Reports & pricing

Advice with the right level of detail.

A clear scope, itemised allowances and a total investment perspective. Survey findings and renovation plans considered together.

Surveys and cost reports

A building survey tells you about the property. We help you understand the costs.

A RICS building survey assesses the condition of a property and identifies defects or concerns within the survey’s scope.

Cost Before Keys focuses on the potential financial implications of the works you are considering.

Using property information, photographs, your proposed improvements and any survey findings you provide, we prepare professionally reviewed indicative construction budgets.

Our reports help you understand the likely expenditure, prioritise works and make more informed decisions about your purchase.

Building survey

— Assesses the property’s condition.
— Identifies visible defects and potential concerns.
— Recommends further investigations where appropriate.
— May provide repair-cost advice depending on the survey service.

Cost Before Keys

— Reviews the information supplied about the property.
— Considers the buyer’s proposed improvements.
— Prepares detailed indicative construction budgets.
— Explains the financial implications of identified works.
— Considers alternatives, sequencing and potential savings.
— Helps buyers understand their likely construction expenditure.

Our reports complement, but do not replace, an independent building survey. Desktop assessments do not involve a physical inspection or independent diagnosis of property defects.

Property Cost Snapshot

A concise initial budget assessment of likely repair or refurbishment expenditure before you make an offer.

24–48 working hours after all information is received · report length approx. 4–6 pages

For straightforward homes with a limited number of work items — not comprehensive refurbishments, complex extensions or extensive survey defects.

Review of your particulars, photographs and documents
Review of your proposed works
Concise indicative construction cost ranges
Significant assumptions and uncertainties
Key construction considerations
Priority works and potential expenditure

£179

No VAT charged

Start an assessment

Recommended for major works

Comprehensive Property Cost Report

A detailed financial picture of the property you’re considering buying.

Our flagship report provides a comprehensive breakdown of likely construction expenditure, helping you understand what needs doing, what it could cost, how the work could be phased and where unnecessary spending might be avoided.

2–3 working days after all information is received · report length approx. 15–25 pages

View a Sample Comprehensive Report

Everything in the Snapshot
Detailed property and customer brief
Review of survey findings where supplied
Itemised construction cost schedules
Descriptive scopes of work
Location-relevant pricing assumptions
Alternative specifications and approaches
Identification of potential duplicated expenditure
Sequencing and recommended phasing
Planning and Building Regulations considerations
Matters needing specialist investigation
Professional fee and contingency allowances
Indicative construction programme
Priority and urgency classifications
Total purchase investment illustration
Recommendations before exchange
One 15-minute post-report clarification call

£449

No VAT charged

Start an assessment

Site Visit & Detailed Assessment

A more detailed assessment of your proposed works, supported by a pre-arranged visit to the property.

Confirmed individually after the visit · report length supporting report

Available only where an experienced professional can attend; outside those areas you can send an enquiry. A visual construction cost assessment — not a RICS survey, structural inspection or defect diagnosis.

Review of supplied property information
Pre-arranged property visit
Visual assessment of accessible areas relevant to the works
Discussion of proposed improvements
Detailed indicative construction cost assessment
Access, sequencing and logistical considerations

From£795

No VAT charged

Send an enquiry

Indicative construction budgets, not fixed-price contractor quotations. No VAT is charged on our fees; VAT on construction works is shown separately in reports. Online payment is not yet available.

Started with a Snapshot? Upgrade to the Comprehensive Property Cost Report for the same property within 60 days and we credit £100 — a balance of £349. Applied once per assessment.

Add-on · existing customers, same property

Post-Survey Cost Update

Received a RICS survey after your cost report? We review it and update your existing report — not a complete new assessment.

— Review of your newly supplied building survey
— Additional repair items and cost implications
— Updated indicative construction allowances
— Revised budget summary
— Updated priorities and next steps
— Revised PDF report with version history

If the survey reveals substantial additional works or your project changes materially, we review the scope and quote separately before accepting the order.

£195

No VAT charged · not yet available to purchase online

Example report

See exactly what you’ll receive.

Explore an example of our Comprehensive Property Cost Report, including detailed budgets, construction considerations, alternative approaches and practical recommendations.

Fictional demonstration report · 18 Larkfield Grove, Manchester

View Example Comprehensive Report Open the PDF

Cover page of the fictional demonstration Comprehensive Property Cost Report for 18 Larkfield Grove, Manchester — Demonstration report cover · fictional property, prepared for illustration

Compare the scope of advice

Scope of advice	Property Cost Snapshot £179	Comprehensive ReportRecommended for major works £449	Site Visit From £795
Indicative construction budgets	Included	Included	Included
Professional review	Included	Included	Included
Key risks and recommendations	Included	Included	Included
Detailed itemised schedules	Not included	Included	Included
Alternative construction approaches	Limited	Included	Included
Planning and regulatory considerations	Key flags	Detailed	Detailed
Phasing and sequencing	Summary	Detailed	Detailed
Total purchase investment	Summary where applicable	Included	Included
Physical property visit	Not included	Not included	Included
15-minute clarification call	Not included	Included	By arrangement

Property Cost Snapshot

£179

Indicative construction budgetsIncluded
Professional reviewIncluded
Key risks and recommendationsIncluded
Detailed itemised schedulesNot included
Alternative construction approachesNot included
Planning and regulatory considerationsNot included
Phasing and sequencingNot included
Total purchase investmentNot included
Physical property visitNot included
15-minute clarification callNot included

Comprehensive Property Cost Report

£449

Recommended for major works

Indicative construction budgetsIncluded
Professional reviewIncluded
Key risks and recommendationsIncluded
Detailed itemised schedulesNot included
Alternative construction approachesNot included
Planning and regulatory considerationsNot included
Phasing and sequencingNot included
Total purchase investmentNot included
Physical property visitNot included
15-minute clarification callNot included

Site Visit & Detailed Assessment

From £795

Indicative construction budgetsIncluded
Professional reviewIncluded
Key risks and recommendationsIncluded
Detailed itemised schedulesNot included
Alternative construction approachesNot included
Planning and regulatory considerationsNot included
Phasing and sequencingNot included
Total purchase investmentNot included
Physical property visitNot included
15-minute clarification callNot included