57 guides · 20 free tools

Everything we know, sorted by the problem

Seven topics, because those are the seven things people write to us about. Each one has the guides, the tools and the honest answer about what is usually wrong and what it costs.

Damp, rot and timber More money is wasted on damp than on any other defect in British housing, almost all of it because the wrong kind was treated. Work out what you actually have before anyone quotes you for anything. 9 guides · 3 tools → Cracks and structure Almost every masonry house in Britain has cracks. A small number of them matter. The difference is measurable, and you can do most of the measuring yourself before spending a penny. 7 guides · 3 tools → Roofs and rainwater Water gets into buildings from the top. Gutters, flashings and chimney stacks cause more damp in British houses than every other defect combined, and all three are cheap compared with what they ruin. 5 guides · 3 tools → Electrics, heating and windows Surveyors do not test the electrics, do not fire the boiler and do not open a window more than once. Everything on this page needs its own inspection — and the gap between "looks dated" and "needs replacing" is usually several thousand pounds. 6 guides · 3 tools → RICS surveys and buying A RICS survey tells you what is wrong and almost never what it costs. That gap — between a list of problems and a decision you can act on — is where most buyers lose either money or the house. 14 guides · 4 tools → Costs and projects Building work is priced in ranges because it is delivered in ranges. Anyone giving you a single confident number for a job they have not seen is guessing — here is how to work out what yours should cost. 9 guides · 4 tools → Hiring a builder Most jobs that go badly wrong were visible in the quote. The warning signs are consistent, they are easy to check, and thirty seconds on the right register settles most of them. 7 guides · 3 tools →

Where to start

Viewing a property this weekend? Take the viewing checklist and read surveys and buying.

Survey landed and you do not know what half of it means? The jargon decoder translates it, and the repair cost calculator turns it into a number you can negotiate with.

Damp patch you cannot explain? Start with the damp diagnosis tool before anyone quotes you for a chemical damp-proof course.

Crack that has appeared? Measure it against the BRE scale. Most cracks are in the bottom two categories.

Planning work? Price it with the cost calculators, then check planning and building regulations.

Got a quote in front of you? Run it through the quote checker before you sign anything.

Review my RICS survey — £59

Need a builder’s honest take on a property or project?

Get a builder’s eyes on it first. We review RICS surveys, listings, photos and quotes, and tell you in plain English what matters and what it’s likely to cost.

Book a builder review — £59

Pay, then send it by WhatsApp or email · written review + call within 24 hours · refund if it isn’t clear