When it comes to buying a property, getting a survey is one of the smartest decisions you can make. But the next question is just as important: who should carry it out?

While those firms that have a high number of surveyors employed can still provide a survey, there are several key reasons why opting for a local, independent surveyor like Dunham Hale Chartered Surveyors is often the better choice.

Personal Service – Not Just Another Number

With larger firms, your enquiry may be passed through multiple departments, and the survey may be conducted by someone you never speak to directly. You often end up dealing with a call centre, admin teams or a bookings team rather than the surveyor.

With a local independent firm, you deal with the person who’s inspecting your property. We take the time to understand your concerns by offering a pre-survey call or a 30-minute Zoom call, providing clear explanations, and offering a genuinely personal service from start to finish.

Local Knowledge You Can Trust

We are familiar with the buildings, materials, planning quirks, and typical defects in your area, as we live and work here. That kind of insight is hard to replicate at scale. A larger firm might cover your area, but they may not be as familiar with it as an independent surveyor is.

Local knowledge often helps us identify patterns in construction issues, regional risks, and renovation shortcuts that are easy to miss unless you’re familiar with the local property stock.

Better Reports – Clear, Detailed, and Easy to Digest

Many larger firms use templated reports that can be generic, where the surveyor selects from a pre-generated list of common defects, which can be overly technical or simply hard to follow.

At Dunham Hale Chartered Surveyors, we provide reports that are carefully structured, broken down by section, and explained in plain English. Each part is sub-headed and summarised clearly, with bite-sized details, photos, and practical advice so you can understand what matters and what doesn’t.

Drone Survey Included – At No Extra Cost

We go beyond the usual survey. Every Level 3 Building Survey includes a ‘free drone inspection’ of the roof, chimneys, and hard-to-access areas. This ensures a comprehensive assessment without relying on ladders, binoculars, or a camera pole, which usually depends on guesswork, something many firms skip or charge extra for. Ground level inspections, by nature, have limitations, and the report may state, “could not inspect behind the chimney stack” or “the dormer flat roof was hidden from view and could not be inspected”. There are no limitations or hidden roof areas with a drone aircraft, and therefore, the risk to the buyer is very low.

Quality Over Quantity – No Rushing, No Corners Cut

We will not write here that large firms often don’t do good work. Every surveyor is different. But with the volume of surveys they’re required to complete each week, the pressure to meet quotas can sometimes lead to missed defects or rushed inspections. It’s not always intentional, but it happens.

We take a different approach: fewer surveys, more time on each one, and greater attention to detail. That means fewer mistakes, better outcomes, and peace of mind for you.

The Verdict

Larger multi-surveyor employed firms offer scale and branding, and that’s not to say they aren’t good. Still, when it comes to protecting your most significant investment, you need a personal service, detailed reporting, and real local expertise.

Choose Dunham Hale Chartered Surveyors and get a survey done with care, clarity, and commitment.

Book your Level 3 Survey today and get a free drone roof inspection included.