How to make house ready for Surveyor?

[Supertrouper990]

I've been notified by our estate agent our buyers will be requested survey on our property, presumably the standard Home Buyers Report.

Is there anyway I can make our house ready for this? Ie loft access? All radiators clear? Anything I havent thought of....

Do I need to be present?

I have not sold before so apologies if these are silly questions!

You don’t need to do anything special at all. Most people will be in for the surveyors visit. If you can’t be in you will have to ask the EA to be there instead.

@Twiglets1 ok what about loft access, all radiators clear? or not bother with that ?

Do you have a loft ladder and is it accessible? I’d make it accessible if not. I don’t think there’s anything you need to do specifically. Not sure what you mean about radiators being clear though.

We just had a survey done and they went in the loft, so worth making it accessible. Otherwise I’m sure the house being tidy will make their job quicker. Our surveyor took a lot of photos which he gave us so be prepared for that.

What do you mean by radiators clear? The surveyor may give a value on your house so I'd make it nice and tidy and not have piles of stuff lying around. Access to loft is good. Any thing like gas safety certificate.
You don't have to be there - I let mine in them took the dogs to the beach. The estate agent could also let them in.

I wouldn't do anything special- ans I also wouldn't assume which level.of survey! We were told our buyers were having a survey that just turned out to be a valuation survey for their bank (40mins). Three weeks later they decided to have a L3 one (the surveyor tried to convince them it was unneeded) - the fact it was L3 never made it to us before the visit or the agents... (L3 is generally 4-8 hours, though theirs only took 90 mins(!)). They are also doing a pointless boiler check (it was last serviced 6 months ago...) and a full electrical check.

Agents said that a lot of buyers are being weird atm- with extra electrical/gas/survey etc checks, so worth a check on how long you may need to be in!

If your loft isn't boarded and without electric light, do warn them.

Many a foot has appeared through a ceiling for a surveyor who doesn't check.
They may pay for the work, but you don't want to have to mend a ceiling before the buyers exchange. And redecorate etc etc.

I had a level 2 survey for my recent purchase and basically they don't move a single thing in your house. So - stopcock under the sink: 'assume it's there, obscured by cleaning bottles'. Windows: 'the ones I tested worked' (helpfully didn't test the bathroom one). Attic 'full of stuff so I didn't enter'.

So - if there's anything you want to hide, put something in front of it, it can be a cardboard box with nothing in it, they won't touch it! But, if there's something you want to show off (new boiler, etc) - just make those things readily available.

They also put down about evidence of certificates for gas safety, electrics etc and mark as critical issues (red alerts) against those elements if a certificate isn't there. So have your certificates handy. Or just be prepared to follow up with them soon after.

Don't stress too much though, the surveyor will literally couch everything in enough caveats to be devoid of any real use to anyone :)