A single survey is designed to provide buyers in Scotland with more information on the condition of a property before making an offer. It is one of the three documents included in a home report. If you are planning on advertising your house on the property market, then you must obtain a home report. This has been a legal requirement in Scotland since December 2008.
Understanding your responsibilities as a house seller can be difficult, but you must ensure that you follow the relevant rules and regulations. Here are the key things you should know when it comes to a home report and single survey.
What is a home report?
Scotland introduced a new law in December 2008 requiring all sellers to obtain a home report. This document must be given to prospective buyers within nine days of them asking for it. The main goal of a home report is to improve transparency in the property market. A home report includes three documents that provide potential buyers with useful information on the property.
The three documents enclosed in a home report are the Single Survey, the Energy Report, and the Property Questionnaire. It is recommended that you apply for a home report before you list your house for sale. This will help you avoid unnecessary delays later in the buying/moving process. However, you must time your home report well as the document cannot be more than 12 weeks old when you list your house for sale.
What is a single survey?
A single survey is the first document enclosed in a home report. The purpose of a single survey is to provide potential buyers with clear information about the condition and value of your home before you market it for sale. The survey will also give buyers detailed information about the condition and value of your property before they decide to make an offer.
Single surveys were introduced in an attempt to lower the amount of money wasted on house surveys that do not result in a sale. Single surveys provide prospective buyers with useful information and help them make more informed decisions when they are buying a house.
What does a single survey cover?
The single survey reports on a wide variety of topics relating to the property. Some key topics covered in the single survey including property type, age, neighbourhood, and construction of the property. The report will also make buyers aware if there were any areas of the property that the surveyor was unable to inspect.
Once the surveyor has completed their inspection, they will write a summary of the condition of the property in list form. This will highlight areas that are in good conditions and areas where urgent or future repairs are likely to be needed. This information may affect the amount that buyers are willing to pay for a property. With that in mind, it may be worth making necessary repairs to your property before you list it for sale.
Who can complete a single survey?
A single survey should be completed by RICS qualified surveyor. You must hire a licensed professional with the skills and expertise to complete an accurate and legally compliant report. Finding a reputable surveyor can be a challenge! At Home Report, we have a nationwide team of fully accredited home report surveyors local to you. This means we can carry out a single survey quickly and to the professional and legal standards that you require.
How much does a single survey cost?
The cost of a single survey will depend on several factors including your location and property type. You can get in touch with our team for a competitive quote. We’re so confident in our pricing that we offer a Price Guarantee which means, if you can find a quote for less elsewhere then we guarantee to beat it (see our website or ask us for details).
Get in touch to find out more!
Home reports are useful documents that help house buyers make more informed decisions. They were introduced as a way to improve transparency and create a smoother and more economical property market. A single survey is one of the most important components of any home report. It gives prospective buyers a clear overview of the condition of a property and helps to reduced wasted money spent on surveys that do not lead to a sale.
It is important that you have a single survey carried out by a qualified assessor. If you would like to arrange a single survey or have any questions about home reports in general, then get in touch with our friendly customer advisors.
