Level 2 Home Buyer Survey in Filey: Customer Service That Goes the Extra Mile

The Filey semi-detached home featured in this Level 2 Home Buyer Survey, recently refurbished with a new slate roof.

When you commission a survey, you're not just paying for someone to walk around a property with a clipboard. You're paying for a complete, honest picture of the home you're about to buy. So when something gets in the way of that, the right thing to do is simple: go back and finish the job properly.

That's exactly what happened on a recent Level 2 survey I carried out on a lovely refurbished semi-detached home in Filey.

A little about the property

The open-plan kitchen in the recently refurbished Filey home.

The house is a two-storey semi-detached property dating from the late 1930s, extended back in the mid-1990s and more recently the subject of a comprehensive refurbishment. It's the kind of home that's been thoughtfully brought up to date while keeping its character.

The works had clearly been carried out to a good standard. The roof had been recently recovered in slate, there were modern UPVC windows and doors in a smart anthracite grey, and inside it had been fully modernised, with a high-quality kitchen featuring a central island, a contemporary bathroom suite, new internal finishes throughout, and an upgraded heating and electrical setup. There's off-road parking for two cars, a rear garden and a detached garage, all sitting in an established residential area just a short way from the coast.

On the whole, it presented in noticeably better condition than you'd typically expect for a property of its age, a well-improved example of its type. But a refurbished home brings its own considerations, which is exactly where a thorough survey earns its keep.

The problem: services weren't switched on

When I arrived for the inspection, the property was vacant and unfurnished, which is great for access. But the gas and water supplies hadn't been turned on. That's not unusual with empty properties, but it does create a real limitation. Without live services, there's only so much you can tell a buyer about how the boiler, heating, hot water and plumbing actually perform.

I could have written the report with a string of caveats, such as "couldn't assess the boiler", "heating not tested" or "hot water not confirmed", and technically that would have met the brief. But a report full of unanswered questions doesn't give a buyer what they're really paying for: confidence.

The fix: a second visit, no fuss

Before and after: the property's consumer unit, with the electrical installation inspection details and safety labelling added following the EICR carried out.

So I arranged to return once the supplies had been reinstated. On the second visit, the boiler was up and running, the heating was working across every radiator, and hot water was flowing at the taps. That meant I could confirm the system was functioning as intended and give my client a genuinely complete assessment rather than a report hedged with gaps.

It took an extra trip and a bit more time, and here's the part I want to be clear about: I didn't charge my client a penny more for it. I could easily have treated the return as a separate visit and added a fee, and plenty would. But the gap in the report wasn't down to anything my client had done, and I didn't think it was fair to pass the cost on to them. Getting them a complete report was simply part of the job I'd already agreed to do.

To me, that's just what doing the job properly looks like. A survey is only as useful as it is thorough, and I'd rather make a second visit at my own expense than hand over a report I didn't feel was finished.

Why this matters when you're buying

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments most people ever make. The whole point of a survey is to help you make that decision with your eyes open, understanding the condition of the property, the work it might need, and the questions worth asking before you commit.

When part of a property can't be assessed, that uncertainty doesn't just disappear; it lands on you, the buyer. Going back to close those gaps means you get the full story, not a partial one.

In my client's words

I was really pleased to receive this feedback from Sarah after the survey:

"I would highly recommend Ricky and his business. He did a level 2 survey for us in Filey, and the level of detail and support provided was exceptional, including a revisit when the vendor had not left facilities operational to ensure we had a complete report. Alongside this, his knowledge of the area has left us feeling very supported as we move forward with our purchase. If you need a survey in this region, do not hesitate to engage with Ricky."

Reviews like this mean a great deal, because they reflect exactly what I'm trying to deliver: detail, support, and a complete report you can actually rely on.

Thinking of buying in Filey, Scarborough or the surrounding area then consider a a Level 2 Home Buyer Survey

Ricky Savage (The boss)

If you're purchasing a property along the North Yorkshire coast and want a survey carried out with genuine care and local knowledge, I'd be glad to help. Get in touch with Skyline Property Surveys to discuss your survey needs. If you are interested in a Level 2 - Homebuyer Survey, then please feel free to visit our Home Buyers Page.

Please also consider visiting our Book a Survey page, where you can see our availability and get a price quote for your new home survey. Thank you for reading this blog, and I hope you found it interesting! Best wishes

Ricky Savage Founder and Building Surveyor.