Surveyors
A surveyor advises on the property’s physical condition during the selling and buying process.
They look for structural issues or needs for repair, ensuring the buyer and lender know what they’re getting. This helps buyers make informed decisions and can highlight issues that might affect the price or require fixing later. Surveyors make the process safer and clearer for everyone involved.
Valuation or condition survey?
What is the different between a valuation and a condition survey?
A valuation is mostly for the benefit of the lender, and may, or may not include a physical inspection of the property.
A condition survey is based on a comprehensive physical inspection.
Why would I want a condition survey?
As a seller a condition survey alerts me, and prospective buyers, about repairs and maintenance that need doing now or in the future.
As a buyer, a condition survey informs me about condition related matters that may affect my decision to buy, or the price I am willing to pay.
Process flow to exchange of contracts
When recommended practice is followed, these are the key stages in a property transaction involving Surveyors and the main activities they are involved in
Upfront Information
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Pre-market inspection
Offer made
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Survey (where actioned)
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Lender valuation (where applicable)
Rules and Regulations
The following rules and regulations apply to Surveyors
A surveyor whether working to the RPSA Survey Inspection & Reporting Standards or RICS Home Survey Standards has a duty of care to the person relying upon their advice.
Bringing the information and advice contained in a survey to the attention of the home seller or buyer earlier in the process reduces the risk and quantity of loss.
Every property is different, and so the survey requirements will vary according to the age, type, location, construction, condition and history of that individual home.
What data does a surveyor need?
An Estate Agent would benefit from a range of data to support their service, including
Property details
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Broadband availability
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Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
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FENSA or CERTAS registered double glazing
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Fracking
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Geology
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Geology indicating Radon Risk
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Historic England or Wales listing
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Historic landfill
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HS2
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Lease Information
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Local planning
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Mining data/Coal Authority
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Mobile signal
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National Park planning
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Old maps
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Past flooding
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Title and Tenure
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Title plan/MapSearch
Data sources
A surveyor can obtain data from a variety of sources, including
Direct from the relevant authority
Asking the customer
Reviewing Material Information on the property advert
Information from a technology system - directly or shared by others in the process
Sharing data
The following information obtained by the surveyor could then be shared with other stakeholders for their benefit
Estate agents are legally required to provide information that would be material to an average consumer, and sellers have a legal requirement not to misrepresent facts about their property.
By recognising factors that could lead to risks that should be highlighted as material information for a buyer, the triage approach will enable agents to potentially identify the need for further inspections, assessments or surveys at the pre-marketing stage.
Information gathered can be utilised (subject to satisfactory liability definitions) by a variety of stakeholders in the process, in the full knowledge that it is from trusted sources and in data-readable formats.
Consumers can receive advice essential to their decision-making process, which can be referenced, and continually updated, during their period of ownership.
Benefits
Bringing the information and advice contained in a survey to the attention of the home seller or buyer earlier in the process reduces the risk and quantity of loss.
Although surveying is mainly a physical process, digital property information helps support:
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The assessment of the property to have a fuller picture.
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A more accurate representation of what’s there.
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Helps the flow of data back to consumers and their professional advisors. This might include review of structural alterations, consents, geology or other local restrictions, which can be verified during a physical inspection.