RESIDENTIAL BUILDING SURVEYS
Russet & Sage is an independent, residential building surveying practice, based in Aynho near the Cotswolds. We are a small, family-run business helping clients locally and across the UK, particularly where experience with traditional and historic buildings is required. We prioritise client care, one client, one property and one survey at a time. Our surveys are carried out by a RICS registered building surveyor.
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Our service is designed for clients who require:
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• A careful, helpful inspection
• Clear explanation (not jargon)
• High quality photographs that support the findings
• Sensible next steps, including when specialist input is needed
• A report that you can actually use during negotiation and planning
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Continue to explore our survey options below, or tell us about the property and we’ll advise on the most appropriate survey and provide a quote.
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Understand the real condition of the property before you buy
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Identify defects that could cost thousands after completion
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Gain independent advice beyond the estate agent’s description
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Understand which issues are minor and which require action
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Avoid unexpected repair bills in the first years of ownership
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Receive clear guidance on maintenance and future risks
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Identify poor workmanship, snagging issues, and early failures
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Ensure the property performs as expected before warranties expire
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Know exactly what you are taking on before committing
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Understand the full condition of the property and its structure
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Identify hidden defects often missed during viewings
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Receive clear explanations of risks and repair priorities
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Gain practical advice on how issues should be repaired
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Avoid buying a property requiring far more work than expected​
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Use findings to renegotiate the purchase price where appropriate
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Enter the purchase with full knowledge of future repair costs
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Make informed decisions about complex historic buildings
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Understand how traditional buildings actually work
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Avoid damaging or inappropriate modern repairs
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Identify long-term risks affecting historic fabric
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Receive conservation-appropriate repair guidance
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Protect the character and longevity of the building
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Advice grounded in traditional building materials and conservation practice
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Particularly valuable where standard surveys often misunderstand older buildings
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Independent diagnosis of damp and moisture issues
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Identify the true cause of moisture problems
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Avoid unnecessary chemical damp treatments
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Receive clear recommendations for appropriate repairs
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Understand whether the issue is minor maintenance or significant risk
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Gain confidence before committing to the purchase
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We are not selling damp treatment products, so advice is independent
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Expert advice when one issue is causing concern
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Focused inspection of one specific defect or building element
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Understand whether the issue is serious or manageable
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Receive clear explanation of cause and recommended next steps
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Avoid unnecessary surveys when only one concern needs investigation
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This is excellent for:
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Buyers already under offer
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Mortgage lender queries
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Specific defects
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Protect the long-term health of your building
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Prevent ongoing decay of brick and stone caused by inappropriate mortar
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Restore breathability and moisture balance in traditional walls
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Ensure repairs are compatible with historic materials
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Avoid costly stone or brick replacement caused by hard cement pointing
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Extend the life of the masonry for decades
Sample Reports
We have made some sample reports from actual surveys available below. Each sample is a different category of condition rating.
