McDonald & Chivers was formed in early 1999 by two Bath Surveyors Michael McDonald and Adrian Chivers who were disillusioned with the large company ethos they worked for: where quantity was too prominent a requirement. Now it is a survey a day, no pressure the inspection takes as long as it takes and the report is usually posted the next day. There is even time for a cuppa with the vendor or a pint at the pub with our client. Both Michael and Adrian are very experienced local residential Surveyors be the property of stone or thatch, large or small, Listed as being of architectural and/or historical interest or a nice new estate home. Both are passionate about the pathology of buildings, Michael obtaining his Master of Science Degree in Building Conservation at Bath University.

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HOME PURCHASE SURVEY or BUILDING SURVEY. We carry out a visual inspection of everything we can without damaging the property. For us there is no difference which report you have we get to know the building first and foremost.

The primary difference between the Home Purchase Survey and the Building Survey reports is one of depth and detail. We will guide you as to the one that best suits the building you are buying and of course bearing in mind what you want from the report. Broadly speaking a modern building, Flat or Victorian style terrace house lends itself to the Home Purchase Survey that is about 12 pages in length and written in a concise manner anything large or complicated it’s the Building Survey 25 to 30 maybe 40 pages or more with photos of the interesting elements written with more description, detail and comment to convey the required depth of information needed to the client.

We concentrate on the major items such as movement, dampness and timber defects whereas door handles, kitchen units and bathroom fittings and the like we leave to you.

A typical comment in a Home Purchase survey:

"Chimney stack worn and weathered requiring closer inspection and probable re-pointing and replacing of decayed brickwork. Redundant flues should be capped and ventilated. Mortar flashings at the stack/roof junction require replacement in lead"

and for the Building Survey:

"There is a c2m high brick chimney stack to the centre part of the main roof exhibiting no undue leaning, distortion or bulging, and no evidence of collapse. Open mortar joints require raking out and re-pointing to prevent damp penetration and further deterioration. Several decayed bricks should be replaced. The cement mortar flashings at the roof/stack junction ideally should be replaced in lead to achieve a longer-term watertight finish. The redundant flues should be capped and ventilated externally at stack level and also ventilated internally at the former fireplace level to prevent damp penetration and condensation forming within the flues."

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