- Sellers with a Home Report inspection booked.
- Homeowners who want to avoid avoidable delays.
- Anyone preparing an older, altered or repaired property for sale.
Before the surveyor visits, make sure the property is accessible, tidy enough to inspect, paperwork is available, services can be checked where relevant and any obvious maintenance issues are dealt with honestly.
Before the surveyor visits, make sure the property is accessible, tidy enough to inspect, paperwork is available, services can be checked where relevant and any obvious maintenance issues are dealt with honestly.
Make access easy
The surveyor needs reasonable access to inspect the property. Open internal doors, clear access to meter cupboards, loft hatches, garages, outbuildings, garden areas and shared spaces where relevant. If the surveyor cannot access important areas, the report may include limitations or follow-up questions.
You do not need to stage the home like a showhouse, but clutter can make inspection harder. Simple preparation can help the visit run smoothly.
Gather useful paperwork
Have guarantees, planning permissions, building warrants, completion certificates, roof repair invoices, damp treatment guarantees, boiler service details and factor information ready if you have them. The surveyor may not need every document, but missing paperwork can lead to uncertainty in the Property Questionnaire or buyer follow-up.
For altered properties, paperwork is particularly important. Buyers and solicitors often ask about extensions, removed walls, replacement windows, roof works and specialist treatments.
Deal with obvious maintenance honestly
Small issues such as leaks, loose gutters, broken fittings, blocked access or obvious damp patches should not be ignored. A Home Report is not a decoration test, but visible defects can affect buyer confidence.
Do not try to hide problems. It is better to understand them, repair where appropriate and be prepared to explain what has been done.
Think about EPC and running costs
The Energy Report will show energy performance and recommendations. Before the visit, make sure the assessor can see heating controls, insulation access points where possible and relevant energy improvements. If you have paperwork for insulation, glazing or heating upgrades, keep it available.
FAQs about this topic
Do I need to clean before the Home Report survey?
The property should be reasonably accessible and presentable, but the surveyor is mainly inspecting condition, not judging housekeeping.
Should I repair everything before the survey?
Not always. Focus on obvious, practical repairs and get advice before spending heavily.
Should I be present during the survey?
You can be, but it is not always necessary. Someone must provide access and useful information.
What documents are most useful?
Alteration paperwork, guarantees, service records, factor information and repair invoices can all help.