FAQs

When choosing a home surveyor, consider the following factors:

Where are they based? 

Local knowledge is very important in producing a good quality survey, so try to use a surveyor based in the same area as your property. Construction techniques and materials vary from town to town, particularly for older properties, so a surveyor with local experience may have insights that others do not.  A local surveyor will also spend less time traveling to the property and more time on the inspection itself. 

At Kenny Relf Surveyors we do not overload our diaries and we can spend as long on the property as the property requires. We only work in areas that we know well. This knowledge is reflected in the detail of the advice in our reports. We are fortunate enough to operate in a lovely part of the country. We often help clients for a second or third time when they choose to move locally, as they we’re so satisfied with the quality and service they received earlier.

Our phone numbers and photographs appear on our website. The person you have spoken to on the phone will be same the person who carries out the inspection and the same person you can call as many times as you wish once you’ve received the report or even after you’ve moved in!

What are their qualifications and experience? 

Check that your surveyor holds a qualification or membership of an accredited governing body – either the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA). 

Rob and Steve are both Associates of the RICS and members of the RPSA, you can use the links below to confirm our qualifications.

Rob https://www.rics.org/member-detail-page.html#/6779286

Steve https://www.rics.org/member-detail-page.html#/6929552

Rob has extensive experience in a range of sectors, from residential homes through to university, government and military buildings. He ran a successful independent surveying practice prior to forming Kenny Relf Surveyors.

Steve trained as a surveyor having previously owned and run a construction company. He is also a landlord and property investor. He has corporate surveying experience.

Rob and Steve bring qualifications, experience and a shared passion for the surveying industry into Kenny Relf Surveying Ltd. We believe we have a unique combined skillset to provide the best service to our clients. What’s more – we love what we do!

How much will the survey cost? 

It’s always worth shopping around, although bear in mind that a quality survey takes time and expertise. As with any purchase, you generally get what you pay for! Some larger firms may offer lower prices, but to do so requires their surveyors to carry out more than one inspection a day, giving them limited time on site.  Unfortunately, this can lead to reports filled with ‘Further Investigations Required’ – surveyor speak for “I didn’t have time to investigate this properly myself”. Not only is this not good value for money to you as the home buyer, it will delay the buying process and add additional stress to what we already know can be a challenging time.

You should also consider asking friends and neighbours for recommendations for surveyors. You are likely to get an honest opinion of their experience. 

What will the survey include? 

In addition to getting quotes you should also speak to the surveyor that you may be working with. Don’t be afraid to ask questions such as; 

· What does your survey report include? 

· Can you please send me a sample report?

· How long will you spend looking at the house?

· How many surveys a day do you carry out?

· Can we have a conversation about the house after the inspection?

· Can I give you a call even after I’ve moved in if I was thinking about putting an extension on or removing an internal wall?

At Kenny Relf Surveyors Ltd, we encourage our clients to give us a call if they have any questions. Our aim is always to provide such an excellent service that our clients recommend us to their friends and neighbours.

Do they have good reviews?

Most companies have an online profile with portals such as Trustpilot or Google reviews. Sometimes it’s worth looking not only at the five style glowing reviews but also the negative reviews and how the company manage those client complaints. At Kenny Relf Surveyors Limited our clients know that they can call us with any questions that they would like us to answer. As a newly formed limited company we are in the process of growing our online presence which will include the large number of positive reviews we have already received.

Our aim is to exceed your expectations and give you peace of mind during what can be a stressful period. 

Call Kenny Relf Surveyors on 07949 193186, send us an email at surveys@kennyrelf.co.uk or use this link to our contact form https://kennyrelfsurveyors.co.uk/contact

Choosing the right surveyor is a really important decision. We are a regulated industry, but it is a really crowded market. Some of the larger corporate companies may offer cheaper surveys but there is widespread concern in the industry as to the quality of some of the reports and the advice that they contain. Surveyors in some corporate companies are carrying out eight to 10 surveys a week. 

