SURVEY SERVICES & GUIDANCE

Preparing Your Property for a Measured Survey

A little preparation helps the survey visit run smoothly and reduces the risk of missing information. This guide explains what homeowners and property managers can arrange before a measured building survey.

Before the visit

Confirm the address, the agreed survey areas, arrival arrangements and the person who will provide access. Tell us if the property is occupied, managed by a third party or subject to restricted working hours.

Send any existing plans and explain what they show. They can help us understand the building and your proposed work, but older drawings may not reflect later alterations.

If an architect is involved, ask them to confirm which floor plans, elevations and sections they need. Our survey brief checklist helps you collect those requirements.

Make the agreed areas accessible

  • Arrange keys or an escort for the rooms and external areas included in the survey.
  • Keep normal circulation routes clear and tell us about rooms that cannot be entered.
  • Provide access to existing loft or basement entrances where these areas are in scope.
  • Let the team know about alarms, security procedures, pets or other practical restrictions.

You do not need to empty the property. Where furniture, storage or finishes obscure a feature, it may limit what can be recorded. Discuss any important concealed area with us beforehand; do not remove fixtures or enter unsafe spaces just for the survey.

Occupied buildings and external access

Surveys can take place in occupied properties when suitable access is arranged. Tell residents or staff when the team is expected and explain which areas are required. If some rooms are available only at certain times, let us plan the visit around that.

For external elevations or site features, consider gates, parking areas, vegetation and access alongside the building. Access to neighbouring land must be arranged separately where it is required. Do not assume a survey booking provides permission to enter another property.

What happens on the day?

The team records the accessible areas within the agreed scope using survey equipment. The information is then processed into the drawings or data you have commissioned. The site visit and the drawing-production stage are separate parts of the service.

Our measured building survey page explains the drawing outputs, while 3D laser scanning explains point cloud capture. If the project also depends on garden levels, site features or changes in ground level, ask whether a topographical survey should be included.

Common preparation questions

Do I have to leave the property?

Not usually. Tell us about occupation and access constraints so arrangements can be agreed before attendance.

Does a measured survey check the building condition?

The measured survey records geometry for the agreed drawings or data. It is not a building condition report or structural inspection.

What if an area is locked or inaccessible?

Tell us as early as possible. An inaccessible area may need to be excluded or revisited, and the effect on the deliverables and programme should be agreed.

When will I receive the drawings?

Delivery depends on the size of the property and the agreed output. Confirm the drawing issue date when booking, particularly if you have a design or planning deadline.

For access questions or to discuss a survey, contact Line Surveying or call 020 4615 4666.

Discuss your survey

Send your site address, required deliverables and programme. We will review the scope with you.

Request a survey quote