Marshalls Chartered Surveyors are the independent Chartered Surveyors with offices in Oxford, Didcot, Newbury, Reading, Swindon and Witney.

Marshalls cover Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and adjoining areas of Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire and The Cotswolds.

Marshalls Chartered Surveyors are friendly, highly qualified professionals, experienced in all property types. We offer value for money, common sense surveys, written in plain English by experienced surveyors.

Our surveyors pride themselves on giving exceptional service and will take time to fully discuss your proposed purchase. 80% of people buying a home do not get a professional survey - most buyers rely on a mortgage valuation, undertaken by their lender. However, this is only intended to give an indication of the value of the property and whether it is a good risk for the lender. It is not an indication of the condition of the property nor does it provide advice to the purchaser on the action they need to take to remedy any defects. Many mortgage valuations are now undertaken on a drive-by or desk top basis and often the property is never physically viewed.

There are two different types of residential survey undertaken by Marshalls:

The Building Survey (often called The Structural Survey), which is our most detailed report, is suitable for all property types. The property will be subject to a thorough and detailed survey of all areas. The survey report is detailed, but written in plain English and richly illustrated in full colour with numerous photographs. We will telephone you with an initial verbal report outlining our survey findings. The written report will follow within hours - we aim to send the survey within 48 hours.

There is also the much less detailed RICS HomeBuyer Service, a report on condition suitable for most property, from the late Victorian era to the present day. This type of survey is also ideal for flats and maisonettes. The HomeBuyer report is written in a set format laid down by our governing body, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors using mainly standard phraseology. The Homebuyer report is more generalised and brief than a building survey, but it will highlight any significant defects. Minor defects are not usually reported. The Homebuyer Service also includes a market valuation and an insurance reinstatement cost assessment.

You probably won't commission many surveys in your life, so don't settle for second best - use Marshalls.

Market News
RICS forecast for the UK Housing Market in 2010:

House prices will finish the coming year one or two percent higher than at the end of 2009, says RICS UK Housing Market Forecast. Transactions are likely to rise to a monthly average of 70,000 from 55,000 to 60,000 currently. Supply should continue to increase in the early part of 2010 but will struggle to keep pace with demand providing a platform for further house price rises. Significantly, the inventory of stocks on surveyor's books still remains close to historical lows. However, the narrowing in the gap between supply and demand will gradually begin to exert a greater influence on the market.

The on-going caution of lenders, the uncertain economic climate and a flat labour market are all also likely to present challenges resulting in prices finishing the year only one or two percent higher than they started it. However, with more property coming onto the market it is likely the number of completed sales will increase. RICS estimates that the average volume of transactions will rise from between 55,000 and 60,000 to 70,000 by the end of the year.

The imbalance between supply and demand will continue into the early part of the new year resulting in some further house price gains. However, the combination of more available property and the beginning of the exit strategy from the big stimulus programmes that have helped support the economy will gradually exert a greater influence. Transactions levels are likely to increase, fulfilling the Christmas wish list of many agents throughout the country but first time buyers are likely to continue to struggle to procure finance from lenders without the help of generous relatives.