Essex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Great Holland
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Great Holland from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Pre-purchase roof survey in Great Holland: what you get
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That’s when the findings are most useful, while you’re not yet committed. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Typical surveys look at flashings that have lifted or split and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, on lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
For a small place like Great Holland, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Location
- Great Holland (CO13)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Great Holland
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Nearby places to Great Holland
Other services in Great Holland
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Great Holland?
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Are they insured for the work?
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Cottages and farmhouses around Great Holland frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. Blocked outlets are checked as well, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Great Holland: local notes
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Great Holland, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Landlords with a home close to Kirby Cross station may find that it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. With Thorpe Hall about 2.2 miles north-west, the area around Great Holland has a long history. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Great Holland is about 3 miles north-east of Clacton-on-Sea, in Essex. Great Holland is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Essex, large and small. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of the CO13 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Rosery Mews, Orchard Drive and Laxton Grove or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Kirby Cross (1 mile north-east), Kirby-le-Soken (1 mile north-east), Thorpe Cross (2 miles north-west), Lane End (2 miles north) and Frinton-on-Sea (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (14 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (3 miles south-west), Harwich (7 miles north), Camulodunum (15 miles west), Greenstead (12 miles west) and Wivenhoe (11 miles west).
What’s near Great Holland
We work in homes and buildings around Tendring Technology College, The Ship Inn and Greensward. The nearest railway station is Kirby Cross station, about 0.6 miles north. Open spaces near Great Holland include Great Holland Pits.
Why act early in Great Holland
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. The report shows what needs doing first, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. Outbuildings and barns around Great Holland are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Great Holland
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 98% of customers satisfied
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Great Holland
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Great Holland. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Great Holland: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Holland?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Great Holland within the area you cover?
Yes. Great Holland is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.