After the survey
What happens after a house survey?
Your report has arrived. Here is how to read it, act on it, and decide your next move with a clear head.
The inspection is done, the report has landed in your inbox, and now the real work begins: deciding what it means for your purchase. Here is what to expect once a Level 3 Building Survey is complete, and how to act on it calmly.
When will I get my report?
Turnaround varies between surveyors. We typically return a clear, prioritised report within three working days of the inspection, followed by a call to talk it through. A good report should reach you quickly enough that it never becomes the thing holding up your exchange.
Making sense of the findings
A Level 3 report sets out the construction of the property, the defects found, their likely causes and seriousness, and what to do about them. The most useful reports rank findings by priority, so you can separate the urgent from the cosmetic at a glance. If something is unclear, ask. A surveyor who will pick up the phone and explain a finding in plain English is worth far more than one who hides behind jargon.
What if the survey finds something serious?
First, do not panic. Very few survey findings are deal-breakers; most are manageable once you understand the cost and urgency. The report should help you sort issues into three groups: things that need attention before you commit, things to budget for in the medium term, and things to simply keep an eye on. Where a finding needs a specialist (a structural engineer, a damp and timber specialist, or a drainage survey), the report will say so, and that further investigation often clarifies both the problem and its true cost.
Can I renegotiate the price?
Yes. Until contracts are exchanged you are not committed, and a survey that reveals significant repair costs is a legitimate basis to renegotiate. Buyers commonly ask the seller to reduce the price, carry out the works before completion, or contribute to the cost. The stronger your evidence, whether a clear report or, where appropriate, a specialist's estimate, the stronger your position. We cover this in more detail in our guide on negotiating after a bad survey.
When should I walk away?
Occasionally a survey uncovers problems so significant, or so uncertain in cost, that the sensible decision is to withdraw. Because you have not yet exchanged, you are free to do so. A good surveyor will be honest with you about whether a property's issues are the kind that can be priced and managed, or the kind that should give you pause.
Your next steps, in order
Read the report fully, not just the summary. Note the findings flagged as urgent. Speak to your surveyor about anything you do not understand. Get specialist quotes where recommended. Then decide whether to proceed as planned, renegotiate, or walk away, with the facts in front of you rather than a vague worry.
Talk it through with a chartered surveyor.
Tell us about your property and we'll advise on the right survey honestly, then turn your report around fast.