Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by The Negotiator. Read the original article for full details.

Gazeal Launches Upfront Seller Survey Service with 200 Agents Signed Up

Gazeal has introduced a new upfront seller survey service, with more than 200 estate agents already signed up. The service provides buyers with an accredited surveyor’s report before they make an offer on a property.

According to Gazeal, its Upfront Seller Surveys are the first of their kind in England and Wales. The reports are delivered by a network of over 1,000 surveyors, covering almost every postcode. Each report consists of nine sections, addressing property condition, material information, conveyancing matters, and risks.

Sellers do not pay any upfront fees for the survey. The fee is settled upon completion of the sale, and if the sale falls through for reasons not caused by the seller under a Gazeal Reservation Agreement, the fee is waived entirely. The survey can be used by both the seller and the buyer, and the surveyor’s professional indemnity insurance covers both parties.

The launch of this service aligns with government proposals for upfront sales packs, which would include information on a home’s condition, leasehold costs, and chain status, as well as earlier binding agreements.

Cooper Adams, an independent agency with three branches in West Sussex, is the first agency to go live with the service. They are marketing homes with surveys completed before launch, allowing both sellers and buyers to know the property’s condition from the outset.

This development may be of interest to UK letting agents and inventory clerks, as it introduces a new approach to property transactions and risk management.