I’m afraid I cannot help everyone – working days, evenings and weekends, there are still not enough hours in my fifty-plus-hour working week, to help everyone who contacts me. I’m sorry.

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Level 3/building surveys - I am probably not available to do a building survey for you in the next couple of days/weeks unless I have had a cancellation or a postponement. Due to the pre-survey-research time, time on site and write-up time, I am often booking Level 3/Building Surveys two months in advance, so, if you think you may need my services, please do not leave it until the week before the exchange of contracts to try and book a survey in. Let's have a chat when you have had your offer accepted and your solicitor is on with the legal element of the transaction.

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Following my inspection of the property, I will generally take a day to reflect before I begin writing the report*. Due to the often complex nature of the properties I inspect and the remedial works usually required, I type up all of the reports myself, by hand. This obviously takes time, and it would be prudent to allow a week or more for the report to be delivered back to you.

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​*The reflection period is a mandatory requirement (Section 3 and Subsection 3.3) of the RICS Professional Statement - Home Survey Standard 1st Edition 2019 (effective 1st March 2021). Consider that if other surveyors are advising you that they provide a 'same-day' or 'within 24/48 hour' service, their reports may not comply with this mandatory requirement (or the rest of the Statement). 

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Consultation work – depending on the nature of the work, the lead-in time is not usually as long. It's unlikely I will be able to come and see you this week, but more likely next week or the following week. When taking consultation instructions, it is generally helpful to have some photos and a timeline of events that have led to you contacting me – this is what I am likely to ask you for before booking in an inspection date, so including it in your first email would be helpful for me.

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Project Consultancy/Management – I review all of these proposals individually and do not generally take on more than one project role at once. I will only become involved with projects where an Architect has prepared drawings so that I have a design to review, input and work with. I do not undertake the Principal Designer role. As much notice as possible would be appreciated. I am unlikely to come on board with your project if you have already started on-site or if your project is going to start next week. It is significantly more beneficial to have been involved from the design stage.

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Unless I think there is a genuine emergency, all work is undertaken on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis, no queue jumping. If you offer me more money to try and jump the queue, we will not be working together.

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Please note that I do not return missed calls. If you are unable to reach me on the phone (usually because I am on site/with a client), please do send me an email and I will get back to you as soon as I am able.  ​

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Below is an example of recent Level 3 Building Surveys to illustrate timings:

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