Seller-side surveys

What should a seller gather before the buyer’s surveyor arrives?

Access, not a performance. Keys to the loft, the garage, the meter cupboard and any outbuildings. Clear the hatch. Unlock gates. Leave certificates on the table if your solicitor has said to: boiler services, building-control papers, guarantees, the EPC. Do not follow the surveyor round arguing.

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.

What is the fuller explanation?

Surveyors inspect what they can reach safely. A loft full of boxes and a painted-shut hatch become NI. That NI then frightens the buyer more than a loft that was seen and found ordinary. Pets, alarms and parking are practical. Tell the agent the alarm code and where to park. You do not have to leave the house empty, but you do have to let the inspection happen.

Do not conceal a crack with a new picture and call that preparation. If you have repaired something, leave the invoice. Honest papers help. A buyer who later finds a covered defect has a different kind of conversation, with their solicitor. The survey is the buyer’s information. Obstructing it is how sales fall apart.

What should you ask your surveyor?

Which accesses do you need on this type of house: loft, drains, garage, cellar?
Which papers would you actually look at if they were on the table?
What should I not do to the house the night before?

What are the typical next steps?

Clear hatches and unlock outbuildings.
Ask your solicitor which papers to leave out, and which to send through them instead.
Be available by phone. Do not debate ratings in the hallway.

Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.

Also asked about this

Should you stay in the house?

You may. Many surveyors prefer space to work. Ask the firm. Do not hover.

Can you refuse the loft?

You can, and the report will say the loft was not inspected. Expect the buyer to notice.