Full House Structural Inspection
Buying a property, dealing with several concerns or looking for a broader structural view? We inspect the main visible structural elements and provide a clear written report, with fixed prices from £585.
This service is for people who don't just have one crack to worry about — they want to understand the whole picture before making an expensive decision. Buyers before exchange, sellers preparing for market, and homeowners who simply want peace of mind.
Unlike a standard RICS survey or a basic mortgage valuation, this is carried out by a Structural Engineer with 5+ years' experience. You get a clearer answer on the structure itself, written in plain English and backed up with photos.
Choose a GSI when
- A survey identifies several structural concerns.
- You are buying and want the main visible structural elements considered together.
- Movement or defects appear in different parts of the property.
- One narrowly focused report would not answer the overall question.
If you only need one crack, wall or survey item investigated, a Specific Structural Inspection is usually more proportionate.
What we inspect
Our engineer carries out a visual inspection of the main structural components:
- External and internal walls (including visible cracking, movement and bowing)
- Roof structure (where accessible — ridge, rafters, visible timbers)
- Floors (visible deflection, springiness, or structural concerns)
- Foundations (where visible — signs of movement, settlement, subsidence)
- Chimney stacks and chimney breasts
- Comments on any other visible structural concerns
Real examples from structural inspection work
Whole-property inspections often start because one visible issue raises bigger questions about the rest of the house. The aim is not just to photograph cracks, but to explain what they mean in the context of the wider structure.
What you'll receive
- Site visit by a Structural Engineer with 5+ years' experience
- Clear written report covering all structural elements inspected
- Photos illustrating key findings
- Plain English explanation of the findings and any need for further investigation
- Guidance on whether any issues are cosmetic, require monitoring, or need repair
- Indication of whether insurance reporting is likely to be required
- Honest next steps — including whether you actually need to do anything
- Report prepared for sharing with mortgage lenders, solicitors and conveyancers where relevant
When this is the right choice
You want an expert structural opinion before you exchange contracts, especially on older or unusual homes.
Your lender or solicitor has asked for a structural engineer's report and the issue is broader than one isolated defect.
You need professional evidence of the property's overall structural condition or multiple concerns.
There are several concerns across the property, so a whole-property assessment is more useful than a single-issue report.
You want to understand and deal with structural questions before a buyer's survey causes delays later.
You want a professional structural opinion on the house as a whole, not just one issue.
Whole-property report or single-issue report?
| Feature | SSI — £480 | GSI — £585 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | One specific concern | Whole property structure |
| Ideal for | Cracks, movement, mortgage hold, insurance claim, pre-sale | Buying, selling, mortgage, insurance, peace of mind |
| Prepared for lender or solicitor queries | ✓ | ✓ |
| Insurance reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-sale use | ✓ | ✓ |
| Site visit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Written report + photos | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turnaround | 3–7 working days | 3–7 working days |
Not sure which is right for your situation? Call us on 0116 218 2917 — we'll tell you in two minutes, even if the answer is “you don't need either”.
Useful before a property purchase
The report can help you understand the structural findings and recommended next steps before exchange. It is prepared for sharing with lenders, solicitors and conveyancers where relevant, but their requirements and final decisions remain their own.
Common questions about structural inspections
Areas we cover
Based in Leicester, serving homeowners across the East and West Midlands.
View all areas we cover → · See a real pre-purchase inspection →
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