Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property Industry Eye. Read the original article for full details.
Landmark launches upfront surveys to tackle property fall-throughs
Landmark Information Group has launched a nationwide service bringing property surveys forward in the sales process, as the government prepares to reform homebuying and selling in England and Wales. Industry data cited by the company shows that more than a fifth of agreed sales currently fail to complete.
The service, known as Sales Pack Ready Surveys, gives estate agents and other property professionals access to upfront property surveys before a transaction has progressed. Its launch comes as the government prepares reforms intended to make more information available upfront and reduce delays after a sale has been agreed.
What the surveys cover
The reports follow RICS standards and assess the physical condition of a home. They highlight visible defects, maintenance concerns and areas that may need further checks. The aim is to uncover potential problems before buyers and sellers commit significant time and money.
Landmark argues that property condition should form part of the information made available upfront, sitting alongside searches, title details and legal documents.
Tackling delays and fall-throughs
TwentyCi data cited by Landmark shows that 23.7% of agreed property sales fail to complete. Problems that emerge later in the process can trigger further enquiries and price negotiations, delay exchange, or contribute to a sale falling through. Bringing surveys forward could allow buyers and sellers to address those issues much sooner.
Nick Dyoss, group business development and relationships director at Landmark Information Group, said: "The property industry can't afford to wait for reform to take effect before it starts changing how transactions work.
"We know the direction the market is heading, and the businesses that start adapting now will be in a much stronger position as those changes become embedded across the homebuying and selling process."
He added: "The future of home moving is about helping buyers and sellers make informed decisions before they commit, rather than uncovering issues once a transaction is already underway."
Industry looks to upfront surveys
The launch comes as surveyors consider how upfront property surveys could play a greater role in transactions. Landmark said surveying firms are exploring models that could allow sellers and prospective buyers to rely on the same condition information.
Project 28 Charter members will also hold a surveyors' roundtable later this month, examining how the industry can provide property condition information earlier and at scale.
The surveys will be delivered through a national panel managed by Landmark's Optimus business. Estate agents, conveyancers, mortgage brokers, lenders and property portals can order the reports. They form part of Landmark's wider Sales Pack Ready service, which brings together searches, title information, property data and condition reports at the start of a transaction.
What this means for agents and clerks
For letting agents and inventory clerks, the growing focus on upfront condition reporting reflects a broader shift in the industry towards documenting property condition earlier. The government's homebuying and selling reforms are still taking shape.
Source: Property Industry Eye