What is a Home Report?

The Home Report was introduced in Scotland in December 2008. Anyone who puts their property on the market for sale in Scotland must obtain a Home Report which is available for prospective buyers and their agents for the duration that the property is for sale.

There are some exceptions to the rule; new-build properties and any properties where the sale is off-market (no advertising of the property takes place at all). However, these are generally minority cases and most sellers must have the Home Report carried out and available to potential buyers prior to the property going on the market.

Let’s keep it simple; a  Scottish Home Report is a pack which provides information about the condition and value of a property. The Scottish Government set out that it must legally contain three sections.

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What’s Included in a Home Report?

Home Report

EPC

An “Energy Performance Certificate”, or EPC, is a certificate stating the building’s energy efficiency. CO2 ratings are categorised in bands from A to G with A being very efficient, and G being very inefficient.
Home Report

Single Survey

An “Energy Performance Certificate”, or EPC, is a certificate stating the building’s energy efficiency. CO2 ratings are categorised in bands from A to G with A being very efficient, and G being very inefficient.
Home Report

Property Questionnaire

An “Energy Performance Certificate”, or EPC, is a certificate stating the building’s energy efficiency. CO2 ratings are categorised in bands from A to G with A being very efficient, and G being very inefficient.

Scottish Law and Home Reports

As of the 1st December 2008 it is now mandatory that when selling residential property in Scotland you provide prospective purchasers with a Home Report. This report is instructed by the seller of the property or their agent and consists of three mandatory documents.

“Everyone selling their home needs to provide a Home Report to prospective buyers.”

The video explains what is included and how these are conducted.

Home Reports make the process of buying a new home more transparent by removing much of the uncertainty over what price to bid and accept. A Home Report includes a Property Questionnaire prepared by the seller plus a Single Survey and Energy Performance Certificate prepared by a chartered surveyor.

At the Home Report Company, we have specially trained Chartered Surveyors who are able to prepare Home Reports, Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), and Property valuations. These surveyors have local knowledge of the areas they cover ensuring you receive the best possible service.
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Single Survey

  1. Energy performance certificate
  2. Single Survey which includes the property value
  3. Property Questionnaire

If you are a buyer, the solicitor doing the purchase may instruct their own surveyor to carry out a valuation of the property. This is a separate document for the purpose of the lender (if the buyer is borrowing funds to purchase the property) to satisfy their needs that the right the right price for the property is being paid. The mortgage valuation report involves a brief inspection (usually less than 20 minutes) and should not be confused with a survey. The report is for the lender and usually only two or three pages in length.

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What’s NOT included in a Home Report?

Sellers are often under the impression that the Mortgage Valuation is part of the Home Report, but the Government states that it is not a requirement to provide it if you are the seller, so be sure that (as the seller) you don’t end up paying a higher price for a Home Report which includes a MVR as lenders will more often than not instruct their own surveyor to carry this out.

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Who will put together the Home Report?

If you’ve hired a selling agent to help you sell and market your property, they may be able to carry out your Home Report for you. However, the single survey and energy report must be carried out by a qualified surveyor. You will be responsible for filling out the property questionnaire.

If you are selling your property without the help of a selling agent, you’ll need to commission a surveyor yourself. You can find a surveyor through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) website, on which we are listed.

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What if the Home Report highlights an issue?

The Home Report is intended to let the seller and the buyer know the true condition of the property, the need for repair and its market value. The objective is to remove any nasty surprises or un-budgeted expenses. Ideally, repairs will either be carried out or will be factored into the purchase price. However, legislation does not require that a seller carry out any repairs. The information in the Home Report allows the property to sell with no last-minute problems, it informs the buyer and helps the buyer obtain a mortgage.
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Single Survey

This is a detailed report on the condition and value of the property.  It is intended to provide both the seller and purchaser with detailed information about the property’s condition and value before offers are submitted.  In addition, this document contains an accessibility information section.

The condition of the property is separated into three categories:

Category 1
No immediate repair is needed

Category 2
Repair or replacement requiring future attention, but estimates are still advised.

