What to expect during a Homebuyer Survey
A Homebuyer Survey is these days known as a Home Survey Level 2.
It involves a chartered surveyor (under the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, or RICS) heading out to a property you’re looking to buy. They look it over and produce a report for you. You can use this to assess how you want to proceed.
This page will explain what a Homebuyer Survey involves and what you should inspect from the chartered surveyor.
What is a Homebuyer Survey?
A Homebuyer Survey is a standardised home inspection and report offered by RICS, the UK’s residential surveying governing body.
It’s designed for someone buying a home and thus also includes free extras, such as a Valuation.
A Homebuyer Survey is now known by a different name. These days, we refer to it as a Home Survey Level 2. However, the old version still hangs around, and we use the terms interchangeably.
RICS updates the names for these surveys to make what’s involved in each. At GB Home Surveys, we offer a simple collection:
- Valuation
- Home Survey Level 2 (previously known as a Homebuyer Survey)
- Home Survey Level 3 (previously known as a Building Survey)
In short, a higher ‘level’ means a more detailed survey. A Homebuyer Survey (a Home Survey Level 2) is appropriate for most UK buyers. We’d suggest this if you’re purchasing a relatively standard property built in the last forty or fifty years.
In some cases, you should upgrade to a Level 3. Some examples of when this is best include buying cottages, barn conversions, historic properties, or DIY buildings.
Process involved in conducting a Homebuyer Survey
The Homebuyer Survey process is fluent, efficient, and quick. Our surveyors have been doing it for decades. Here’s what you can expect if you instruct a Home Survey Level 2 from GB Home Surveys.
You’ll formally instruct a survey after the seller accepts your initial offer. In the meantime, you have time to check out a chartered surveyor’s background, testimonials, and credentials.
GB Home Surveys is also the only British chartered surveyor to offer a free quote with no need to leave your contact details.
Once your offer has been accepted, contact the surveyor and pay for the Homebuyer Survey. They’ll reach out to the homeowner or their representatives and organise a time to drive to and inspect the property. This is usually a fast process and typically happens within a few days.
The chartered surveyor examines the interior and exterior of the building, as well as the grounds. They’re looking for common problems like damp, rot, woodworm or subsidence. Japanese Knotweed is also always on their radar, of course.
In the process, they’ll make detailed notes and take photos. After returning to their office, they’ll sit down and write up a report in a standardised format, as detailed by RICS. Most companies (including us) deliver it as a PDF to save paper and time wasted on postage.
You can use this report to decide on your next steps. Oh, and feel free to ask the surveyor as many questions about the document as you like.
Types of inspections included in a Homebuyer Survey
A Homebuyer Survey might comprise any of the following examinations – and more. The exact nature of the survey is somewhat dependent on the property.
- Damp– a moisture meter checks relative humidity while the surveyor looks for visible signs of wet patches on walls and ceilings. Damp inspections are applicable everywhere, but especially in bathrooms, kitchens, and loft spaces.
- Asbestos– these checks most commonly involve looking for products the surveyor knows contain asbestos.
- Subsidence – inspections for subsidence involve brickwork analysis, in particular.
- Mains services – do they work? And do they work safely? These include water, gas, electricity, phone and internet, drains, sewage, etc.
- Roof – the roof can be checked from the inside and outside.
- Japanese Knotweed – signs of Japanese Knotweed in the garden will be noted and cautioned against. However, it’s not as much of a deal-breaker as it once was.
- Wood – the surveyor will inspect wooden surfaces for common problems like rot or woodworm.
How long does a Homebuyer Survey take?
As we mentioned, a Homebuyer Survey can only be instructed once your offer has been accepted. Otherwise, the seller is unlikely to take you seriously, and there’s no need to spend money when you don’t need to.
After this, it might take up to a week before the chartered surveyor can complete the inspection. This is dependent on everyone’s availability.
The Homebuyer Survey itself typically takes between two and three hours. The main variable here is the size of the home. If it’s in poor condition, it might also take longer because the surveyor has more to write down.
Once the inspection is complete, the chartered surveyor returns to the office and writes a report.
The industry deadline set by RICS is a two-week gap between the survey and the delivery of the report. Here at GB Home Surveys, we always strive to get it to you as a PDF (faster than the post) within seven days.
The report is valid as of the time of the survey and, barring any disasters, should accurately represent the home for the coming months.
Getting a Homebuyer Survey from GB Home Surveys is easy
GB Home Surveys offers Homebuyer Surveys. Check out our other options on the Choose Your Survey page, including the Valuation and Level 3. Remember to select a Home Survey Level 2 – the new name for a Homebuyer Report.
Once your offer is accepted, we’d be delighted to complete a Homebuyer Survey on your behalf. Our local teams are based around the country, including locations like South Wales, Devon, Bristol, Bath, the Cotswolds, Birmingham, and Three Counties.
Whether you’re mid-purchase or simply exploring your options, why not contact us for a friendly chat? Feel free to use our Quote Calculator too.
We look forward to learning about you and helping you on your journey.
