Smart Home Surveys FAQ - Common Questions & Answers

We understand buying a property is a stressful process, and Smart Home Surveys are here to remove that stress. Below is a list of the questions we are most frequently asked, but please feel free to contact us if you need any further clarification.

I’ve instructed Smart Home Surveys, what happens next?

Once you are enrolled as a new client, we will contact the agent selling the property and schedule an appointment for as soon as possible. You will also be provided with a link to our Client Area. This is where you will access our Terms of Engagement and invoice, and also your report once it is ready.

I have concerns which I’d like the surveyor to look into?

You are welcome to advise us of any concerns or specific areas of interest you have before the survey takes place, and the surveyor will be made aware of these so they can be addressed accordingly.

I’d like to accompany the surveyor

I'm afraid this isn't something we do for two reasons:

1. Our governing body, RICS, maintains that a surveyor should not give an opinion on a property for a period of 24 hours after inspecting it. This is to ensure they have had sufficient time to form a proper opinion from both the inspection and also their subsequent thoughts as they prepare the report and go through their photographs.

2. The surveyor finds it quite distracting and it is in your interests to have them completely focussed.

We do offer all our clients the opportunity for a telephone consultation with the surveyor once they have received their report which will enable you to get clarification on any part of the report which is confusing or causes you a concern. The report itself will contain numerous photographs of any defects, concerns or areas of interest that you would have been able to see.

How long will it take until I receive my report?

A Market Valuation report will take up to 3 working days from the date of inspection.
A Level 1 Survey will take up to 3 working days.
A Level 2 Survey will take up to 5 working days.
A Level 3 Survey will take up to 5 working days.

How can I pay?

We require payment of our fees in full, prior to the inspection taking place. If this is not possible we require payment in full as soon as possible. The report will not be released until fees have been paid in full. Please be aware the payment reference must be the invoice number e.g. SHS1234. If the correct invoice number is not used, it may mean payment is not allocated to your file which can lead to a delay in sending out your report.

I have a question about my report. What is the best way to get in touch?

We welcome any questions you have once you have received your report. Please feel free to email enquiries@smarthomesurveys.co.uk and please ensure you put “PSQ” followed by the full property address in the subject line. This means the email will get passed to your surveyor.

If you need any help or advice on surveys and valuations, please don’t hesitate to call or email us, alternatively book now and request a survey and we will call you back.

Head office
312 Edinburgh House
170 Kennington Lane
London
SE11 5DP

West London office
Avon House
Avonmore Road
London
W14 8TS

Norwich office
Tas Lodge
White Horse Lane
Norwich
NR14 8TG

Tel: 020 3621 8800

Email: enquiries@smarthomesurveys.co.uk

Made by Lythgoe

Request a Survey or Valuation

At Smart Home Surveys we can help you with your residential property needs by:

Carrying out a survey to check the condition of a house, flat, maisonette or bungalow
Working out an accurate valuation of a property for a variety of purposes, for example:
- For peace of mind if you are buying a property
- To redeem a Help-to-Buy or Shared Ownership loan or to buy a bigger share of your home
- For matrimonial or other disputes
- For probate purposes
- For tax calculations
- For insurance

1. How can we help you today?

Select all the options that apply to you and we'll get back to you with a comprehensive quotation. If your query is not covered by the options below, select "Other" and write a brief description of the service you require in Section 4.

I am buying a house or flat and I would like a survey to establish the condition of the propertyI am buying a house or flat and I would like an accurate estimate of its market valueI need an accurate estimate of the value of a property for another reason

Choose reason *

You may require a valuation for a different date from the current market value, or need two valuations for different dates. For example:

For Inheritance Tax or Probate, you will normally need the date of decease
For CGT you may need two dates so that the gain can be calculated
For CGT and ATED purposes, you may need the valuation as at the end of the tax year

If you are uncertain, leave the dates blank and one of our advisers will give you a call to discuss your requirements.

Choose dates

Date 1

Date 2

Other

2. About the property

First line of address *

Post code *

Property type *

Agreed purchase price or estimate of value

Estate Agency Firm selling the property

3. About you

Your name *

Email address *

Phone number *

How did you hear about us? *

4. Anything else?

Our quotations are not automated. We quote according to the specific type of property and any of your specific needs which we welcome you to express below

* Required fields

Please be assured that we will only use your details to send you a quote.
Please read our Privacy Policy for more information.

Thank you for your enquiry; you will receive a confirmation email shortly.

In the meantime, please take a look at what we do.

Thank you, Smart Home Surveys.