Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Upper Swanmore
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Upper Swanmore, with photos and a clear written report.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photographs to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Upper Swanmore
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you will be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It also helps you decide whether to go ahead at all. If you’ve noticed bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and standing water on a flat extension roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Being in a small place like Upper Swanmore makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Upper Swanmore (SO32)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What this survey cannot tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Upper Swanmore
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
Also near Upper Swanmore
Other services in Upper Swanmore
FAQs for Upper Swanmore
Is Upper Swanmore in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is Upper Swanmore within the area you cover?
Yes, Upper Swanmore is covered. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it typically takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Upper Swanmore
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Barnabas are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Landlords with a home close to Botley station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Upper Swanmore is about 6 miles north-east of Hedge End, in Hampshire. We survey roofs in Upper Swanmore and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Southampton.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: SO32. Streets in the area include Vicarage Lane, Green Lane and Well Lane. Other places close to Upper Swanmore include Hill Grove (1 mile south), Swanmore (1 mile south-west), The Hangers (1 mile north-west), Droxford (2 miles north-east) and Dean (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Winchester (10 miles north-west), Gosport (10 miles south), Havant (10 miles south-east), Eastleigh (8 miles west), Fareham (7 miles south) and Horndean (8 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Upper Swanmore
Around Upper Swanmore, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Swanmore College of Technology and the streets around them. The closest station to Upper Swanmore is Botley station, about 4.4 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Bishop's Waltham Museum (1.9 miles west) and Knowle Hospital (5.1 miles south). Not far away are St Clair's Meadow and Beacon Hill.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
To price your survey, we look at:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Height and safe access
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
How the survey works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere as small as Upper Swanmore, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.