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How to Prepare if You’re Nervous for a House Survey

When selling your home, being nervous about a house survey is understandable. You may have concerns about hidden defects that could be uncovered, causing either a dip in valuation or the sale to collapse completely. However, a house survey is standard practice for property transactions across the board.

This includes the actions you can take and some things you can do afterwards to give yourself the best possible outcome.

What Will the Surveyor Do During the Survey?

Surveyors will visually check the property’s major internal and external features, making notes of any issues. They will take photos, and use tools such as an electronic moisture meter and a spirit level. In some cases they may even use a drone to get an aerial view of the property.

They will only check the parts of the property which they can access. They will not lift up carpets, open up panels or move any furniture. Additionally, if there is anything blocking access to lofts or garages they won’t check these.

Both RICS Level 2 (formerly HomeBuyers Report) and Level 3 (formerly Building Survey) surveys contain in-depth information. However, the Level 3 survey is the more thorough of the two and is most common for older properties.

Read more on What Does a Surveyor Do?

What are the Common Problems Found by Surveyors?

When a surveyor comes to your property they will be checking a wide range of potential issues with your property. Below are some of the most common problems found:

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Asbestos

Despite asbestos being banned in 2000 in the UK, there are still buildings that have asbestos in. The surveyor will not conduct an asbestos survey but will note if they believe there to be asbestos-containing material. Many surveyors will acknowledge the presence of artex on ceilings and walls, as it was popular until asbestos was banned. If a surveyor has notified you of potential asbestos the buyer might request an asbestos survey.

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Structural Issues

Structural integrity of the property is a major issue that can be uncovered during your survey. The surveyor will be looking for cracks in the roof, floors and walls. Though rare, cracks can be a sign of subsidence and if serious enough it can result in the walls or roof collapsing. If there are concerns the buyer will likely get a structural engineer who will come and conduct a full structural survey.

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Damp

According to UK Government figures damp is prominent in 4% to 27% of homes across the UK. The wide-ranging figure is due to the measuring of mold and damp and how it is reported. The UK has a lot of old properties still. Alongside the bad weather, it is no surprise that damp is a common issue.

If your surveyor has notified you of the presence of damp, you should seek the services of a damp specialist. They will be able to advise you on how widespread it is and how to treat it. There could be some underlying reasons such as issues with the roof or the external render. This can cause penetrating damp and prove costly and put off buyers.

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Invasive Plants

Japanese Knotweed causes on average £170 million worth of damage in the UK. Invasive plants as a whole can create significant issues with property mostly around the structure. Whilst it is not mandatory to declare the presence of invasive plants (except for Japanese Knotweed) a survey will flag it. It could impact the buyer's purchasing decision and they might request that you remove the invasive plants.

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Roof Issues

When a surveyor is conducting a Level 2 or 3 Survey, they will be looking for small issues which could lead to bigger and more expensive problems. These can impact other areas of the home. They will be looking for issues around cracked tiles, insufficient insulation and ventilation. If the survey finds potentially serious issues, an inspection of the area by an expert will be needed to check the severity of the problem.

Read more on What Are Common House Survey Problems?

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How to Prepare for a House Survey?

There are several ways to prepare your home for a survey. Some require little to no cost, while others may involve more significant repairs. By taking these steps you can help reassure buyers and reduce the risk of them withdrawing from the sale.

1

Clearing the Property

During a house survey, the surveyor will visually inspect accessible areas of the property. Ensuring that every part of the home is easy to access is essential. This does include places such as the loft and garage. For example, if a corner unit is blocking a cupboard, be sure to move it so the surveyor can reach it.

2

Repairing Minor Issues

Addressing minor issues before your survey can improve your report. It can help prevent small problems from appearing more serious than they are. Even minor imperfections, like a harmless wall crack, can raise red flags for potential buyers and risk them pulling out of the purchase. If you notice these issues, take the time to repair or cover them up before the survey to avoid them being part of the report

3

Checking the Exterior

When preparing for the survey, be sure to inspect all exterior areas of the property, not just the main building. This includes alleyways, garages, the garden, and boundary walls. Ensure the surveyor has clear access to these areas, as they will be included in their survey.

