Independent.Informed.Assured.
FRICS-accredited home surveys, property valuations, and independent pre-contract advice for homeowners. Speak directly with your surveyor — no call centres.
Surveys: Yorkshire · Greater Manchester · East Midlands · North Devon · Mid Devon · Somerset
Don't inherit someone else's problems. Independent surveys within 7 days.
View Surveys →Planning building work? Don't sign a builder's quote without understanding it.
Learn More →A Professional Surveying
& Construction Consultancy
Volarex is led by Adam Whitehouse FRICS — a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Expert Determiner with a combination of qualifications rarely found in a single practitioner. We operate across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, the East Midlands, Devon, Somerset, and the wider UK.
Whether you're buying a home and need an independent RICS survey, planning building work and want to understand your quote, or you're a contractor requiring QS support — Volarex delivers precise, personal professional advice.
Tri-Chartered
Chartered Surveyor, Chartered Building Engineer, and Chartered Construction Manager — a rare triple-chartered combination that gives you unmatched breadth of insight.
20+ Years Experience
Two decades of hands-on construction and surveying knowledge informing every report and recommendation.
Direct Surveyor Access
Speak directly with your surveyor — no call centres, no middlemen. Clear, personal communication throughout.
Local & Independent
Family-oriented, locally rooted business — we treat your property like our own and genuinely care about our community.
RICS Home Buyer
Surveys
Covering Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, East Midlands, North Devon, Mid Devon, and Somerset. Every survey conducted within 7 days of your request.
Level 2 surveys from £329+VAT · Example reports available on request
RICS Home Survey
The right choice for conventional properties in reasonable condition — built from common materials within the last 130 years.
Suitable for
- Standard houses, flats and bungalows
- Properties in reasonable condition
- Conventional construction methods
- Homes built from approximately 1895 onwards
What's included
- Condition ratings for all key elements
- Advice on defects and urgent repairs
- Information on location & local environment
- EPC discrepancy commentary
- Digital report accessible via live link
- PDF copy included
Condition Ratings
Building Survey
A comprehensive building survey for older, larger, or complex properties — or where you want maximum peace of mind before buying.
Suitable for
- Much larger than average properties
- Older properties (e.g. built before 1900)
- Properties in poor or unknown condition
- Complex, unusual or non-traditional construction
- Significantly altered or extended properties
- Properties you plan to improve after purchase
What's included
- Thorough inspection by a qualified surveyor
- Detailed technical report on all building elements
- Outline of repair options & consequences of inactivity
- Advice for legal advisers
- Details of risks to property and occupants
- Digital report with PDF copy
Did you know? Buyers without a survey face on average £5,750 in unexpected repair costs — 17% pay over £12,000. A survey is one of the best investments you can make before buying.
Property Valuations & Additional Services
- RICS Red Book Valuations (RICS Registered Valuer)
- Insurance Rebuild Cost Assessments
- New-Build Snagging Inspections
- Party Wall Notices, Awards & Schedules of Condition
BuildSmart™
Planning Building Work?
Don't sign a builder's quote without understanding it.
BuildSmart provides independent, pre-contract advice for homeowners planning building works typically between £25,000 and £500,000. No endorsements. No builder recommendations. No site management — just professional clarity before commitment.
Before you commit, we help you understand:
- What is actually included in the quote
- What is excluded or missing
- Where cost risks and provisional sums sit
- Whether the contract properly reflects the quotation
Why does this matter? Most domestic building disputes begin before work starts — due to unclear quotations or poorly structured contracts. BuildSmart helps you make informed decisions before committing.
Quotation Risk Review
Understand what you are signing and where risks exist.
- Review builder quotations
- Like-for-like comparison
- Identify exclusions and gaps
- Written advisory report
- Contract assembly
- Payment & variation review
- Desktop due diligence
- Pre-start checklist
Quotation Review + Contract Assembly
Everything in Tier 1, plus a contract drafted for the works.
- Review builder quotations
- Like-for-like comparison
- Identify exclusions and gaps
- Written advisory report
- Contract assembly
- Payment & variation review
- Desktop due diligence
- Pre-start checklist
Pre-Start Risk Pack
Full pre-commitment due diligence before works commence.
