If you are selling your property, you do not have to get a survey before listing: the buyer is usually expected to arrange their own. However, in many cases, there are huge strategic benefits to getting a survey prior to your house sale. Let us find out more…
Do you need a survey to sell property?
No. You do not legally need to get a survey when selling property. Even buyers are not legally obligated to arrange one, although it would be risky to go ahead without some property insight.
Why should I get a survey before selling my house?
When anyone buys anything, they want to know what they are getting. Being upfront with information ensures potential buyers have a better understanding of your property and can make an informed decision. This might make your property more appealing than other listings and the sale more likely to progress.
We are currently experiencing a buyer’s market, and sellers need to find an edge when marketing their property.
Getting a survey before selling:
- Builds trust with your agent and buyers
- Enables accurate pricing
- Positions your property as honest and appealing
- Prevents surprises
- Limits the risk of fall-through
- Supports smoother negotiation
- Speeds up the sales process
The risks of listing without a survey
Almost 29% of property sales in 2024 collapsed, often due to issues discovered during buyer surveys.
If the sellers had been aware of these problems ahead of time, they could
a) have priced their property accordingly,
b) have addressed the issues and
c) found a buyer who accepted the known problems.
Getting an appropriate survey at the outset enables buyers to price accurately, avoiding potentially lengthy negotiations. Setting the price too high puts buyers off and means you may be negotiated down if issues are discovered. Conversely, setting it too low means you could miss out on revenue.
A property which offers transparency in its listing will always stand out, attracting serious buyers in a tricky market.
What survey should I get to sell my house?
In Scotland, sellers must provide a Home Report which includes a survey and valuation. While more than half the homeowners in England and Wales support similar requirements here, it is not currently expected.
However, if you want to set your property above others and assist a smooth sale, you could commission a Level 2 or Level 3 survey, particularly if your property has:
- Defects or issues which are known to you, but upon which you are not seeking to act before selling
- A previous history of repair, such as subsidence, wall tie replacement or other structural issues
- Had previous sales fall through on survey-related issues
This process would allow sellers to get an impartial, expert assessment of the property’s condition, highlighting structural issues, health and safety risks, construction condition and conveyancing data. This information allows the seller to address the issues early and gives buyers confidence from the outset.
The cost of getting a survey is often recouped through quicker, successful sales.
Legal obligations
As a seller, UK regulations dictate that you must not mislead a buyer nor omit information. The TA6 Property Information Form gives buyers a thorough insight into the property they are considering.
You may think, in this case, it’s better to claim ignorance: avoid getting a survey yourself and then you have nothing to disclose. However, the buyer’s own survey will eventually uncover any important information, so this course of action may simply ‘delay the inevitable’, while presenting the opportunity for a purchaser to withdraw or negotiate the price/conditions of the sale from a position of greater knowledge.
Find out more
If you are considering a survey for your house sale, we are here to help. Our team of knowledgeable, RICS Chartered Surveyors have years of experience conducting house surveys for our clients.
Arranging a survey when selling a property is a great way to give your property an edge on the market, while giving you the best chance of successfully completing a sale without any nasty surprises.
If you have any questions or are ready to arrange a survey, please get in touch.