Seller’s Surveys: A Fresh Tool for a Stalled Market
As Chairman of the RPSA, I’m always on the lookout for new initiatives that can genuinely help our profession thrive. And let’s be honest, the current market is a bit… well, let’s call it challenging, shall we? Survey uptake has nosedived, with some research suggesting as few as one in ten buyers are commissioning a condition survey at all. That’s a huge pond of work that has effectively dried up for us — and it does none of us, or consumers, any favours.
Against this backdrop, Skyline have taken a bold step and released something genuinely interesting: the Home Insight Survey, a seller-commissioned survey. They’re the first to bring a seller’s survey to the market in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and whatever comes next, they deserve credit for breaking new ground.
The Problem We’re All Facing
The system, as it stands, is broken. The figures speak for themselves:
And of course, buyers aren’t the only ones under strain. Sellers are often just as anxious about what the surveyor might uncover, whether their buyer will use it to renegotiate, and what the lender’s valuation surveyor will say.
We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Scotland has been running with a seller-commissioned model for years. Their Single Survey forms part of the mandatory Home Report, and it works. Transactions are typically completed within 6–8 weeks for straightforward sales, and our fall-through rate is significantly lower than that of our competitors.
Other countries, such as France, Norway, and Sweden, also have seller-side surveys built into the process, and they, too, enjoy faster and more reliable outcomes. The lesson is clear: upfront information makes the whole system run more efficiently.
The most common reservation about seller-commissioned surveys is whether buyers will trust them. It’s a fair question, but research says otherwise. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (2017) found that 89% of buyers said they would find a seller-provided report helpful. In Scotland, few buyers commission their own survey once they’ve seen the Single Survey.
And here’s the reality: with 70% to 90% of buyers in England and Wales not commissioning any survey at all, any professional condition information is a significant improvement. Even if a buyer takes a seller’s survey with a pinch of salt, it still arms them with insights they’d otherwise lack.
The beauty of this idea is that it doesn’t just benefit one party — everyone gains something:
History shows us that innovations often start in the niche or premium end of the market before they become standard. Anti-lock brakes were once a Mercedes-only luxury; within a decade, they were standard on even modest family cars. Apple’s iPod began as a quirky, expensive gadget before changing music consumption forever.
The principle is simple: start small, prove the concept, and the market follows. Seller-commissioned surveys won’t suddenly be everywhere tomorrow — but Skyline have shown that someone has to take the first step.
The timing could hardly be better. Transactions are slower than ever. The market is crowded, with sellers desperate to stand out. Government and regulators are pushing for more upfront information and transparency. Estate agents are being pressed on disclosure; conveyancers are having to talk about climate risk. Yet the single most significant piece of missing information in most transactions — the actual condition of the property — is still only revealed far too late in the process.
That’s why Skyline’s Home Insight Survey feels like it has arrived at exactly the right moment.
Skyline deserves recognition for being the first to bring a structured, seller-commissioned product to market in England and Wales. They’ve taken a risk, invested in the model, and opened the door to a conversation that’s long overdue. Whether this exact product evolves further or inspires alternatives, they’ve set down the marker.
As an Association, our job isn’t to market any one product. Our role is to champion approaches that raise standards, improve outcomes for consumers, and expand opportunities for surveyors. Seller-commissioned surveys tick all three boxes.
We’ll continue to engage with initiatives like Skyline’s and support members who wish to explore this model. It’s another tool in the toolbox — and in a market where traditional survey instructions are shrinking, having more tools matters.
Whether you’re sceptical or enthusiastic, the truth is this: seller-commissioned surveys aren’t theory. They have been proven elsewhere and are now entering our market, potentially helping to reshape the way transactions unfold.
If you don’t try, you don’t know. Hats off to Skyline for being the first mover. Let’s watch this space and be ready to make it work for our profession.
I know this blog has only scratched the surface, and like you, I want to learn much more about this new approach. I'm delighted to announce that Alan Milstein has kindly agreed to be our first guest in a new series of video blogs. We will be filming the first one next week, and I'll ask him some probing questions about the Home Insight Survey and the future of seller-side surveys.
This is an excellent opportunity for us to get a detailed understanding from one of the key players behind this innovation. Keep an eye out for the video blog, which we will share with you as soon as it's ready.
