What To Do When You Receive Your Survey Report
A homebuyer’s guide – minus the jargon, plus a bit of straight-talking honesty.
So, you’ve had your offer accepted. You’ve got your mortgage sorted. Everything’s ticking along nicely. Then bam—your survey report lands in your inbox and it’s 30 pages long, filled with phrases like “damp ingress”. Cue panic, right?
Let’s just take a breath.
We promise: this is totally normal. Here’s what to do next.
1. Don’t panic—seriously.
Every survey report picks up something. It could be a loose roof tile, hairline cracks, or outdated electrics. These things sound scary on paper, but in reality? Most are common, especially for older homes.
The survey is there to help you make an informed decision, not to scare you off. So don’t freak out if it isn’t a glowing five-star review of the property. Very few ever are.
2. Focus on what actually matters.
Skip straight to the summary and look for anything marked “urgent” or “further investigation required.” That’s where your attention should go.
And if you’re not sure what something means—don’t guess. Ask your surveyor. You paid for their expertise, and most will happily explain the findings in plain English.
3. Talk to your estate agent.
Alright, we’re not surveyors. So we can’t tell you what to do or offer technical advice—that decision is always yours to make. But what we can do is help you understand what the report’s saying.
We can also speak directly to your surveyor if needed. We’ve got great working relationships with many of them, and they’ll often give us the inside scoop on whether it’s a sound investment overall.
You’re not in this alone. We’re here to help make sense of it all so you can make a choice that feels right.
4. Use it as a negotiation tool—if needed.
If the report highlights significant issues—think roof problems, damp, structural movement—you might decide to renegotiate the price or ask the seller to carry out works.
But here’s the important bit: if you’re going to ask for a reduction, the seller will almost certainly want to see the survey report. They won’t just take your word for it.
That’s where we come in. We’ll act as the go-between and handle the discussion professionally. If you’d rather not send over the full report, we can extract the relevant sections to share. Just know that sellers will want to see the actual surveyor’s comments before agreeing to anything—and that’s fair.
Also, don’t expect the seller to just roll over and agree to everything. They’ll likely want quotes, context, and realism about costs. Some might say yes, others might say no. If that happens, you’ll have a decision to make: push forward, or walk away.
We’ll support you either way.
5. Keep it all moving.
It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of a survey, but most issues are fixable, negotiable, or manageable. Don’t let the report stall your entire move unless it really needs to.
Stay calm. Talk to the right people. And don’t forget—this is all part of the process.
6. Just a reminder—we’re on your side, too.
Yes, we work for the seller. But here’s the truth: it’s just as important to us that you, the buyer, are happy and confident in your decision.
Why? Because we all live, work, and play here too. We don’t want to sell you something that turns into a nightmare. We’d rather see you at the shop or the pub and have a good chat—not an awkward silence.
And when you decide to move again in a few years? We want you to come back to us. That’s the kind of long-term, full-circle relationship we’re all about. So while we represent the seller, we’re here to support both sides and help everyone feel good about the move they’re making.
Got your survey report and need a second pair of eyes (or just a bit of reassurance)?
Call us on 01780 672030. We’re happy to chat it through—no pressure, no jargon, just local experts who care.