Selling your home can be a busy time, but taking a few simple steps to prepare for the building survey can make the entire process smoother, quicker, and help your sale stay on track.

The building survey (often referred to as a Level 3 RICS Home Survey) provides the buyer with a detailed assessment of the property’s condition. Poor preparation on your part can significantly slow the surveyor down, potentially leading to delays, revisits, or even requiring the surveyor to make qualified assumptions about areas they couldn’t fully inspect. By following this guide, you can ensure a smooth, efficient process.

Before your surveyor from Weald and City arrives, we recommend focusing on these critical access points and documentation:

The surveyor needs to inspect all parts of the property, inside and out.

• Make All Keys Available: This includes keys for all external doors, internal doors (if locked), the garage, any external buildings, and lockable windows.
• Clear Windowsills and Surfaces: Please clear items from windowsills and around window frames so the surveyor can check for issues like condensation, air gaps, and the condition of the opening mechanism. Ensure that any suspected defects, such as damp, aren’t obscured by furniture or storage.
• Access the Drains: It is crucial that all drain inspection chambers (manholes) are accessible. Please ensure any heavy items, planters, or paving slabs covering them are moved, or can be easily moved, before the surveyor arrives.
• Loft Access: Make sure the loft hatch is clear of clutter and the surrounding area is safe for ladder access.
• Pre-Heat Underfloor Heating: If your property has underfloor heating, please switch it on several hours before the surveyor is due to arrive. This allows the system to reach a detectable temperature, enabling the surveyor to properly assess its operation.

Having copies of important paperwork ready can answer potential questions immediately and provide the buyer’s solicitor with the necessary information.

• Planning and Building Regulations: Have printed copies of planning permission, building regulation completion and party wall document available for any significant alterations (e.g., extensions, major internal modifications).
• Competent Persons Schemes: Gather documentation for work completed under a Competent Persons Scheme. This is particularly important for electrical installations (NICEIC certificate), new boiler installations (Gas Safe), and replacement windows/doors (FENSA/CERTASS certificates).
• Declare Refurbishment and Damp Works: It is vital that you declare any recent refurbishment works or, specifically, damp-proofing treatments. Please provide the relevant supporting documentation, guarantees, and certificates. Certain chemical damp-proof injection works and salts can severely affect the accuracy of a surveyor’s moisture meters, leading to potentially misleading readings and unnecessary requests for further investigation from the buyer. Declaring this upfront helps the surveyor interpret their findings correctly.
• Guarantees and Warranties: Have any relevant paperwork ready, such as guarantees for timber treatment or a warranty for a new roof.

To complete the most comprehensive report, the surveyor may ask you specific questions about the property’s history, or you may be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire.

• Complete the Questionnaire: If you receive a questionnaire from the surveyor or your solicitor, please take the time to complete it fully and answer all questions to the best of your ability. Accurate information is invaluable.
• Be Available (If Needed): While you don’t need to be present for the whole survey, ensure you or an appointed representative is contactable in case the surveyor has a quick question about a specific feature or access point.

These extra tips can ensure the surveyor gets the clearest picture of your home’s condition:

• Exterior Maintenance: If it is safe and practical to do so, check and clear out gutters and downpipes (or ‘gullies’ in some regions). Blockages can lead to overflowing water and damp issues, which a surveyor must report on.
• Clear Rooflines: Remove any debris or leaves that have built up. If your roof pitches are covered in moss, consider having it professionally cleared, as excessive moss can retain moisture and cause tile damage over time.
• Boiler and Heating: Ensure the heating system is in working order and that the boiler service history is available.

By following this comprehensive preparation guide, you’re helping your buyer and their chosen surveyor from Weald and City Surveyors Ltd to complete their assessment efficiently and accurately, moving you one step closer to a successful sale!