Anecdotes

* Attics may be cramped, dirty and dark, but they are usually the only part of a house unchanged over decades or centuries. Old roof trusses and purlins often have the carpenters location marks chiselled beside the joints - bats occasionally accompany the inspection, and whizz around happily in the torch light.

* Attics commonly contain artificial christmas trees, out-of-date lampshades, jigsaw puzzles, spare out-of-date wallpaper, fishing rods, golf clubs, dead birds, wasps nests and unwanted wedding presents!

* I once arrived to carry out a survey and dig trial pits at a house, and was encouraged to continue by a relative despite the owner having passed away in the night, and was "awaiting" the undertaker to call!

*Among the hazards of surveying have been many wasps nests the size of a beach ball found in attics, thick black cobwebs draped like fishing nets, a warehouse running with rats, smelly stained carpets, weak ceilings etc.

A barn survey with the tenant's still in residency!