A builder’s eye on the house you’ve just viewed
Send the listing and your viewing photos. Know what to ask the agent, what to budget for, and what your surveyor should look at — before you make an offer.
Check a house before I offer — £59Book here, then send the listing link and photos by WhatsApp or email · money-back if it isn’t clear
Within 24 hours of receiving your listing and photos, you get:
- A plain-English note on what the photos and listing show
- Rough cost ranges for the obvious work — windows, kitchen, roof line, extensions
- Questions to put to the agent before you offer
- Which RICS survey level to book, and what to ask the surveyor to look at
- A one-to-one call to talk it through
£59 for one property or one quote. No quotations for the work, no referral fees, no upselling.
What your photos can tell a builder — and what they can’t
A viewing is twenty minutes and a lot of nerves. We go through the listing and what you photographed, pick out what is likely to cost real money, and tell you what to check next. It is a head start before the survey, not a replacement for one.
The listing shows a later single-storey extension. Ask for the building control completion certificate before you offer. If there isn’t one, regularisation typically runs £800–£6,000.
Looks like an overflowing or leaking gutter. Usually a modest fix (£300–£2,500), but ask your surveyor to check the wall behind it for damp.
Tired rather than failing. A mid-range replacement typically costs £9,000–£22,000 — a budgeting point for your offer, not a reason to walk.
Ben Murrell
I’m a carpenter by trade and I’ve spent nearly 30 years on UK building sites. When you book, I go through what you send and I’m the one who rings you. I never quote for the work I review and I take no referral fees, so there’s nothing for me to gain by making a problem sound bigger — or smaller — than it is.
What people buying property say
“Ben was incredibly lovely and helpful with some questions about our property and responded quickly and thoroughly.”
“Really valued Ben’s knowledge and practical advice around building compliance and my uncertainties with a property I was looking to buy. It helped me to feel clearer about how to proceed and more confident with any negotiations. Really helpful and efficient. Would definately recommend!”
“I can’t begin to tell you how valuable having this team on your side is. As someone who finds properties for investors, this is an invaluable service. Chris and the team are able to have short meetings or look at photos to allow you to get a real understanding of whether the project is viable or an estimate of the works. Great service!”
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What this review can and can’t do
We can
- Point out what the listing and your photos show
- Give rough cost ranges for visible, common work
- Suggest questions for the agent and seller
- Tell you which survey level suits the house
We can’t
- See anything your photos and the listing don’t show
- Replace a RICS survey — you still need one
- Value the property or tell you what to offer
- Give a fixed quote for any work
Full detail in our terms.
Before you book
What should I send?
The listing link, any floorplan, and the photos or video you took at the viewing. The more angles of the outside, roof line, windows, kitchen, bathroom and any extension, the more useful the review.
Do I still need a RICS survey?
Yes. This review helps you decide whether to offer and what to look out for. A surveyor inspects the house in person; we tell you which survey level makes sense and what to ask them to look at.
Will you tell me how much to offer?
No — that is a valuation question, and it stays your decision. We give you likely cost ranges for the work we can see, so you can factor them in.
Who reads it?
Ben Murrell, a builder for nearly 30 years. The person who reads it is the person who calls you.
What if I’m not happy?
If the review doesn’t give you a clear answer on what you sent, you get a full refund. No forms.
Check a house before I offer — £59
Useful first: Viewing checklist · What to look for at a viewing · Only one thing to ask? Ask one question free.
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.
Pay, then send it by WhatsApp or email · written review + call within 24 hours · refund if it isn’t clear