Is a HomeBuyer survey worth it on a new-ish house?

It often is, but a new build has different risks — workmanship, incomplete finishing and warranty issues — which are usually better addressed by a snagging inspection.

How long does the report take?

Turnaround depends on the surveyor's workload and the property. Ask for a committed timescale in writing if your transaction is time-critical.

Can I share the report with the seller?

The report is prepared for you and is subject to its own terms. Speak to your surveyor before passing it to another party, and to your conveyancer about how to use the findings.

HomeBuyer survey (commercial name for a Level 2 service)

HomeBuyer survey

HomeBuyer survey is the familiar name for a RICS Level 2. What it reports, what it deliberately leaves out, and how to check whether a valuation is included.

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Last reviewed 31 August 2026

What is a HomeBuyer survey?

HomeBuyer survey is the commercial name most buyers use for a RICS Home Survey Level 2. It reports the condition of the visible, accessible parts of the property, explains what the defects mean for repair and maintenance, and lists the matters your conveyancer should pursue. Some HomeBuyer packages include a valuation and some do not, so confirm the scope before you instruct.

At a glance

Underlying standard: RICS Home Survey Standard, Level 2.
Biggest variable: Whether a valuation is included in the package quoted.
Report length: Longer than Level 1, shorter and less diagnostic than Level 3.
Who it is written for: You, the buyer — not your lender.

Why the name causes confusion

Buyers search for a HomeBuyer survey; the profession describes services by level. They usually mean the same thing, but the branded packages sold under the HomeBuyer name vary in whether they include a valuation and an insurance reinstatement figure.

The practical safeguard is simple: ask which level the service maps to, and ask in writing whether a valuation is included.

What buyers get most value from

In a typical purchase, the useful output is not the list of defects. It is the separation of urgency: what threatens the purchase, what needs a quotation before exchange, and what is ordinary upkeep you will handle over several years.

Defects that should change your offer or your timetable
Items your conveyancer must raise with the seller's solicitor
Work best quoted before exchange rather than after completion
Routine maintenance to plan into your first years of ownership

When a HomeBuyer survey is the wrong product

If the property is older, extended, converted, non-traditionally built or visibly worn, the format will not carry the reasoning the building needs. That is the point at which the standard directs you to Level 3.

Who this is for

A good fit if

First-time buyers of conventional houses and flats
Buyers who want a readable report with clear priorities
Anyone comparing branded survey packages and unsure what they cover

Not the right choice if

Period or heavily altered buildings
Buyers relying on the report as a valuation without commissioning one
Anyone who needs a single defect diagnosed in depth

Before you accept a quote

Three questions that make quotes genuinely comparable.

1.Which RICS level does this map to?
If the answer is not a clear Level 1, 2 or 3, ask again.
See the level definitions
2.Is a valuation included?
If it is, ask whether it will be carried out by an appropriately qualified RICS Registered Valuer and on what basis.
Level 2 with valuation
3.What is excluded?
Drainage, asbestos, electrics and structural calculations are separate disciplines. Know what you are not buying.

When to bring in a specialist

Pre-2000 buildings where materials may contain asbestos: a competent asbestos surveyor before any works.
Electrical installation concerns: a qualified electrician for a condition report.
Suspected drainage defects: a CCTV drainage survey.

Common questions

Limitations and sources

Any survey is limited to what the surveyor can see and safely reach on the day. Areas behind finishes, under floors or beneath stored belongings are not opened up.
A HomeBuyer package does not necessarily include a valuation. Check the wording of the quotation.
Nothing on this page is a professional opinion about a specific property. KJ Surveyors has not inspected your building, and general guidance cannot replace an inspection and report.

Source: RICS · checked August 2026

Source: UK Government · checked August 2026

Last reviewed 31 August 2026.

Where to go next

the Level 2 standard — the formal definition behind the HomeBuyer name.
pre-purchase surveys — how survey timing fits the rest of the buying process.
surveys hub — compare every level before choosing.

Compare quotes properly

Send KJ the scope you have been quoted and KJ will tell you which level it maps to and what is missing.

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KJ gives general guidance only and has not inspected your property. A professional opinion follows an inspection by a surveyor.