Building Surveyor Zurich, English

What the report covers

Foundation & Structure

Load-bearing walls, settlement cracks, structural integrity.

Roof & Attic

Tiles, flashing, insulation, timber condition.

Moisture & Damp

Rising damp, condensation, water ingress, measured, not guessed.

Electrical Systems

Wiring age, safety standards, capacity.

Plumbing

Pipe condition, drainage, water pressure.

Windows & Doors

Seals, frames, thermal performance.

Insulation & Energy

Thermal bridges, U-values, energy performance.

Walls & Cracks

Structural versus cosmetic, and which is which.

Heating & Ventilation

Boiler age, radiators, air exchange.

Living Space & Layout

Independent floor-area measurement and verification.

Exterior & Façade

Render, balconies, drainage, boundary structures.

Mould & Air Quality

Visible mould, humidity levels, ventilation adequacy.

Every finding photographed, rated traffic-light style, and costed, plus a review of the sale documents and minutes. Sample report coming soon. Enquire for more info.

The instruments

Measured, not guessed.

Every finding in the report is backed by a reading, surface moisture, infrared temperature, humidity, structure. If a wall is damp, you'll know how damp, how far, and what it costs to fix.

Capacitive moisture mapping · infrared thermometry · thermal imaging on request · endoscope inspection

Reading (capacitive)	Condition	Risk
0 – 40	Dry	Low, normal for heated rooms
40 – 80	Elevated	Watch, cause worth investigating
80 – 120	Damp	High, active moisture likely
120 +	Saturated	Critical, remediation needed

Indicative bands for capacitive readings on masonry, your report contains the actual numbers, wall by wall.

Infrared temperature reading during an inspection

Infrared reading, on site

Meet Alice

Alice Carpenter, Baugutachterin, DESAG B/250907

Alice Carpenter at the helm of a sailing yacht

RYA Skipper, off-duty

I don’t do nice reports. I do honest ones.

I’m Alice Carpenter, Baugutachterin and Building Surveyor with an RICS-accredited BSc. I arrive with a thermal camera and moisture meters, I go into the cellar, I get onto the roof, and I read the minutes of the owners’ assembly, because the most expensive thing in a Swiss purchase is rarely the crack you can see. Then I tell you, in plain English, exactly what you are buying: the good, the bad, and the expensive.

British training, continental practice. Before ABC Experts I worked for boutique technical due-diligence firms across the DACH region, which is why every finding in my reports carries a number rather than an adjective. I work exclusively for buyers and owners, never for the seller, never for the contractor whose work I am assessing.

DESAG-zertifizierte Baugutachterin, Schäden an Gebäuden & Wertermittlung

RICS-accredited BSc (Hons) Building Surveying, London, UK

Inspecting and representing clients in private and commercial matters since 2015

Fluent in German and English (British born) · French on request

Alice Carpenter

More about Alice →

What clients say

5.0on Google

★★★★★

Every review public & verifiable

“She checked everything, water damage with specialised gear, the building’s meeting minutes, the documents. Meticulous report within 24 hours.”

Peyee C. · Google

“Exceptionally friendly, patient, and highly professional. I had many questions and uncertainties, Alice truly put me at ease.”

Bariş Ş. · Google

“Helped us feel empowered to make sensible decisions before buying. Thorough and professional.”

Kia W. · Google

Read all reviews on Google ↗

Independently certified

DESAG, Deutsche Sachverständigen Gesellschaft

DESAG Certified

Deutsche Sachverständigen Gesellschaft, Entered in the expert registers; professional ID as a tested and recognised expert.

Verify certificate →

DESAG Sachverständiger Stempel, Alice Carpenter, B/250907

DESAG Expert Seal

Personal certification seal B/250907. Valid through 09/2026.

BSG e.V. Sachverständiger, Alice Carpenter, DE-B-18092507

BSG Expert Seal

Berufsfachverband für das Sachverständigen- und Gutachterwesen e.V., DE-B-18092507.

The experience

We walk you through every finding.

Your inspection is not a checklist, it is a conversation. I explain every defect in plain English, show you what to worry about and what is merely cosmetic, and give you the confidence to negotiate or walk away.

We also read the collective paperwork: minutes of the owners’ assembly, the renewal fund (Erneuerungsfonds), and any planned special contributions, to flag the costs that live outside your four walls.

