchase.

08/08/2024

A Level 2 pre purchase inspection on a property which has been extended and refurbished by a developer.
These properties are attractive to purchasers, they look good and should be a low maintenance property allowing you to live comfortably without the need to source further work.
At least that’s the dream, to ensure this is the case it’s worth getting an independent professional chartered surveyor with extensive experience to carry out a thorough survey.
The inspection on this property took 5 hours, we then had a chat with our client to update them with our findings and the report will follow in 2 weeks with time allowed for more questions.
This purchaser will then be able to decide whether to proceed as planned, renegotiate or look for an alternative.

06/08/2024

Level 2 survey

This client was in two minds about whether or not to have a survey. They had watched the lenders surveyor carry out a very cursory inspection in under an hour on their own 4 bed detached house and frankly weren’t impressed. Our name was given to them by someone who had used us before and the survey had uncovered issues which they managed to renegotiate the price significantly, paying for the survey many time over but more importantly allowing them to proceed with confidence.
We carried out a thorough inspection over 3-4 hours and were able to feedback to the client a few issues which they were unaware of. In their words “ I didn’t know what I didn’t know , thanks, I’m so glad I did this “

05/08/2024

Level 2 survey with valuation reinstatement cost.
Purchaser is moving from London and wanted a thorough survey to check any possible expenditure requirements in the next few years.

specialist advice

31/07/2024

If you are considering having an independent survey things to think about.


Do ensure your surveyor is Chartered not just RICS registered.
Ask how long they’ve been looking at property in the area, volume matters, experience is everything.
Ask to see a sample survey and how long they spend on site inspecting.
Do consider a list of questions so you ensure you learn as much as possible about your purchase.
Ensure you can speak to the surveyor once you have the report.
Pick up the phone and speak to the firms don’t just rely on the best price, this could be a waste of your money.
Don’t get too bogged down in the type of report, an experienced surveyor will guide you to the most appropriate one for your property.
A good survey can save you thousands of pounds or save you from making an expensive mistake, do your research.

30/07/2024

29/07/2024

Today’s specific defect survey.
Advising a concerned homeowner about a spray foam installation and its implications for resale and remortgaging .

26/07/2024

Another busy week of pre purchase surveys, valuations, party wall work and a specific defect survey for a homeowner concerned about damp.
If you value professional advice from a RICS chartered surveyor with over 30 years of experience in residential property do get in touch.


&3surveysforpurchase.

22/07/2024

Look after the bees and the bees will look after you.