Buying a property

Choose the level of property assessment the purchase needs.

Both reports provide independent professional advice. The difference is scope: one focuses on visible building condition, while the other adds the wider property and site risks that can affect cost, value, mortgageability or the buying decision.

Level 1

Pre-Purchase Survey Report

Who it is for: Buyers of a conventional second-hand house where the main requirement is an independent visual condition survey.

When it is needed: Before contracts become binding, so visible defects and repair priorities can inform the purchase.

What Whitestrand does: Visually inspects the general condition, structure, roofs, walls, floors, accessible areas, damp indicators, visible workmanship, alterations, external areas and visible drainage issues.

What you receive: A written report setting out defects, deterioration, prioritised repairs and recommended further investigations.

Relevant limitation: This report does not include the wider planning, septic, mapping, development or detailed site-risk review provided in the Buyer Property Risk Report.

Enquire about a Pre-Purchase Survey

Level 2

Buyer Property Risk Report

Who it is for: Buyers considering rural, older, altered or extended properties, unusual sites, septic systems, edge-of-town properties or properties with development potential.

When it is needed: Where the buying decision depends on more than condition alone.

What Whitestrand does: Completes the condition survey and assesses relevant planning history, apparent compliance issues, alterations, drainage and wastewater risk, access, boundaries, mapping, levels, services, constraints, buildability and high-level development potential.

What you receive: A written risk report identifying matters to raise with the solicitor, agent or specialist, and issues that may affect cost, value, mortgageability or future works.

Relevant limitation: High-level development and planning observations are not a planning permission guarantee or a substitute for separately agreed design, legal or specialist work.

Enquire about a Buyer Property Risk Report

Simple comparison

Which report fits the property?

Assessment area	Pre-Purchase Survey	Buyer Property Risk
Visible condition and defects	Included	Included
Visible structural concerns	Included	Included
Prioritised repairs and investigations	Included	Included
Planning history and apparent compliance risk	Not normally included	Included where relevant
Septic, drainage and wastewater risk	Visible issues only	Wider review where relevant
Access, boundaries, mapping and site constraints	Visible concerns only	Wider review where relevant
High-level extension or development potential	Not included	Included where relevant
Buildability of proposed works	Not included	High-level review where relevant

Visual inspection limitations

Both services are based on a visual, non-invasive inspection of accessible areas and the records included in the agreed scope. They do not involve opening up construction, testing concealed services, confirming legal title or boundary ownership, or guaranteeing planning compliance. Further surveys, legal checks, testing or specialist advice may be recommended where the evidence warrants it.

Relevant experience

Condition, planning and buildability considered together.

James Kelly combines Chartered Engineering judgement with residential design-build, site delivery, groundworks, drainage, boundary, defect and planning-compliance experience. That background supports advice on both the visible building and the practical consequences of what is found.