4

Moving Any Furniture

If there is furniture blocking a door or panel, be sure to move this ahead of the survey. This includes any unnecessary furniture in the property. The surveyor will need as much space to access the key parts of the property. You can always move these items into storage or get a house clearance company to remove them, should they no longer be needed.

Read more on How to Get Rid of Old Furniture

5

Get Utilities Checked and Documentation Ready

Having your utilities tested ensures they’re in top condition and allows you to address any issues in advance. Once tested, you can provide the surveyor with certificates, such as Gas Safety, Electrical, Building Regulation Certificates and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). EPC is legally required to enable your property to be listed and can cost £65-£120 on average. This gives buyers added peace of mind.

If prior to you owning the property changes were made, it's worth contacting the solicitor which you used to purchase the house. They should be able to provide you with the relevant documentation. If you have made any major changes during your ownership, such as an extension, then ensure you have the planning permission to hand too

The surveyor won’t conduct these specific checks, but they may include relevant scores in the survey report. Keeping these documents on hand can help prevent delays and reassure buyers. You will also need these for the conveyancing process.It may even reduce the likelihood of additional inspections.

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How to Be Calm if You’re Nervous About a House Survey?

A survey is a normal part of the home-selling process. So try to remember this when getting ready for the surveyor. Making repairs to parts of the house that you can will help calm any nerves. Getting a friend, family member or even an estate agent to come and look at the house to see if there is anything they spot is also a useful exercise. This will help ease any concerns that you might have beforehand.

What if the Buyer’s Surveyor Devalues Your Home?

If the surveyor has conducted a valuation and has valued your property for less than the amount you agreed with the buyer there are a few things you can do. Which include the following:

1

Fix Issues in the Survey

If there are problems with the property which has arisen in the survey, it might be worth getting them fixed to help the sale proceed. This does of course depend on the size and cost of the repairs. In some cases, the buyer will insist that you get these issues fixed before they complete the purchase.

2

Get Another Independent Valuation

If the valuations between yourself and the buyer are significantly different, you might find it necessary to get a second opinion. The risk here is that you are paying for another valuation and coming back to the same result. If there is a different figure in your favour, this will also strengthen your position when re-negotiating.

3

Renegotiate the Price

If some issues have been flagged, you can factor this into any potential re-negotiations with the buyer over the house price. You might take a certain amount off the asking price if they agree to get the roof repaired upon purchase. If you wish to go down this route, it's recommended you speak to your conveyancing solicitor.

4

Accept Valuation

If reading the valuation report, you find that actually you’d set an unrealistic asking price, it might be worth agreeing to a new amount with the buyer. This will likely add some time as they will need to speak to their mortgage provider. In some cases, the buyer might be forced to pull out of the purchase altogether. This is particularly the case for first-time buyers. Their mortgage provider might have concerns over differing valuations and will need a higher deposit.

Read more on What To Do if a Surveyor Devalues House?

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Key Takeaways

Knowing what to expect from a house survey and anticipating potential issues are a couple of ways you can deal with the pre-survey nerves.

Being proactive beforehand will go a long way to improving the report the buyer will receive.

This includes making repairs yourself to clearing items which are taking up unnecessary space in the house.

Once the survey is done, you can either accept the results and negotiate or you can get another surveyor to do a further valuation.

Finding a Surveyor

If you are looking for a surveyor to conduct another valuation on your property at Compare My Move, we can connect you with up to 6 surveyors. This can save you up to 70% on your costs. Fill out our simple surveying form to get connected with top-rated surveyors today and find the right company for you.

All surveying partners must meet our strict verification process before joining our network. Companies offering Home Surveys and Valuation Reports must be registered as RICS-registered surveyors.

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Written by

Last updated

16th Apr, 2025

Read time

8 minutes

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