I'm selling. Is a vendor damp check worth it?

When a buyer's survey finds damp late in a transaction, three bad things can happen: renegotiation at the worst possible moment, weeks of delay while reports are commissioned, or a collapsed sale. A vendor (pre-sale) check removes that ambush by finding and pricing any issues before the property goes on the market.

How sellers use it

• Fix the issues before listing: often cheaper done on your own timetable, with contractors you choose
• Price transparently: reflect known issues in the asking price and remove them as a negotiating lever
• Rebut low-ball tactics: an independent report with real repair costs beats a buyer's inflated estimate
• Signal confidence: 'independently surveyed, report available' reassures serious buyers and their solicitors

Period property sellers especially

If you're selling a Victorian or Edwardian house anywhere in London, assume the buyer's survey will comment on damp, because it almost always does. Getting your own evidence first means the conversation happens on your terms, with your figures. If you've had historic damp works done, dig out the guarantee certificates too; a post-works inspection can independently confirm older works where paperwork is missing.