Hold ups in the property chain could be a thing of the past thanks to plans that would see buyers receive a full survey before making an offer. And 71% of property experts back the move!

A recent survey of 200 experts from across the property industry – that’s lenders, brokers, surveyors and more – found that a majority are in favour of new laws that would make pre-sale surveys mandatory.

Why all the fuss? Well, it turns out that many buyers mistakenly believe the valuation carried out for their mortgage is actually a proper survey. In reality, these valuations are just to assess whether the property is worth the loan amount. This misunderstanding means important issues can be missed, leading to delays and even sales falling through. Worryingly, over 20% of brokers and lenders admitted they don’t always explain the difference between a valuation and a survey.

Matthew Cumber, the main man at Countrywide Surveying Services (the people who ran the poll) reckons that giving buyers all the facts upfront will make the whole buying and selling process way smoother. He says getting rid of nasty surprises means less stress and more transparency for everyone.

Could this be the end of gazumping and last-minute sale collapses? Only time will tell, but it seems like the property world is ready for a shake-up!