How Long Does a House Survey Take? And Why Timing Really Matters
- Benjamin Davies
- Nov 1, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
How Long Does a House Survey Take?
When you’re buying a property, timing suddenly becomes very important. Mortgage offers, solicitor enquiries, and completion dates all start stacking up. One of the most common questions we’re asked is:
“How long does a house survey actually take?”
The short answer is: it depends. The longer (and more important) answer is that how the
time is used matters just as much as how long it takes.
At Cooper Davies Building Surveying, we deliberately take longer than the industry average, with good reason.
What Is a RICS Home Survey?
A RICS Home Survey is a professional inspection of a property carried out by a qualified surveyor. Its purpose is to identify defects, risks, and maintenance issues before you commit to buying.
The two most common survey types are:
RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey – suitable for modern, traditionally built homes in reasonable condition
RICS Level 3 Building Survey – the most detailed survey, recommended for older or more complex properties
Each survey level requires a different amount of time on site and in reporting.
How Long Does the Inspection Take?
Across the industry, many larger surveying firms will schedule two surveys per day, sometimes more. That typically limits on-site inspection time to around 1.5–2 hours for a Level 2 survey.
At Cooper Davies, we take a very different approach.
Our typical inspection times:
Level 2 Survey:Minimum of 3 hours on site
Level 3 Survey:Often 5-6 hours or more, depending on the property
We also only carry out one survey per day.
That extra time allows us to slow down, inspect properly, and look at areas that are often rushed or missed altogether.
Why Our Surveys Take Longer (And Why That’s a Good Thing)
Most Level 2 surveys rely heavily on ground-level observations, particularly when it comes to roofs and high-level elements.
We don’t believe that’s good enough.
As standard, we use a 6-metre telescopic camera pole on our surveys. This allows us to inspect:
Roof coverings
Chimney stacks and flaunching
Valleys, flashings, and high-level details
These are exactly the areas where defects are commonly missed, and where problems can be expensive if discovered later.
Taking extra time on site means:
Fewer assumptions
Fewer caveats
Clearer advice in the final report
In short, it leads to a better-quality survey.
How Long Does the Report Take?
After the inspection, the report needs to be written, checked, and finalised.
Our typical turnaround times:
Standard turnaround: within 5 working days or less
Often delivered: next working day, depending on complexity
Because we only inspect one property per day, we’re not juggling multiple inspections and reports at once. That allows us to focus properly on your property and get your report back quickly.
If you’re working to a tight deadline, just let us know and we can normally move things around to help. Speed is one of our key strengths
Why Timing Matters When You’re Buying
A rushed survey can lead to:
Missed defects
Over-reliance on disclaimers
Vague recommendations
Taking a little longer up front often saves time, stress, and money later — especially if issues come to light that affect negotiations or your decision to proceed.
Our aim is simple:to give you clear, reliable information so you can move forward with confidence.
Need a Survey Quickly — Without Cutting Corners?
If you’re buying a property in North Somerset, Somerset, or the Mendip area and need a survey carried out promptly — without compromising on quality — we can help.
We offer:
Thorough inspections
Clear, jargon-free reports
Fast turnaround times
Honest, practical advice
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