Define the decision before commissioning unnecessary work.
CONSULTANCY / DECISION FILE / MBC
Building advice sessions
Not every property question needs a formal report. Sometimes you need half an hour with someone who knows buildings: is this crack worth worrying about before I offer? Is the quote I have been given sensible? What should I actually do first?
01 / QUESTION → DECISION
When an advice session fits
Advice sessions are exactly that — a scheduled call, video call or site visit with the practice. You ask, you get straight answers, and you leave knowing what (if anything) to do next. A short written summary of the advice follows by email, so nothing is lost — but there is no formal report, and the fee reflects that.
- 01
Deciding whether a property is worth pursuing before paying for a survey
- 02
A sense-check on a builder’s or contractor’s quote or proposed approach
- 03
Talking through a defect, a damp patch or a crack before committing to investigation
- 04
First-time buyers who want twenty minutes of plain-English guidance on the process
- 05
Landlords and owners wanting a maintenance steer rather than a formal inspection
What you get
- 01
A scheduled phone or video call, or a site visit where the question needs eyes on the building
- 02
Straight, practical answers from the RICS-regulated practice
- 03
A short email summary of the advice given and recommended next steps
- 04
An honest steer on whether a survey, investigation or specialist is actually needed — including "you don’t need to spend any more money"
02 / METHOD
How it works
A clear line from the question to an independent recommendation.- 01
DECISION GATE / 1
Book
Send a short description of the question through the enquiry form. You will get a fixed fee for the session — calls and visits are priced differently.
- 02
DECISION GATE / 2
Talk
A scheduled call or visit, focused on your actual question. Send photos or documents ahead if you have them — it makes the time go further.
- 03
DECISION GATE / 3
Summary
A brief email summary of the advice and next steps, usually the same day.
03 / BEFORE YOU INSTRUCT
Questions worth answering first.
Scope, access, limitations and what happens after the inspection—explained before they become surprises.
Is this cheaper than a survey?
Significantly — because there is no formal inspection and reporting behind it. It is priced as professional time, not as a survey product. You will get the exact fee before you book.
Can you tell me whether to buy a house from a call?
No — and be wary of anyone who will. What an advice session can do is help you decide whether the property justifies the cost of a proper survey, what to look for at a second viewing, and what questions to put to the agent or vendor.
Is the advice covered by your insurance and regulation?
Yes. Advice sessions are delivered through Mills Building Consultancy, a firm regulated by RICS (firm no. 9317773) with professional indemnity insurance. The responsible practitioner and the narrower scope are confirmed in the written terms you receive when booking.
What if my question turns out to be complicated?
Then you will be told so, honestly, along with what the right next step is — a survey, a defects investigation, or a specialist. The session fee is offset against any follow-on instruction.
Standards we work to
The standards and guidance behind this service.
We work to published professional standards and official guidance, not house opinion. These are the references that govern or inform this work — worth reading if you want to check what good looks like.
- Party Wall etc. Act 1996 — legislation.gov.uk. The law on work to shared walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings.
- Damp in historic buildings — Historic England. Guidance on moisture and repair in older buildings.
NEW INSTRUCTION / Advice sessions
Make the next decision properly.
Send the property address and the situation for a fixed quote and an honest recommendation.
Request a quote