West Sussex · London and the South East
Elsted Marsh Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Elsted Marsh, with photos and a written report.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Elsted Marsh
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. We don’t offer a RICS home survey, and ours is not a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side. Typical surveys look at chimney mortar that has eroded and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, across clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and the roof space.
Being in a small place like Elsted Marsh makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Elsted Marsh (GU29)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Elsted Marsh
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What to tell us when you contact us
When you call or email, these details help:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Elsted Marsh: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Elsted Marsh?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you come out to Elsted Marsh?
Yes, Elsted Marsh is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. We can’t promise how the seller will respond.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
Also near Elsted Marsh
Also in Elsted Marsh
What happens on the day
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Around Elsted Marsh, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
Honest limits
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we check each one closely. We photograph any that need work.
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Elsted Marsh
Cowdray House, about 3.5 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Elsted Marsh. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Elsted Marsh is about 6 miles east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Elsted Marsh and the surrounding area. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Every address in GU29 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover Ingrams Green (1 mile east), Dumpford (1 mile north), Trotton (1 mile north), Elsted (1 mile south-west) and Didling (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns like Bognor Regis (14 miles south-east), Chichester (10 miles south), Emsworth (10 miles south-west), Portfield (10 miles south), Yapton (14 miles south-east) and East Wittering (15 miles south).
Near you in Elsted Marsh
We work in homes and buildings around The Keeper's Arms Public House, among other places. Well-known places in the area include Midhurst Museum (3.2 miles east) and Midhurst Community Hospital (3.5 miles east). For a walk, there’s Iping and Stedham Commons.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Elsted Marsh
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can be signs that something has leaked before. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
For an older house near a landmark such as St George's Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Before booking anyone
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone