About Bolton Surveyor

Bolton Surveyor RICS surveyor conducting a detailed property inspection in a Lancashire home

Who We Are: A Surveyor in Bolton You Can Actually Trust

Bolton Surveyor is an independent firm of RICS surveyors, based right in the heart of Bolton, Lancashire. We've been helping buyers, sellers and property owners across the North West make confident, well-informed decisions for over two decades.

We're not a faceless national chain. We're a small, dedicated team of fully qualified RICS, CIOB and RPSA-accredited surveyors who genuinely care about the properties we inspect — and the people who buy them. When you instruct us, you get personal, expert service every single time.

Our surveyors have detailed knowledge of the local market — the types of property you'll find in Bolton, Horwich, Leigh and the surrounding areas; the common defects in Victorian and Edwardian terraces; the drainage issues on certain streets; the subsidence risks in particular postcodes. That knowledge is something no national firm can replicate.

A word from our founder: "I started Bolton Surveyor because I believed buyers in the North West deserved genuinely independent, expert advice — not a tick-box report from someone who'd never set foot in a Bolton property before. Twenty-five years later, that principle still drives everything we do." — James Hartley, Founder

Our Services

Meet the Bolton Surveyor Team

Our small but experienced team brings together decades of combined experience in residential and commercial property surveying across Bolton and the wider North West.

James Hartley

Founder & Principal Surveyor

James founded Bolton Surveyor over 20 years ago after working for national surveying firms and seeing, firsthand, how impersonal the process had become for buyers. With deep roots in Bolton and a passion for helping people make confident property decisions, he set out to create something different — a genuinely independent, trusted local firm.

Outside work, James is a keen fell walker who can often be found on the moors above Rivington — which explains why he knows the terrain, and the property stock, of this part of Lancashire better than most.

MRICS MCIOB Level 3 Survey Valuer

Sarah Nightingale

Senior Surveyor

Sarah joined Bolton Surveyor a decade ago, bringing with her a wealth of experience in residential property across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. She specialises in complex structural cases, help-to-buy valuations and detailed homebuyer reports for older property types.

Born and raised in Bolton, Sarah has a genuine love of the town's Victorian architecture — and an equally genuine intolerance for poorly maintained damp-proof courses. She'll always give you a straight answer.

MRICS RPSA Member HomeBuyer Reports Structural

David Thornton

Associate Surveyor

David joined the team three years ago, fresh from completing his APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) with flying colours. He brings energy, precision and a refreshingly modern approach to survey reporting — including detailed photographic documentation and digital reports.

David grew up in Leigh and studied at the University of Salford. He has a particular interest in new-build snagging surveys and flat inspections — two areas where buyers often overlook the need for professional advice.

AssocRICS CIOB Member Snagging Flat Surveys

What Makes Us Different as a Bolton Surveyor

Independence You Can Rely On

We are completely independent. We have no commercial relationships with estate agents, developers or mortgage brokers. Our opinion is based solely on the evidence we find — which means you can trust it.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

All our surveys are backed by comprehensive professional indemnity insurance. If we miss something we should have found, you have recourse. That's part of what it means to be a regulated RICS firm.

Post-Report Follow-Up

Our service doesn't end when we send the report. Every client is offered a follow-up call with their surveyor to discuss the findings, answer questions and help plan next steps.

Fast Turnaround

We know that property purchases can move quickly. That's why we aim to inspect within 3–5 days of instruction and deliver most reports within 48 hours of the inspection. Speed, without compromising on quality.

Our Journey Since 2000

2000 — Founded in Bolton

James Hartley sets up Bolton Surveyor as a one-man independent practice, serving buyers in the Bolton area with an honest, personal approach.

2008 — RICS Full Regulation

Bolton Surveyor achieves full RICS regulation as the practice grows. Professional indemnity cover expanded to match an increasing client base across Lancashire.

2015 — Team Expands

Sarah Nightingale joins as Senior Surveyor, bringing specialist expertise in structural surveys and valuations. The team now covers Greater Manchester.

2021 — North West Coverage

David Thornton joins the team. Coverage expands to include Liverpool, Chorley and wider Lancashire, while maintaining the focus on deep local knowledge in the Bolton area.

2026 — 500+ Surveys Completed

The team passes 500 surveys and 127 five-star reviews, with clients regularly citing the personal, thorough and professional service as the main reason for recommending us.