Category 3
Urgent repairs or replacement are needed now. Failure to deal with them may cause problems to other parts of the property or cause a safety hazard. Estimates for repair or replacements are needed now.

Download an Example Single Survey

Why Choose Us?

  • Prices from £200
  • Flexible appointments to suit you
  • Stress-free process
  • Offices across Scotland
  • Appointments within 24 hours
  • You can trust us 100%
  • All surveyors are RICS registered
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Energy Performance Certificate

An EPC is a Certificate which states the energy efficiency of a building based on the standardised way in which a building is used. CO2 ratings are shown in bands from A-G. A being very efficient, G being very inefficient. The performance of the measured building is benchmarked against current Building Standards and recommended cost effective improvements.

Download an Example EPC

Property Questionnaire

The property questionnaire is completed by the seller or their agent asking about their ownership of the property and can be done online or offline. It provides a range of useful information, for example the council tax band, length of ownership, existing service providers, parking facilities and alteration commentary.

Download an Example Property Questionnaire
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What Our Clients Say

Home Report Company
Home Report Company
4.1
Based on 186 reviews
Sally H.
Sally H.
Very quick and efficient. Easy to deal with. Reasonable price.
Andrew H.
Andrew H.
The booking and pre visit paperwork was dealt with very efficiently by the admin team, Andrew came to the house to check it over, early rather than late which was encouraging. He was very friendly, helpful and efficient. He has subsequently delivered the report by email within the expected time frame. Good job at a good price !
jim D.
jim D.
The surveyor was excellent, he arrived exactly on time, carried out a thorough inspection & then provided a draft report inside 24 hours & the finalised report within the week. Superb service and value.
Kay W.
Kay W.
Very efficient, prompt service, highly competitive prices
Elizabeth G.
Elizabeth G.
Good communication, fast, efficient service and I would recommend.
Jane E P.
Jane E P.
The surveyor showed up on time and was friendly and efficient. I received the draft and final report quickly and the admin staff were very helpful.
L C
L C
Quick response time, good price. From our first enquiry to producing a Home Report was just over one week. Pleased with level of communication and service. Would recommend.
Tegan M.
Tegan M.
A warm friendly visit from Andrew who did a thorough look over the house for our report. He also assisted us with any queries we had about the current market. Would highly recommend this company not only for their price but their quick and efficient service
Gordon P.
Gordon P.
Great service skl of the staff were very accommodating
Stephen K.
Stephen K.
Fast and efficient service. The home report was detailed and professionally compiled.
Stephen M.
Stephen M.
Outstanding service and very quick turnaround from Andrew and the team. Would highly recommend this company for anyone requiring a fast, professional and efficient service.
Kevin S.
Kevin S.
Thank you Home Report Company, the surveyor who was sent over for our house valuation report was great. It was nice to be able to welcome a well-mannered, friendly and professional person to our home.For those looking for chartered surveyors to carry out a home report or valuation, I highly recommend this company. They have been very helpful, polite and punctual - and made life that little bit easier during a difficult time in our family. Thank you again.
jim “scottishjim80” F.
jim “scottishjim80” F.
I needed a survey done quick and contacted home report company,Andrew came within 2 days,no messing about and got my survey paperwork next day via email,excellent company,thank you andrew.all the best jim.
Dee W.
Dee W.
I have recently instructed the Home Report Company to complete a survey for me. From my first initial enquiry up until receiving my report I have nothing but high praise. I was given a quote, a prompt appointment was made and the survey completed. Andrew, the surveyor, was very professional and also very smiley and reassuring. He went about the survey with minimal intrusion or fuss and he also liked my dog 😊. Highly recommend.
Rod M.
Rod M.
Andrew Mackenzie from home report company did our home report very professional and polite.This is the second time I have used home report company and mr Mackenzie has done both reports.The price charged was very competitive and by far the cheapest I enquired about, I would definitely recommend the home report company for your home report.
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