What to expect on survey day

Before the day

You do not need to prepare the property. The engineer works with what is there.

The one thing that genuinely helps is access. The engineer needs to reach every room, including the loft, any cellar, and both the front and rear of the building. If storage is blocking walls or floors in key areas, clearing it before the visit means the engineer spends their time inspecting rather than working around furniture.

If you have documents related to the property, upload them to your booking portal before the visit. Previous surveys, planning drawings, building control sign-off, or photos of the defects that prompted the survey are all useful. The engineer reviews these before arriving.

Who needs to be there

Someone needs to be at the property to give access. It does not have to be you. The estate agent, the vendor, a letting agent, or any representative you arrange will do. The engineer will not visit a property they cannot enter.

That said, attending yourself is worth it if your schedule allows. The engineer explains what they find as they go, and the verbal explanation on the spot is often more useful than reading the report two days later. You can ask questions directly. Most clients who attend say it is the most useful hour they spend on the whole process.

What the engineer does

The engineer starts outside. They walk the perimeter, examining the external walls for cracking, movement, and defects in the brickwork and pointing. They check the roof line for sagging, look at drainage outlets and downpipes, and note any evidence of previous alterations or repairs.

Inside, they work through every room: walls, floors, and ceilings for cracking and movement; lintels above every door and window opening; chimney breasts present or previously removed; signs of damp or timber decay where these affect the structure. The loft is inspected where accessible. Everything is photographed.

Whatever you flagged as your primary concern gets particular attention. But the inspection covers the whole property. You are not paying for a partial survey.

How long it takes

A standard two or three-bedroom house takes 45 minutes to an hour. A larger property, or one with significant defects, takes longer. Expect up to 1.5 to 2 hours for anything more complex.

If you have a tight exchange deadline or are buying at auction, say so when you book. We will try to schedule accordingly.

After the visit

The engineer writes the report at their office. Your report arrives in your email inbox within 48 hours of the inspection. For most visits that means the same day or the following morning. It is also downloadable from your booking portal at any time.

After you read the report

Follow-up questions are included at no extra cost. If something is unclear, or you want the engineer to walk you through a specific item by phone, contact us and the engineer who did the inspection handles it directly. Not a call centre.

If the report recommends further investigation, such as crack monitoring, a drain CCTV survey, or specialist foundation work, it will explain exactly what is needed and why.