We at Kenny Relf Surveyors carry out three to four surveys a week. This enables us to spend as much time at the property as required without having to rush to the next job or rush home to write up reports, without any reflection process. Rather than fill the report with advice for you to seek further investigations from 3rd parties; our reports will explain the defects, include photographs of the defects and explain who needs to carry out repairs and how urgent they are. You will speak to the surveyor who is carrying out your home inspection. The same surveyor will call you after the inspection and you are welcome to call him back at any time in the future if you have any other questions. Surveyors in larger companies often do not have the time all the personal relationship to manage ongoing communication with clients.

Our aim is to exceed your expectations and give you peace of mind during what can be a stressful period. 

Call Kenny Relf Surveyors on 07949 193186, send us an email at surveys@kennyrelf.co.uk or use this link to our contact form https://kennyrelfsurveyors.co.uk/contact

Here at Kenny Relf Surveyors, we firmly believe that carrying out a New Build Snagging Survey on a newly constructed home is a must. You’d be amazed at how many defects remain incomplete even after the developer or building control officers have signed off the property as ready for sale. One recent new build survey we carried out identified over 170 defects in the grounds, externally and internally. Some of these defects were structural and would have cost the buyer either a considerable amount of money to rectify, or the additional stress of convincing the developer to revisit and put right earlier mistakes or omissions. 

Recent government plans include an escalation of house building in this country to address the lack of available properties on the market. However, as there is a shortage of skilled workers, the result can be houses that are built quickly and of poor quality.

At Kenny Relf Surveyors limited our snagging reports comply with the most recent National Housebuilder Quality Board (NHQB) and RICS compliance. We carry out snagging reports after all of the work in the property has been completed and within 14 days of the date you are due to move in. Our reports are passed to our client within three working days, thus allowing ample time and opportunity for any repairs to be carried out by the developer prior to your moving in day. Our reports will include photographs of any defect along with a description and exactly who needs to repair it.

This is a link to the NHQB website, which explains in greater detail the scope of the inspections Homepage (nhqb.org.uk)

Our aim is to exceed your expectations and give you peace of mind during what can be a stressful period. 

Call Kenny Relf Surveyors on 07949 193186, send us an email at surveys@kennyrelf.co.uk or use this link to our contact form https://kennyrelfsurveyors.co.uk/contact

Yes, we often work with parents helping their children get on the property ladder for the first time. We also work with children assisting elderly parents for example. After one recent survey I was able to advise someone buying a property for her parents, as to the feasibility of installing a disability access bathroom; how this would work logistically and the likely build costs. We have also carried out a survey recently for an agent buying on behalf of a high net worth individual property investor.

Our aim is to exceed your expectations and give you peace of mind during what can be a stressful period. 

Call Kenny Relf Surveyors on 07949 193186, send us an email at surveys@kennyrelf.co.uk or use this link to our contact form https://kennyrelfsurveyors.co.uk/contact

Yes, we regularly carry out single defect analysis following the completion of extensions bathrooms, conservatories and most recently a large porch. The cost of a single defect report is generally less than that of a home condition survey as we would only focus on the issue you had identified for us to inspect. At Kenny Relf Surveyors the single defect report will include detailed explanations, photographs and an analysis of any defects identified. It will also include an explanation of who needs to repair the defects and how quickly. For example, one recent single defect inspection of an extension which had been completed six months previously, identified serious structural defects that required immediate intervention. Other defects can be relatively minor, but nevertheless require the individual contractor to return or provide our clients with the opportunity to pursue the matter legally if necessary.

Our aim is to exceed your expectations and give you peace of mind during what can be a stressful period. 

Call Kenny Relf Surveyors on 07949 193186, send us an email at surveys@kennyrelf.co.uk or use this link to our contact form https://kennyrelfsurveyors.co.uk/contact

Yes, the rental sector is an important part of the property market. We regularly work on behalf of landlords buying property to add to their portfolio. We know that issues such as damp and mould and energy efficiency are really important for landlords. We are able to advise on rectifying any defects or retrospectively installing energy efficient components to properties.

Our aim is to exceed your expectations and give you peace of mind during what can be a stressful period. 

Call Kenny Relf Surveyors on 07949 193186, send us an email at surveys@kennyrelf.co.uk or use this link to our contact form https://kennyrelfsurveyors.co.uk/contact