Homeowners preparing to sell
Understand any structural issues early, before a buyer's surveyor raises them at a sensitive point in the transaction.
EMA Pre-Sale Structural Review
Pre-Sale Structural Surveys London
Selling a property with cracks, historic alterations, suspected movement or missing structural paperwork? EMA Structures provides pre-sale structural inspections and engineer reports to help sellers, estate agents and conveyancers identify issues before they delay or disrupt a transaction.
Why it helps
Identify structural concerns before they disrupt a sale
An engineer-led assessment of visible defects, previous alterations and potential structural risks, so sellers, estate agents and conveyancers know where they stand before marketing or during conveyancing.
EMA Structures helps sellers, estate agents and conveyancers identify structural concerns before they delay or disrupt a property sale. Our pre-sale structural review provides an engineer-led assessment of visible defects, previous alterations and potential structural risks, helping clients understand whether further investigation, calculations, repair advice or documentation may be needed before marketing or during conveyancing. A pre-sale review will not guarantee a sale, and it does not replace legal advice, Building Control approval, a RICS survey or a lender's requirements, the final recommendations depend on what is found during the inspection.
Who this is for
Who a pre-sale structural review helps
Practical engineering input for the people who need certainty before, during and after a property goes to market.
Estate agents
Handling properties with visible cracks or alterations and needing clear engineer input to answer buyer questions.
Conveyancers
Dealing with missing structural information, retrospective alterations or queries raised during conveyancing.
Buyers or sellers after a survey
Facing concerns flagged by a buyer's survey and wanting an engineer's view on what they actually mean.
Landlords & property owners
Preparing a property for market and wanting to deal with structural questions in advance.
When to consider one
When a pre-sale structural review is useful
A pre-sale review is worth considering whenever a property has visible structural questions or a history that a buyer's surveyor is likely to probe.
- Visible cracks in walls, ceilings or external masonry
- Signs of movement or settlement
- Suspected subsidence
- Previous wall removals
- Missing structural calculations
- Missing Building Control documents
- Loft conversions
- Extensions
- Basement works
- Retaining walls
- Concrete or masonry defects
- Sloping floors or distorted openings
- Buyer survey concerns
- Mortgage or conveyancing queries
What we provide
What EMA can provide
A focused, engineer-led assessment that turns uncertainty into a clear understanding of where a property stands.
- Site visit by a structural engineer
- Visual structural inspection
- Review of visible cracks, movement and defects
- Review of previous structural alterations where accessible
- A view on whether further investigation is required
- A short written structural report or engineer's letter
- Repair or investigation recommendations where required
- Advice on whether calculations, trial pits, opening-up works or specialist repairs may be needed
Before you list
Why do this before listing?
Structural questions raised late in a transaction cause delays, renegotiation and fall-throughs. Dealing with them early keeps you in control.
- Helps sellers understand issues earlier
- Helps estate agents answer buyer questions
- Helps reduce delays during conveyancing
- Helps avoid last-minute surprises
- Helps identify whether defects are structural or cosmetic
- Helps prepare a sensible repair or disclosure strategy before marketing
Where a review confirms a defect, EMA can take it further, for example a closer structural inspection, a detailed structural survey and defect diagnosis, subsidence assessment or an engineering-led repair strategy.
Referral partners
For Estate Agents and Conveyancers
EMA Structures can provide rapid structural assessments and engineer reports where a sale is at risk of being delayed by cracks, movement, previous alterations or missing structural paperwork. We can assist with clear next-step advice so agents, sellers and conveyancers can progress matters with greater confidence.
- Crack inspections
- Movement assessments
- Structural engineer letters
- Retrospective review of previous alterations
- Structural advice for missing calculations
- Repair recommendations
- Referral partner support
Where calculations are missing for past works such as a load-bearing wall removal, EMA can advise on retrospective structural calculations and Building Regulations matters.
Suggested starting point
EMA Pre-Sale Structural Review
A straightforward Stage 1 inspection that gives you an engineer's opinion and a clear next step.
What it includes
- Site visit
- Visual structural inspection
- Review of visible concerns
- Engineer's opinion
- Short written summary or report
- Recommendations for next steps
Indicative fees
Fees depend on property type, location and report scope. Many initial residential structural reviews start from a fixed-fee Stage 1 inspection, confirmed after we understand the property and the concern.
Book a Pre-Sale Structural ReviewFAQs
Pre-sale structural review questions answered
Is this the same as a RICS HomeBuyer Survey?
No. This is a structural engineer's assessment focused on structural issues such as cracks, movement, previous alterations, suspected subsidence, foundations, retaining walls and visible defects. It is not a RICS HomeBuyer Survey or Building Survey and does not replace one, legal advice, Building Control approval or a lender's requirements.
Should I get a structural review before selling my house?
It can be useful if there are visible cracks, signs of movement, previous wall removals, loft conversions, extensions, missing calculations or concerns likely to be raised by a buyer's surveyor. Identifying these early gives you time to understand the issue and plan a sensible repair or disclosure strategy before marketing.
Can this help if my property has cracks?
Yes. EMA can inspect the cracks, consider their likely causes and advise whether they appear cosmetic, require monitoring, need further investigation or may need repair. Final recommendations depend on what is found on site.
Can you help estate agents?
Yes. EMA can support estate agents with rapid structural inspections and engineer reports where defects, cracks or previous alterations may affect a sale, giving clear next-step advice so a transaction can progress with greater confidence.
Can you help conveyancers with missing structural paperwork?
EMA can review available information and provide structural engineering advice where calculations, approvals or evidence of previous alterations are missing. Legal and Building Control matters should still be handled by the relevant professionals.
Can you provide repair recommendations?
Yes. Where appropriate, EMA can provide repair recommendations or advise whether further investigation, calculations, opening-up works, trial pits, crack stitching, underpinning or other structural repairs may be required.
Preparing to sell a property with structural concerns?
Send us details, photos or survey comments and EMA Structures will advise the most practical next step.