A pre-purchase survey is an inspection before you buy a property, so damp, timber, and moisture-related issues that are visible or accessible at the time of the inspection can be identified, allowing you to act. Whether to negotiate the price, plan repairs, or walk away. A general structural or building survey checks the entire property, from the roof, walls, foundations, and utility services. The Damp Store’s pre-purchase survey is a specialist inspection focused on damp, timber decay, and structural issues caused by moisture, the kind often missed during viewings, and the ones likely to become expensive surprises after you move in. Many buyers arrange it with a general survey; others book it alone when damp or timber is the main concern.
Under Irish property law, it’s the buyer who is responsible for checking a property’s condition before completing the purchase. A lender’s valuation protects the loan, not you. That’s the real case for commissioning an independent, specialist survey rather than relying on how a house looks on viewing day.
Booking a pre-purchase survey with The Damp Store is easy:
STEP 1
Call us or complete our contact form. Let us know your stage in the buying process — before bidding, after the sale agreed, or before signing contracts — and we’ll meet your timeline.
STEP 2
An experienced surveyor examines walls, floors, timbers, roof space, and, if present, basement or cellar, checking for damp, timber, and structural issues.
STEP 3
We identify what we can observe and diagnose from accessible areas — how severe it is, and the likely root cause, not just the symptom.
STEP 4
You receive a clear report to share with your solicitor, engineer, or lender.
STEP 5
Where remedial work is recommended, we set out the required treatment and its cost.
STEP 6
Any work we undertake is guaranteed in accordance with our written guarantee terms for the treatment specified in your quotation, and backed by independent insurance.
If you want more than a diagnosis, ask about our Pre Purchase Survey with Full Remedial Costs. We identify the issues found during the inspection, and cost the recommended treatment for those findings. We provide a fully itemized, costed schedule for the remedial work needed to put things right. The same specialists who would carry out the treatment prepare the schedule, not a third-party estimator guessing from outside.
For buyers, that means a real number to work with, not just a description of a problem:
An itemized cost summary gives you hard figures to bring back to the seller or your solicitor, rather than a vague sense that “there’s some damp.”
Know the full cost of putting things right before you complete. This prevents you from gathering separate quotes afterwards.
The same survey covers diagnosis and cost. There’s nothing extra to chase.
Because we complete the treatment ourselves, the figures show actual current pricing, not estimates.
Every item in the schedule is matched to a specific treatment. Examples include chemical DPC injection for rising damp, timber treatment for woodworm or rot, waterproofing for basement issues, or structural and conservation repairs where needed. You can see exactly what you’re paying for, line by line.
Every property is different, so the cost of a pre-purchase survey depends on a few factors:
Contact us, and we’ll confirm the cost for your specific property.
A pre-purchase survey is an inspection carried out before you complete the purchase of a property, so damp, timber, and moisture-related issues that are visible or accessible at the time of inspection can be identified while you can still act on them.
Yes, many damp, timber, and structural problems are not visible to the naked eye, and can be hidden behind furniture, under floor coverings, in the attic, or below ground in a basement or subfloor. Our inspection is based on accessible areas, so some concealed defects may only come to light once those areas are opened up.
We examine the property for signs indicating damp (rising, penetrating, or condensation-related), timber issues (woodworm, wet or dry rot), and moisture-related structural problems, such as cracking or movement. Where relevant, we also inspect basements and cellars for water ingress.
Not quite. A general structural (or building) survey examines the entire property, including the roof, services, and finishes. The Damp Store’s pre-purchase survey is a specialist inspection that focuses on damp, timber, and moisture-related structural issues.
The cost depends on factors such as the property’s size and age, accessibility, and whether you’d like the Full Remedial Costs option included. Contact The Damp Store directly, and we’ll confirm the cost for your specific property before you go ahead.
A pre-purchase survey identifies any damp, timber or structural problems and explains what’s causing them. The Full Remedial Costs option adds a fully itemized, costed schedule for the treatment needed to fix everything found. Both can be carried out during the same site visit.
Most pre-purchase surveys are conducted during a single site visit, with the time required depending on the property’s size and complexity. Once complete, you’ll receive your written findings so you can advance with your purchase decision.
Either is possible. Some buyers arrange a survey before bidding to gain extra confidence when deciding what to offer. Others book once a sale is agreed, often because their solicitor or lender has requested it as a condition of proceeding.
Our pre-purchase surveys are carried out by an experienced property surveyor serving Dublin and nationwide, backed by ISO 9001 certification and over 40 years in the damp-proofing and structural repair industry. Requirements do vary between solicitors and lenders, so it’s worth checking exactly what they need before you book.
Usually not. Standard home insurance is designed for sudden, accidental damage, not gradual issues like rising damp, timber decay, or wear-related structural problems that build up over time. That is exactly why catching these before you buy matters more than trying to claim them afterwards.
You’ll receive a clear written account of what was found and why it matters, which you can use to negotiate with the seller, budget for repairs, or simply decide with confidence whether to proceed. If you’d like The Damp Store to carry out any recommended work, we’ll provide a no-obligation quotation.