- Review builder quotations
- Like-for-like comparison
- Identify exclusions and gaps
- Written advisory report
- Contract assembly
- Payment & variation review
- Desktop due diligence
- Pre-start checklist
BuildSmart is delivered by Adam Whitehouse FRICS — a Chartered Building Engineer, Chartered Quantity Surveyor, and RICS Registered Valuer.
Quantity Surveying &
Construction Consultancy
From initial cost planning through to final account settlement, Volarex provides comprehensive QS and commercial management services to contractors, developers, and private clients across London and the wider UK.
Cost Planning & Feasibility
Detailed budget estimates and feasibility studies from project inception to help you make informed investment decisions.
Estimating & Tendering
Accurate tender pricing and bid preparation — specialists in groundworks, RC frames, landscaping and sub-contractor support.
Procurement
Considerable experience across all procurement routes — advising on the best strategy for your project type and budget.
Risk Management
Proactive identification and management of commercial risk throughout the lifecycle of your construction project.
On-Site Quantity Surveying
Embedded on-site QS support — valuations, variations, and cost reporting throughout the construction phase.
Disputes & Claims
Expert determination, adjudication support, and claims management — specialist help when you need it most.
Pre-Contract Services
Contract documentation, bills of quantities, and pre-contract cost management to set your project up for success.
Final Accounts & Document Drafting
Final account settlement and project close-out documentation — ensuring all commercial matters are resolved cleanly.
Contract Reviews
Thorough review of JCT, NEC, and bespoke construction contracts — identifying risk clauses and obligations before you sign.
Late Payment & Retention Advice
Practical guidance on recovering overdue payments and withheld retention under the Construction Act.
Need a Quantity Surveyor?
Tailor-made, efficient, and reliable QS services. Contact us for a no-obligation discussion.
The Volarex
Difference
We're not a national chain. We're a specialist practice where quality, speed, and personal service aren't compromises — they're our standard.
Swift 7-Day Service
We guarantee all surveys can be conducted within 7 days of your request — keeping your property purchase on track.
Advanced Digital Reports
Receive a comprehensive report via a live digital link plus a PDF copy — clear, actionable, and easy to navigate.
Fully Insured
Complete professional indemnity insurance gives you peace of mind when working with Volarex.
Direct Surveyor Contact
No call centres. No waiting on hold. You deal directly with Adam — your qualified surveyor.
Tri-Chartered
Chartered Surveyor, Chartered Building Engineer, and Chartered Construction Manager — a rare triple-chartered combination that ensures nothing gets missed.
Independent & Local
A local, family-run business with no national-chain overheads — your support goes directly into our community.
The home buyers survey provided was a game changer for us. Comprehensive report, insightful advice and superb customer service. They made a complex process seem easy. Highly satisfied and would strongly recommend.
Every survey conducted by a RICS-licensed surveyor. Our work is backed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors — the gold standard in property and construction.
“Absolutely outstanding service. The Level 3 survey was thorough and the report was clear and easy to understand. Saved us from making a very costly mistake on a property with hidden structural issues.”
“Used Volarex for a property valuation in Leeds. Prompt, professional and very knowledgeable. The report gave us exactly what we needed to negotiate a better price. Exceptional value.”
“As a first-time buyer I had no idea what to expect. The team walked me through everything and the survey report was incredibly detailed. I felt fully informed before exchanging contracts.”
“Used the BuildSmart service for our self-build project in Somerset. The stage inspections gave us total peace of mind and the surveyor flagged several issues before they became expensive problems.”
“Quick turnaround and a very well-written report. Our surveyor clearly knew the Greater Manchester market inside out. Would use Volarex again without hesitation.”
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Common questions about our RICS surveys and commercial services. Can't find your answer? Get in touch.
Get in Touch
Fill in the form and we'll get back to you shortly. For urgent enquiries, call us directly — you'll speak to your surveyor, not a call centre.
42 Pitt Street, Barnsley, S70 1BB
48 Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3SR
64 Nile Street, London, N1 7SR