Your report is your negotiation tool. Every defect carries a repair cost estimate, and clients regularly use those findings to renegotiate five figures off the purchase price.

Learn more about the process → Buying in Zürich: what to check before you sign → Baugutachten written in English →

Case study · Altbau apartment

The apartment looked great. The building didn’t.

The apartment itself was in good condition, but we do not just check your four walls. Walking the staircase to the top floor, we found mould and a saturated damp wall. That is a building-wide issue, not a cosmetic one.

Top floor: mould and a saturated damp wall
Basement: unresolved sanitary issue, insurance claim rejected

Without reading the assembly minutes, the buyer would have had no idea the insurer had already refused the claim. Potential collective repairs: €20,000+, outside the maintenance reserve, which means a special contribution for every owner.

This is why we inspect the whole building, not just your apartment.

Book an inspection

What it costs if nobody looks

Defect	How often we find it	Typical repair
Moisture in walls or floor build-upFailed seals, old leaks, condensation traps, often behind new finishes	Very common	CHF 5,000–40,000
Roof and flat-roof waterproofing at end of lifeLooks fine from the ground; the bill arrives with the next storm	Common	CHF 25,000–120,000
Windows past service lifeSeals, frames, condensation and heat loss across a whole flat	Common	CHF 8,000–45,000
Heating or hot-water plant near replacementAge alone decides this; nobody discloses it voluntarily	Common	CHF 15,000–60,000
Electrical installation not to current standardOld wiring, insufficient capacity, missing protection	Occasional	CHF 6,000–30,000
Underfunded renewal fund (Erneuerungsfonds)The building’s works are coming; your share is a special contribution	Very common	CHF 10,000–100,000+
Structural movement or settlementRare, but the one finding that can end a purchase	Rare	CHF 30,000–200,000+

Indicative Swiss market ranges for the findings we see most often. Your report gives the numbers for your property, per defect, with photographs. A survey costs from CHF 750. One avoided item on this list usually pays for it several times over.

Where we inspect

GoldküsteKüsnacht, Zollikon, Herrliberg, Erlenbach, Meilen.from CHF 1’450 City of ZürichKreis 1 to 12, Stockwerkeigentum and Altbau.from CHF 1’450 ZimmerbergKilchberg, Thalwil, Horgen, Wädenswil.from CHF 1’450

Also Winterthur, Zug, Baden and Aargau. Elsewhere in the DACH region on request.

Fair questions

Costs & Services

How much does a building survey cost in Zurich?

Fixed prices, agreed before you book: a Red Flag Check from CHF 750, a full building survey from CHF 1'450, and a remote document review from CHF 250. Villa and estate inspections are quoted individually within 48 hours. Travel within the Zurich area is included on scheduled inspection dates, no hidden fees.

What is the difference between the Red Flag Check and the Full Survey?

The Red Flag Check answers one question: are there deal-breakers? One to two hours on site, a traffic-light summary, and a clear go / no-go recommendation. The Full Survey documents everything, every defect photographed and costed, documents reviewed, negotiation summary included. If you upgrade from Red Flag to Full later, the fee is credited.

Can I use the report to negotiate the purchase price?

Yes, that is its main job. Each defect comes with photographic evidence and an estimated repair cost, giving you concrete numbers for the negotiation. Every defect carries a costed repair figure, so you negotiate with numbers rather than impressions, or walk away before the purchase becomes yours.

Booking & Process

How do I book?

Send the listing or address through the form below or by WhatsApp. Within one working day you receive the next available Zürich dates and a fixed price. No obligation, and no payment until the date is confirmed.

How quickly can you inspect, and when do I get the report?

We reply within one working day with the next available Zürich dates. After the inspection, your written report arrives within 24 hours, photos, ratings and repair costs included. If your offer deadline is tight, say so; we can often accommodate it.

All questions about buying in Zürich, answered →

Request an inspection date

Viewing this weekend? Swiss purchases move quickly. Tell us your offer deadline when you enquire, where a date can be added, we add it, and we tell you honestly when it cannot.

Tell us about the property.

Reply within one working day · no obligation · or WhatsApp Alice directly

No payment until the date is confirmed · no obligation · we most replies within 2 hours.

We find hidden defects before you buy.

What’s included

All services, at a glance