Property surveys take an average of 1-8 hours, depending on what type of survey you are having.
A vital part of the buying process, they give you important information about the property’s condition before you commit to buying. Since survey length often relates to complexity, it’s worth knowing how much a house survey costs so you can plan your budget alongside your timeline.
In this article, we look at how long a survey takes on a house, how to speed up the process and what to do once you have the results.
How Long Do Property Surveys Take?
A property survey can take anywhere between 1-8 hours. The type of survey and property type will determine how long the survey will last. Check out our guide on house survey checklist to see what they will be llooking.
How long a property survey takes will depend on:
1
The seller’s availability
Most of the time, sellers will still be living in the property you plan to buy when it’s time for a property survey. You’ll have to arrange a date for the survey that is suitable for the seller.
2
The surveyor’s availability
The surveyor will have to be available on your desired date. This is why it’s important to book your survey early on.
3
Blocked access in the property
If the surveyor can’t reach parts of the property, for example, a locked loft or a blocked cupboard, it can delay the inspection or even require a follow-up visit. This not only increases how long the survey takes but could also add to your costs. Coordinate with the seller (through your estate agent) and the surveyor beforehand to make sure everything is accessible on the day.
How Long Each Type of House Survey Takes
The type of house survey and property type will determine how long your survey will take. Below we’ve listed the main surveys and how long they’ll take to complete.
How long does a Level 1 Survey take?
A Level 1 Home Survey is the most basic survey. It will take 1-2 hours roughly to complete by the surveyor.
How long does a Level 2 Survey take?
A Level 2 Home Survey will take 2-4 hours to complete. It can take longer if there are any areas your surveyor is having trouble accessing.
How long does a Level 3 Survey take?
A Level 3 Home Survey is the most in-depth survey available and is suited for older or unique properties. This survey can take anywhere between 4 to 8 hours, depending on the size and condition of the property.
Most survey reports are delivered within 3–7 working days, usually by email.
If you’ve had a Level 3 survey ('full structural survey'), it may take longer, especially if the property is in poor condition and the report requires more detail. Delays can also happen if your surveyor has a backlog of clients, so it’s worth asking them for an estimated timescale upfront. Read our guide on what does a surveyor do to help you better understand their process.
If you’re using a surveyor recommended by your mortgage broker or lender, make sure the surveyor knows to send the report to you directly.
How to Speed up the Process?
There are certain steps you can take to speed up the surveying process.
1
Book survey in advance
Book your property survey in advance to avoid delaying the conveyancing process. Once you’ve had an offer accepted, you’ll need to get a property survey before you can exchange contracts.
2
Use a Trusted Matching Service
Using a trusted service like Konnect You can save you time when finding a surveyor. We can connect you with up to 5 chartered surveyors matched to your property and survey needs.
3
Communicate with estate agent and seller
On the day of the survey, your surveyor will get the keys to the property from the estate agent and liaise with the seller. Keep your estate agent updated with your property survey planning.
4
Ask surveyor to look at areas
All surveys are non-intrusive and surveyors have a checklist of things to look at. You’ll need to get written approval from the seller so the surveyor can access any requested areas.
5
Deal directly with the surveyor
Sometimes buyers will use a surveyor recommended by their estate agent or mortgage broker. If you hire and deal directly with a surveyor, you’re cutting out the ‘middleman’.
When Shall I Get a Property Survey?
You’ll need to arrange a survey once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. If you got a property survey after you exchange contracts, you wouldn’t be able to easily pull out of the sale without costly bills.
What Happens Once I’ve Got Results?
Depending on the results of the survey, you have to make a decision if you want to continue with the purchase or pull out. If you’re happy with the results of the survey, the conveyancing process will continue.
If you receive negative results:
1
Ask seller to fix issues
You can ask the seller if they’re willing to fix the issues prior to exchanging contracts.
2
Negotiate offer
If your report highlights damage or repair work, you can renegotiate the house price after a survey with the seller.
3
Further surveys
Your surveyor might suggest further surveys if issues are found. You’ll have to decide if you want to pay for this and await the results.
4
Pull out of Sale
If the results are damaging, you still have the option to pull out of the property sale (if prior to exchange of contracts).
What Can Fail a House Survey?
A house survey can’t technically fail, but it can produce negative results. If your survey uncovers structural damage or costly repairs, you might want to re-think your purchase. Some common issues found in a house survey include:
Structural damage
Damp
Subsidence
Damaged roof
Lack of certification for tests
Lack of smoke or carbon monoxide alarms
Who Needs to See the Results?
If you’re buying with a mortgage, your mortgage lender will likely want to see a copy of the survey results. This is to reassure them that their loan to you is at risk.
The seller doesn’t have a legal right to see the survey results. This is entirely up to the buyer if they want to disclose the results. If you’re buying a house in Scotland, the seller is responsible for organising the Home Report.
Your mortgage lender will carry out a mortgage valuation on the property you plan to buy. This isn’t a property survey and usually isn’t a physical valuation. Mortgage lenders will need to carry this out to determine that the property is worth what you say it is.
Finding a Surveyor
Whether you need a new build Snagging Survey or a RICS Home Survey Level 3, it helps to start with a surveyor you can trust.
Fill in our short surveying form and we can match you with up to 5 checked surveyors in your local area. You can review your options, choose the professional who feels right, and save up to 70% on your house survey cost.
Every surveyor in our network must pass our verification checks before joining. Surveyors offering Level 2 and Level 3 surveys must be regulated by RICS, while those providing Snagging Surveys can be regulated by either RICS or RPSA.
