A survey finding problems is normal, and it rarely stops a purchase. Almost every home we inspect — new-build or period — has something worth noting, and the report exists to give you evidence: to renegotiate the price, to ask for repairs, to commission a further investigation, or, in a small minority of cases, to walk away before you're legally committed.
The important thing to hold onto is that a survey is a decision-support document, not a pass-or-fail verdict. Its job is to replace guesswork with a clear picture of the property's condition, so that whatever you choose to do next, you're doing it with your eyes open.
Your options after a survey finds problems
In practice, a report with problems in it leaves you with a handful of routes, and they aren't mutually exclusive.
Renegotiate the price. This is by far the most common outcome. If the report flags, say, an ageing roof covering or a section of failed pointing, you can go back to the seller — usually through your estate agent or solicitor — with a figure. You might ask for the purchase price to be reduced to reflect the repair cost, or ask the seller to complete the work before completion. Nothing is binding until contracts are exchanged, so there's a genuine window here to adjust the deal.
Commission a further investigation. A visual inspection sometimes reaches its honest limit. Where we can see the symptom but not confirm the cause — a patch of damp, movement in a wall, a drainage concern — the report may recommend a specialist follow-up before you decide anything. That could be a focused defects report on a single issue, or a referral to a damp-and-timber specialist, drainage engineer or structural engineer. It's a short delay that often saves a large, avoidable cost.
Ask for repairs. Instead of a price cut, some buyers prefer the seller to put things right and provide evidence — an invoice, a guarantee, a completion certificate. This can be cleaner where the work is well-defined, though it's worth agreeing standards in writing.
Walk away. This is the rarest outcome, and usually reserved for severe defects with an unknown cost, or a seller who won't engage at all. It's your call — but most problems are manageable once they're properly understood and priced.
How condition ratings guide priority
If your report uses the standard 1–2–3 condition rating system, it does a lot of the triage for you. A rating of 1 means no repair is currently needed; a 2 means defects that need attention but aren't serious or urgent; a 3 means defects that are serious and/or need repairing, replacing or investigating urgently.
That scale is what lets you separate the cosmetic from the consequential. A long list of 2s might look alarming at first glance, but it's usually the routine maintenance any home of that age carries. It's the 3s that deserve your focus — those are where renegotiation, further investigation or a firm decision genuinely matter. If you'd like the system explained in full, our guide on survey condition ratings explained walks through what each rating means and how to read a report without panicking over the amber items.
Using the report with your solicitor
Your survey and your conveyancing sit side by side, so it's worth putting the two together. Where the report raises something that may have a legal dimension — a boundary query, evidence of past movement, an extension that might lack the right consents, or a defect that could need indemnity cover — flag it to your solicitor. They can raise the relevant enquiries with the seller's side and make sure any assurances, guarantees or agreed repairs are properly reflected in the contract.
A survey read alongside good conveyancing is where problems get resolved rather than merely noticed. If a finding in your report is unclear, or you want to talk through what it means for your particular purchase before you act on it, get in touch and we'll talk you through the practical priorities. We typically issue the written report within 5 working days, and we're happy to walk through the headline points so you know exactly where you stand before you commit.