Only 45% of buyers pay for a survey, are you one of them?

- Wed 02 Jul 2025

A recent survey by a moving comparison website found that only 45% of homebuyers had ever commissioned and paid for a surveyor to carry out a Homebuyers report, Building survey or Condition report.

With the associated costs of purchasing a property having risen, affordability is cited for the reason more people don’t pay a surveyor to investigate the condition of their future home.

Managing Director of Bradleys Chartered Surveyors, Sue Shears commented “We advise all homebuyers to commission a RICS Surveyor to protect themselves from buying a home with potential defects. Whether it be the most common issues such as roof problems or electrical defaults, through to woodworm, beetle infestations, damp, wonky drainpipes causing issues, or more severe structural issues. This is likely to be the most expensive purchase of many people’s lives and to so spending the money now, can save thousands in the future. It does also provide the opportunity to re-negotiate your purchase price against some of the works that both seller and buyer were not aware of.”

Other reasons potentially putting off buyers from instructing a surveyor could include delaying the process further or relying on their friends who are experienced in this area.

Sue commented “With the house buying process currently taking an average of 17 weeks from agreeing a price to exchanging contracts, any surveyors visit will certainly not delay the process any further and most importantly all RICS Surveyors will have insurances to protect them and their client should for some reason an issue be missed, which a friend or family member is unlikely to have.”

Bradleys Chartered Surveyors cover Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall providing a range of services alongside Homebuyer and Building Surveys including land valuations, boundary disputes, lease extensions, expert witness reports to a name a few. Find out more or contact Bradleys Chartered Surveyors by visiting their website https://www.bradleyssurveyors.co.uk/

Only 45% of buyers pay for a survey, are you one of them?

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