What does a surveyor do and what do they look for?

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, the main player responsible for making sure a house is structurally sound, is a surveyor who specialises in property surveys. But what exactly do property surveyors do?

In this article, we’ll explore the key responsibilities of property surveyors, how they do it, and what that might mean for you as a potential home buyer or seller.

What is a surveyor?

Put simply, a property surveyor is someone who evaluates the quality and condition of a building.

This isn’t the only thing they do. Most surveyors specialise in different areas to provide expert advice on property issues to businesses, homebuyers, vendors and lenders and have the power to value properties for mortgage lenders too.

Surveyors who have been doing the role for a long time and have extensive training can qualify as “chartered” surveyors. This typically means they have an official certification from a reputable body, like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

What types of surveyors are there?

Property surveyors come in many types – each with their own set of skills and specialisms.

Although there’s typically some overlap in their roles, the different types of surveyors are as follows:

Residential surveyors — They specialise in homes and apartments. They’re responsible for carrying out RICS Level 1, RICS Level 2, RICS Level 3, and valuations.

Commercial surveyors — Commercial surveyors typically have more of a focus on larger office buildings and big industrial spaces. They provide market valuations, assess the overall condition, and can help gauge the potential uses of commercial properties.

Building surveyors — Building surveyors are tasked with inspecting the condition of buildings — whether it’s residential, commercial or even historic buildings. It’s their job to identify defects, spot any obvious or hidden structural issues, and report on what the property might need in terms of maintenance.

Quantity surveyors — Quantity surveyors work more closely on the financial and contractual side of construction. You’re more likely to see them on larger site-wide projects as they prepare cost estimates, manage budgets, and monitor spending.

Valuation surveyors — Similarly to quantity surveyors, they also work on the financial side – providing valuations for residential, commercial, or agricultural properties.

You would typically use valuation surveyors to get reports a variety of reasons including: mortgages, insurance purposes, tax.

What do property surveyors do?

Property surveyors are responsible for a wide variety of tasks — they do more than just check houses.

In fact, they’re instrumental in the buying and selling of properties across the country.

Day-to-day, property surveyors:

Conduct thorough inspections

Surveyors assess properties — examining both the interior and exterior. Surveying is typically broken down into levels — namely RICS level 1,2, and 3 — that each offer different levels of inspection.

To learn more, see what each level of inspection covers.

They’ll review everything from the structural basis of the home — like the roof, walls, ceilings and floors — to even the quality of the doors and windows.

Surveyors will also come and visually inspect the condition of your utilities (in particular, your plumbing and heating). They will also perform separate visual checks of your visible electrics to make sure they’re safe and there’s no damage to the sockets.

If you have any outbuildings or detached garages as part of the property, they’ll also evaluate these too.

Identify defects and concerns

During an inspection, surveyors look for visible signs of wear and tear, significant damage and any hidden issues that may wreak havoc in the future.

The main target for a surveyor is to identify things like dampness and mould growth, any structural movement or instability in the walls or supports, unseen roof defects.

Offer professional guidance

Once a surveyor has conducted their checks, they’ll provide an expert summary of the overall condition of the property, as well as recommending any maintenance it needs to bring it up to a safe standard – although this depends on the level of survey.

They assess the severity of any defects and may even offer estimates for repair costs — helping potential buyers and sellers make informed decisions and even get the best price.

Compile a detailed report

Surveyors always put together their observations and findings into a written report for you.

This report outlines the condition of the property, flags any urgent or significant issues, and — depending on the level of survey — includes recommendations for maintenance work and further investigations if they deem it necessary.

Provide property valuation

In addition to a RICS level 1,2 and 3 survey, a valuation can also be carried out on a property. Valuators will assess the property’s value based on factors like the property’s condition and local market prices.

The market valuation determined by the surveyor can help you — the buyer — negotiate a better deal for your home.

What do surveyors look for?

If you’re considering hiring a surveyor for a house purchase, they have a strict list of criteria to check against, making sure you’re getting the best deal.

Your surveyor will typically look for the following:

Structural concerns

Structurally, a surveyor will look for:

• Signs of structural instability and subsidence
• Any visible cracks in walls or ceilings
• Signs of bowing or sagging in the roof

View full breakdown of e.surv’s survey offering.

Damp and moisture issues

Surveyors put extra emphasis on moisture issues. They can be critical not only to the health of the occupier, but for the structural safety of the building too.

They check for indicators of damp like:

• Rising damp (signs of water damage from ground sources that spread up walls)
• Penetrating leaks
• Water staining
• Black mould markings and hidden signs of mildew buildup
• Excessive condensation

Condition of services

Surveyors also look at the factors that prospective homeowners may miss when checking and valuing their home — the environment around the home.

This might include:

• Whether the property has a history of flooding
• Any high water tables that heighten flood risk
• Evaluating nearby industrial activity
• Rating your exposure to excessive noise or air pollution

Health and safety hazards

Surveyors also evaluate any elements in the home which could pose a risk to the occupants’ safety.

This might mean your surveyor will likely evaluate things like:

• Inadequate or lack of handrails or stair supports.
• Loose flooring tiles or boards.
• Unsafe window glazing or frame fittings.

Why choose e.surv?

With over 30 years of experience, e.surv has been a leading name in the UK residential property market. As the country’s largest residential surveying firm, we’re trusted by mortgage lenders and home buyers alike to provide reliable valuations, detailed surveys, and expert risk assessments.

We help thousands of buyers each year make confident decisions with accurate, thorough reports tailored to each property.

Want to learn more about surveys, valuations, and stay up to date with the latest news? Head over to our knowledge base for expert advice, helpful tips, and everything you need to know.

Get in touch today by getting quote from our team.