Purchasing a new or old property can be an exciting time, but it’s crucial to approach the process with a level head and consider the potential risks involved. While estate agents and other representatives may be eager to sell the property, it’s essential to think carefully about the home’s condition, location, and potential pitfalls.
See our Home Survey Checklist to guide you through the process and ensure you’re fully prepared. Whether you're buying a new build or an older property, this checklist is your first step toward a secure investment.
What You Need to Know Before You Buy In the sections below, we’ll walk you through everything you need to consider when purchasing a property—whether it's a new build or an older home. Use this guide to ensure you're fully prepared when making one of the most significant financial decisions of your life.
It’s also wise to investigate the local area before buying. Check whether the property is located in a flood zone (see this page) using maps from the UK's Ordnance Survey, and consider reviewing local flood risk assessments or reports on past flooding in the area. Ultimately, buying a property is a significant investment, and it’s important to proceed with caution and thorough research to make an informed decision.
Upon arrival, take a moment to survey the area. Look at the ground levels outside the entire property to see if they are higher than the internal floor level. Building regulations state that the external ground level must be 150mm (15cm or 6 inches) lower than the internal floor level. Although this is rarely the case with older properties, it can be a cause of damp on the internal walls (for more information, see the video under the section ‘High Ground Level’). Also, note potential flood scenarios around the property: does the property sit in a bowl, do rivers or streams run close by, and has the property flooded in the past? Another aspect to watch for is trees. Trees near the property can cause major structural damage, particularly willow trees.
Read More About Flood Zones & Trees Here ...
Spend a moment looking for cracks. While cracks may look alarming, they are usually no more than settlement in most cases. However, cracks that start from the base of the property can indicate subsidence. This can be rectified by underpinning in extreme cases, and though it can be expensive to repair, it will be a considerably lower cost if you do it yourself. In older properties, cracks can appear above windows and doors; this may be due to shrinkage, as it was common practice to use wood as lintels. Cracks around ceiling level (particularly in new build houses) may be due to the materials used behind them drying. For example, ceiling timbers can take two years to fully dry out, causing them to twist and bow, which leads to cracks. Another factor to bear in mind is clay heave. This can be indicated on survey reports as "Ground Stability - Low/Medium/High.
Read More About Cracks & Ground Stability
Once inside the property, examine the floors on all levels. Although the floors might be carpeted or covered in another material such as linoleum or wood flooring, check to see if they feel solid or bounce. By walking around and shifting your weight onto each leg, you will soon discover whether the floors are made of concrete or wooden beams covered with floorboards. If they are wooden, you will be able to feel any areas that may need future attention. If the boards or joists are defective in any way, you will notice a considerable amount of movement.Check to see that the floors are fairly level; skirting boards can indicate if part of the floor is subsiding, as there may be a gap under the skirting board. If the ground floor is wooden, check for air bricks on the outside of the property (these will be located under the internal floor level on the outside of the building). In older properties, it is common for the upstairs floors to bounce quite a bit; this is worth noting, especially if you plan to place heavy furniture in these rooms.
Read More About Floor Levels Here...
Keep an eye out for rooms that may have been opened into other rooms. Though this work is supposed to go through Building Control and be checked by Structural Surveyors, this is rarely the case. We have encountered many instances where the beam (Rolled Steel Joist / RSJ) has not been installed correctly or built into an unstable wall. As a result, cracks beneath these will be visible from the inside, potentially compromising the structural integrity of the home. It’s essential to inquire about any alterations made and ensure that all necessary permits were obtained during renovations.
Read More About Structural Beams Here...
Doors and windows can also expose structural defects. If the lintel above is inadequate, it will allow the weight of the brickwork above to rest directly on top of the door or window. This issue may become noticeable if the door or window is difficult to open. It is also worth examining all external windows to ensure they are double-glazed. During winter, especially, single-glazed windows can heavily condense on cold days and will allow most of the heat to escape outside. Additionally, single-glazed windows may freeze when the heating is turned off.
Read More About Doors & Windows Here..
Take a good look at the roof and notice any missing tiles or slates. Look along the very top of the roof at the ridge tiles and the lead flashing around chimneys and connecting walls; these are all vulnerable points for water to enter and cause damage to joists, ceilings, etc. If you are unable to properly assess the roof, it is a good idea to look inside the loft to see if there are signs of daylight or water ingress. Other things to inspect in the loft include insulation; ideally, this should be 300mm (30cm) deep. In cases where the roof appears uneven, make sure the purlins (support timbers) in the loft are intact, or worse still, check if they are not installed at all. While inspecting the roof, look for any guttering that is hanging away; this could indicate that the fascia boards they are fixed to are rotten and may need repair.
Read More About Roof Survey...
After purchasing a property, it is always a good idea to hire an electrician to perform a thorough inspection. Prior to purchasing the property, be sure to check the consumer unit (fuse box). Ideally, this should have some protection in the form of a Residual Current Device (RCD), as this device could save your life and reduce the risk of electrocution. Some older fuse boxes are of the rewireable type, while many newer consumer units (fuse boxes) have mini circuit breakers that you can manually turn on and off. In either case, you must ensure that your fuse box has an RCD, which will detect faults and instantly stop the electricity from flowing.
Read More about Electrical Survey...
The first thing to check when examining the property's plumbing is the boiler. Many older boilers may appear to be in good working order, and you won’t necessarily need to replace them.
It is highly advisable to have the boiler inspected by a plumbing and heating engineer after purchasing the property. As with electrical systems, gas is something you do not want to cut corners on.
Examine the flue pipe, which will either be located through one of the exterior walls or up through the roof. Look at the radiator valves and other pipework for signs of leaks or deterioration. Additionally, it's worth asking if there are any tanks in the loft; these could be made of asbestos, galvanized steel, or plastic. Remember, many of these tanks feed toilets and wash basins upstairs and downstairs—the same water you use to brush your teeth. It is a simple job to bypass these tanks to the cold taps, providing fresh water instead of tank water, which can accumulate all kinds of filth at the bottom. If you are unable to lift the manhole cover to check for broken sewer pipes, you can flush the toilets to see if the water drains away quickly and does not back up, which is a telltale sign that something may be wrong with the drains.
Read More About Plumbing Here..
