Plan ahead with a property survey

When buying a house, a property survey can seem like one more cost among many. But getting the right survey is more than a burden - it can be crucial to ensuring you are paying a fair price.

A property survey helps you check that everything is up to scratch, makes you aware of any costs you may face further down the line and may help you negotiate a discount with the seller if problems are identified. Without a survey, the risk is that you end up overpaying for a house with a lot of problems.

In the past year, unpredictable house prices have added to the uncertainty of house buying. When house prices fall, a survey can help clarify what represents real value.

It is important to plan ahead and consider the role of the survey as early in the buying process as possible.