About Us | Surveyors Bristol — RICS Chartered Surveyors

Our Story

Surveyors Bristol — Born and Bred in the City

Surveyors Bristol was founded with one clear goal: to give Bristol property buyers and sellers access to genuinely independent, expert surveying advice — without the corporate detachment of a large national firm.

Our principal surveyor grew up in Bristol, studied at a leading UK university, and spent over a decade working on residential and commercial surveying projects across England and Wales before returning home to set up an independent firm right here in the city.

Today, we're proud to be one of Bristol's most trusted independent firms of professional surveyors. Our clients range from first-time buyers navigating Bristol's competitive property market to experienced developers managing large portfolios across the South West.

We've carried out surveys on everything from compact Harbourside apartments to grand Georgian mansions in Clifton, Victorian row houses in Southville and rural farmhouses out in Somerset. That variety — and the deep local knowledge it builds — is what makes us different.

Aerial drone view of Bristol city centre showing the Harbourside and Clifton area

What We Stand For

Our Values as Bristol Chartered Surveyors

Everything we do at Surveyors Bristol is guided by three simple values our clients rely on.

Thoroughness

We don't cut corners. Our building surveyors inspect every accessible element of a property and document everything clearly in your survey report.

Independence

No referral arrangements, no ties to estate agents, no conflicts of interest. Our loyalty is to you, and our reports reflect that honestly.

Clarity

We write our reports in plain, jargon-free English and we're always available to talk through what we've found. No question is too basic.

The Team

Meet Our Bristol Surveyors

A small, dedicated team of experienced professional surveyors who genuinely care about getting you the right answer.

James Hartley

Principal Surveyor & Founder

James has been surveying Bristol properties for over 18 years. He grew up in Clifton and brings unrivalled knowledge of the city's diverse property stock — from iconic Georgian terraces to cutting-edge Harbourside developments. Outside of work, he explores the Mendips and enthusiastically supports Bristol Rovers.

Sarah Ellison

Senior Building Surveyor

Sarah joined Surveyors Bristol after six years with a respected national firm across the South West. She specialises in residential property surveys and has a particular passion for Bristol's Victorian and Edwardian housing stock. When she's not on site, you'll find her at one of Bristol's independent coffee shops with a good book.

David Mercer

Commercial Surveyor & Valuer

David brings over 20 years of commercial and residential surveying experience to the team. He is a registered RICS valuer specialising in commercial property surveys, dilapidations consultancy and pre-acquisition surveys for property investors. David is a passionate advocate for Bristol's regeneration projects.

Professional Standards

Our Accreditations & Memberships

Being part of the right professional bodies means our clients have genuine protection and recourse — not just a badge on a letterhead.

RICS — Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

The world's leading professional body for property, land and construction. As an RICS-regulated firm, we're independently monitored and our clients have access to a formal complaints procedure and redress scheme.

CIOB — Chartered Institute of Building

The world's largest and most influential professional body for construction management. CIOB membership demonstrates our surveyors' specialist expertise in building construction, technology and pathology.

RPSA — Residential Property Surveyors Association

The RPSA represents independent residential property surveyors across England and Wales. Membership signals commitment to quality, independence and best practice in residential surveying.

Why Independence Matters

The Case for an Independent Firm of Chartered Surveyors

You might wonder: does it matter whether I use an independent Bristol surveyor or a large national firm? In our experience, it makes a considerable difference — especially when you're making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

Large national surveying firms often operate high-volume, high-turnover models. Surveyors may cover a huge geographic patch, visiting multiple properties in a day, with limited time for nuanced commentary. There's nothing inherently wrong with that model, but it's a very different proposition to what we offer.

"When you're spending £300,000 or more on a Bristol property, you want a surveyor who knows your street, understands the local building styles, and recognises the specific risks of that kind of property in that area. That's what local independence gives you." — James Hartley, Principal Surveyor

At Surveyors Bristol, we carry a smaller caseload deliberately. We believe doing fewer surveys well is far preferable to doing many quickly. Every client gets the focused attention of a qualified professional building surveyor who takes genuine professional pride in the quality of each report.

We also have no financial incentive to downplay findings. Our business is built entirely on reputation and referral. A report that misses something significant isn't just a professional failure — it damages the trust that everything we do is built upon.

Our Journey

How We've Grown as Bristol Surveyors

2008

Founded in Bristol

James Hartley establishes Surveyors Bristol as a sole practitioner, focusing on residential building surveys in Clifton and the surrounding area.

2012

Team Expansion

Sarah Ellison joins the practice, bringing specialist expertise in Victorian and Edwardian residential surveying and expanding coverage across South Bristol.

2016

Commercial Services Launch

David Mercer joins as Commercial Surveyor, expanding the firm's offering to include dilapidations consultancy, pre-acquisition surveys and RICS valuations for commercial clients.

2020

500th Survey Milestone

The firm completes its 500th residential building survey. 98% of clients rate the service as 'Excellent' or 'Very Good'.

Today

750+ Surveys & Growing

Over 750 surveys completed, with coverage extending across Bristol, Somerset, South Gloucestershire and beyond. Growth driven entirely by client recommendation and five-star reviews.

About Surveyors Bristol