What Happens After a Building Survey? Your Complete Action Plan

You've received your building survey report. It's detailed, thorough — and possibly a little alarming. Before you panic or pull out of the purchase, take a breath. Here's exactly what to do next.

I speak to clients after their reports come in every day. The most common reaction? "There's so much in it — I don't know where to start." That's understandable. A good Level 3 building survey report can run to 50–80 pages. But once you know how to read it, it becomes an incredibly powerful tool rather than a source of anxiety.

Step 1: Read the Executive Summary First

Every RICS survey report contains an executive summary — usually near the front — that highlights the most important findings using the traffic-light condition rating system:

• Condition 1 (Green): No repair needed. Normal maintenance only. Don't worry about these.
• Condition 2 (Amber): Defects that need attention but aren't urgent or structurally significant. Budget for them over time.
• Condition 3 (Red): Serious defects or conditions requiring urgent repair — or further investigation before you exchange contracts.

Focus your initial attention on any Condition 3 items. These are the things that need action before you proceed — whether that means getting specialist quotes, carrying out further investigations, or renegotiating the price.

Step 2: Call Your Surveyor

This is the step most clients skip — and they shouldn't. At Portsmouth Surveyors UK, we always call clients personally after delivering a report. But if we haven't reached you yet, or if you've received a report from another firm, don't just read it in isolation.

Call your surveyor and ask:

• "What are the three most important things I should take from this report?"
• "Which Condition 3 items are the most serious, and why?"
• "Are any of the issues urgent enough to affect my decision to proceed?"
• "What further investigations do you recommend, and why?"
• "Are the estimated repair costs in the report realistic?"

A good surveyor will take time to talk this through with you. If yours won't, that tells you something important about the firm you used.

Step 3: Commission Further Investigations if Recommended

Your report may recommend further specialist investigations — for example:

• A structural engineer's report on evidence of subsidence or wall movement
• A specialist drainage survey if defective drains were noted
• An electrical installation condition report if wiring concerns were flagged
• A timber and damp specialist report if dry rot or woodworm was identified
• An asbestos survey if the property was built pre-1980

These further investigations cost money and take time — but they give you the hard data you need to either walk away from the purchase or negotiate with confidence. Don't exchange contracts until you have clarity on any Condition 3 items.

Step 4: Get Repair Quotes from Tradespeople

If your Level 3 survey included cost estimates for remedial work, treat these as a starting point rather than a definitive figure. Costs vary significantly depending on the specific contractor, the access required, and the exact scope of work.

For significant defects — anything costing £5,000+ — it's worth getting two or three independent quotes from qualified tradespeople before using these figures in a negotiation. This protects you from both over-quoting and under-quoting the cost of repairs.

Step 5: Negotiate the Purchase Price or Request Repairs

This is where your survey report really earns its fee. You have several options:

• Negotiate a price reduction equivalent to the cost of the required repairs. This is the most common approach and gives you flexibility on who carries out the work.
• Ask the vendor to carry out the repairs before completion. This is sometimes possible but can be risky — you need to be confident the work will be done to an appropriate standard.
• Proceed at the agreed price and budget for repairs yourself — appropriate where defects are minor and already reflected in the asking price.
• Withdraw from the purchase if the defects are too serious, too costly, or if the vendor refuses to negotiate reasonably.

In my experience, most vendors are willing to negotiate when presented with a clear, professional survey report identifying specific defects and estimated costs. The key is to be factual and reasonable — not alarmist. Present the repair quotes, explain the issues clearly, and make a considered counteroffer.

"The survey report is your negotiating tool. Use it — that's what it's for. I've seen clients save £5,000 on a £200,000 purchase and £45,000 on a £600,000 one. The investment in the survey pays for itself many times over." — Sarah Mitchell

Step 6: Instruct Your Solicitor and Proceed

Once you've resolved any outstanding issues — either through negotiation, further investigation or acceptance — you can proceed to exchange. Make sure your solicitor is aware of any significant findings from the survey that may have legal implications, such as:

• Extensions built without planning permission or building regulations approval
• Party wall issues or boundary disputes noted in the report
• Evidence of past flooding or contamination
• Missing guarantees for damp-proof or timber treatment work