A report identifies condition and recommended action, but it is not usually a contractor specification or fixed quotation. Before seeking prices, understand likely cause, urgency and scope so contractors are pricing comparable work.
RICS advises obtaining quotations from at least two experienced contractors before legal commitment. This is especially useful where cost could influence the purchase.
Prioritise
Begin with rating 3, safety risks, active water entry and investigations needed to establish cause. Then address rating 2 repairs and maintenance.
Do not price a solution where diagnosis remains uncertain. Complete engineering, electrical or drainage investigation first.
Write a clear brief
Provide the relevant description and specialist findings, subject to report-use restrictions. Ask contractors to identify assumptions, VAT, access and exclusions.
Choose relevant experience, not price alone. A seller of one treatment may not provide an impartial diagnosis.
Compare the whole scope
Check materials, preparation, associated work, making good and guarantees. A low quotation omitting scaffolding or consequential work may not be comparable.
Allow for concealed conditions that only become visible during repair.
- Clarify cause first.
- Seek at least two contractors.
- Use one written scope.
- Check exclusions.
- Treat estimates as estimates.
Use the evidence
Quotations support budgeting and negotiation but do not compel the seller to change terms. Discuss legal responsibility with the conveyancer.
In England and Wales, resolve decision-critical costs before exchange where possible.
Keep quotation expiry dates and the proposed purchase timetable in mind. Market prices, access and contractor availability can change after completion, so a pre-purchase estimate is a planning tool rather than a promise that the work will later be delivered for exactly that sum.
Allow for access, sequencing and professional input
Some repairs cannot be priced reliably from an estate-agent viewing. Scaffolding, opening-up, structural design, party-wall procedures or listed-building requirements may influence the eventual scope. Ask whether the quotation is a budget estimate or a firm offer following adequate inspection, how long it remains valid and what would permit the price to change.
Repair sequence can also alter cost. Stopping water penetration may need to precede drying and internal decoration; structural stabilisation may need design before finishes are disturbed. A quotation that covers only the visible final surface may omit the work that solves the underlying problem. Ask the surveyor or relevant specialist to clarify the intended outcome before comparing proposals.
Where a flat or shared building is involved, the buyer may not be free to commission the work directly. The lease, managing agent and consultation rules can affect procurement and timing. Ask the conveyancer who controls the repair and use any contractor figure only as an indication until responsibility and the formal process are understood.
Advice for your property
Get the right professional inspection
Online guidance is useful, but it cannot account for the construction, condition and history of an individual property. Tell us what you are buying or need valued and we will explain the appropriate service.
Authoritative sources and further reading
The guide is general information, not property-specific, structural, legal, tax or financial advice. Source pages can change; consult the relevant professional for your circumstances.