An app that ‘lets sellers and buyers assess property through the eyes of a surveyor’ has the potential to speed up the home buying process and reduce fall-throughs, its founder believes.
Qualified surveyor Brett Ray developed Survey Shack last year to give ‘surveyor-inspired insights’ to sellers and buyers. The app-based inspections generate detailed reports with actionable insights and recommendations, so both parties can make informed decisions about the property and local market.
‘One of the most frustrating parts of working in surveying is watching around 25% of transactions fall through because of issues identified during survey’, Ray said.
“The transactions fall apart not because homes are unsellable, but because the problems surface too late. That’s why we built Survey Shack – to flag issues cost-effectively at an earlier stage. Sellers and buyers can then move forward with clearer expectations, saving time, stress and money for all parties.”
As well as reducing costs and inconvenience for buyers and sellers, Ray believes the app will have a positive impact on the conveyancing process. He explained:
“From a conveyancer’s perspective, anything that reduces uncertainty and late-stage disruption is a clear win. When sellers present recent works alongside receipts and warranties, buyer solicitors have fewer reasons to pause, and far less need to raise additional enquiries. That also leads to fewer specialist referrals, which often stall deals for weeks. The entire chain moves faster. Most importantly, it shifts risk reduction upstream, where it can help a deal complete rather than derail it.”
And while he acknowledges the app is in its infancy, with 1,000 downloads split evenly between buyers and sellers, Ray is hoping it will create a shift in the market that will see fall-throughs become an exception rather thean the rule.
“It’s still early, and full market adoption is ahead of us, but the evidence so far points clearly in one direction – by utilising Survey Shack ahead of putting a property on the market, surveyors will find fewer issues, agents will bring properties to market that feel genuinely “sale ready” and buyers will face fewer surprises at the eleventh hour.
“That’s the shift we’re working to create, moving key information earlier in the process so fall-throughs become the exception, not the norm. Hidden defects will no longer emerge too late because they’ll have already been addressed or accounted for.”
3 responses
How does it work? That would have been useful information to have in the article
Hi SurreyLawyer – additionally, much more can be found here http://www.survey-shack.com
And regarding the steps
1. Download the app – Get started in seconds.
2. Inspect the property – Follow simple, step-by-step guidance.
3. Generate an instant, actionable report – No hefty price tag.
4. Feet up, kettle on – Time for a good read.
5. From insights to action – Select from trusted partners to help tackle any issues identified in your inspection.
Hi @SurreyLawyer — happy to help. The app guides sellers, or someone acting on their behalf, through a structured assessment by asking surveyor-style questions and capturing key data about the property. It then generates a report highlighting potential issues, risks, and recommended next steps, all before any formal buyer’s survey stage.
We’re also trialling a version with energy assessors. As you’ll know, they’re often visiting just-listed properties to carry out EPCs or floorplans, so they’re well placed to complete the assessment during their visit and provide the report directly to agents or homeowners.
One of our team would be happy to walk you through it in more detail, feel free to contact us, or reach out to Brett, our founder, directly via LinkedIn.