How to prepare your property for a home survey
As chartered surveyors, we often focus on what homebuyers should expect from a home survey and why they’re so important. But what if you’re a homeowner wanting to sell?
How can you prepare your property for a home survey?
Whether the chartered surveyor has been instructed by a potential buyer or yourself, there are several steps you should take. These will make the inspection hassle-free, safe and accurate. In this article, we’ll run through several tips (in chronological order) you could follow to get your house ready for a home survey. We hope you find it helpful!
Before you put the house on the market
Here’s the time to highlight the strengths of your property. Follow your estate agent’s advice about asking prices and getting appealing photos. Crucially, repair or replace everything they point out during their initial look round. For example, install good ventilation in the kitchen and bathrooms if you don’t already have it. Fix dripping taps or pipes and clean up the moisture.
When a chartered surveyor comes to inspect your house, they’ll watch out for seemingly minor problems like these. Preparing by fixing them before going to market means the inspection report will be much more praiseworthy.
After receiving an offer and an inspection request from a surveyor
Once you receive an offer, expect a surveyor to get in touch. Buyers are always recommended to conduct a home survey as part of due diligence. You can usually expect to hear from a company within a few days of the interested party’s first viewing. At this point, arrange an appropriate time for the surveyor to visit.
The property should still be pretty tidy from the guided viewing (even if you’re still living there). Tidy the house up again if necessary, since the home inspection includes a valuation.
Finally, make any last-minute repairs you’ve meant to get around to. As mentioned, fewer noted problems might not drive the property’s value up. But, from a buyer’s perspective, the fewer small issues there are, the more attractive the home is.
Note that a trained chartered surveyor will see through botch-job cover-ups and ‘improvements’. It’s not worth it to hurriedly patch over cracks or damp. It’ll only push your home’s value down by seeming more suspect.
During the inspection
Expect a RICS chartered surveyor to take at least a couple of hours to inspect your property. If you have a larger home, it might take longer (of course).
During the inspection, the surveyor may need to ask you one or two quick questions. For instance, they may ask to move a sofa or for access to the loft. So, feel free to carry on with your home life as usual, but remember that, at some point, they may have to ask you to move. You can avoid most inspection issues by arranging for the survey to start at an appropriate time. Chat in advance with whoever comes to your property to discuss everything on a personalised basis.
Other than that, there isn’t much to prepare. Some chartered surveyors might love a cuppa, though! They’ll be out of your hair a few hours after arriving.
How GB Home Surveys advises preparing a home for inspection
Our branches of chartered surveyors operate across the South-West, West and West Midlands. We also have a dedicated team in South Wales. As such, we see all sorts of properties with owners from all walks of life. Follow the advice mentioned on this page, and you won’t go far wrong.
When we head out to survey a property, we can tell when someone’s prepared for us. It gives us some reassurance that the property has been cared for and is generally in good condition. Of course, we still need to conduct the inspection, though. We can also tell when there’s been a hurried cover-up of well-known problems like damp, woodworm or mould. It’s always best – for all involved – to get these things appropriately repaired.
As a homeowner looking to sell, you could organise a home survey yourself. This isn’t necessary, but it could be a sign of good faith to potential buyers.
If you’re interested in having a home survey carried out – or simply to ask us any commitment-free questions – feel free to contact us. You can reach us on 03333 600 685 or by emailing contact@gbhomesurveys.co.uk. Our friendly team is always happy to hear from people. We’ll give you all the advice you need to prepare your property for a home survey.
