- Sellers preparing to put a Scottish property on the open market.
- Buyers who have downloaded a Home Report and want to understand what it means.
- Homeowners comparing surveyor quotes before instructing a report.
A Home Report is the information pack normally required before a residential property is marketed for sale in Scotland. It includes the Single Survey and valuation, the Energy Report and the seller’s Property Questionnaire.
A Home Report is the information pack normally required before a residential property is marketed for sale in Scotland. It includes the Single Survey and valuation, the Energy Report and the seller’s Property Questionnaire.
What a Home Report is
A Home Report is designed to give buyers useful information before they make an offer and to help sellers market a property with more transparency. In Scotland, if a home is publicly marketed for sale, buyers should normally be able to request the Home Report from the seller, solicitor or estate agent.
The report is not just a marketing brochure. It is a formal pack that buyers, solicitors, estate agents and mortgage advisers may all review. For sellers, it often shapes the asking price and how confidently the property can be launched. For buyers, it is one of the first documents to read before deciding whether to view, offer, renegotiate or ask further questions.
The three main parts
The Single Survey comments on the property’s condition and includes a valuation. It is prepared by a suitable surveyor and uses condition categories to highlight items that need no immediate action, may need future attention, or require urgent repair or further investigation.
The Energy Report includes the property’s EPC rating and energy recommendations. The Property Questionnaire is completed by the seller and covers practical matters such as council tax, alterations, parking, factoring, notices, guarantees and other property information.
Why sellers should take it seriously
A well-prepared Home Report can make the selling process smoother. If the report is clear, current and produced by a surveyor who understands the local market, buyers may have more confidence in the valuation and condition comments.
Local knowledge matters because values can differ street by street, especially in tenement areas, rural locations, school catchments, commuter towns and neighbourhoods with mixed property types. A local surveyor may be better placed to interpret comparable sales and typical repair issues.
What buyers should remember
A Home Report is helpful, but it is not a substitute for legal advice, mortgage advice or specialist repair estimates where needed. Buyers should read the condition categories, valuation, EPC and Property Questionnaire together rather than focusing on one page.
If a buyer is using a mortgage, lender acceptance can also matter. Not every surveyor or firm will necessarily be on every lender panel, so buyers should check with their mortgage broker or lender if they are relying on the valuation for lending.
FAQs about this topic
Is a Home Report required for every property in Scotland?
Most residential properties marketed for sale need one, but there are limited exemptions. Sellers should confirm their position before marketing.
Who prepares the Home Report?
The Single Survey and Energy Report are prepared by a surveyor, while the Property Questionnaire is completed by the seller.
Can buyers rely on the Home Report?
It is an important starting point, but buyers should also take legal, mortgage and specialist advice where needed.
Does the surveyor need to be accepted by the buyer’s lender?
If a buyer needs a mortgage, lender acceptance can matter. Buyers should check whether the valuation or surveyor is acceptable to their lender.