Less searches cost more

Buyers are subject to the legal principle of 'buyer beware'. This means you can only ask the vendor to pay for defects you find before you buy. Afterwards, it's too late as you are then responsible for those defects, potentially costing you tens of hundreds, if not tens of thousands of pounds.

So which out of the 35 searches on the market do you order?

It can be confusing; that’s where an expert conveyancer should help. It’s your choice, but don't be persuaded to scrimp on buying just the two basic searches, because this risks you missing defects you could have found in a full pack. Ask your conveyancer about a five-pack search bundle. Most good specialists offer this and most at a discount to help you move.

FAQs

Why a full search pack is safer — and less costly

Ordering a full search pack isn’t just the safer option — it’s often the smarter financial one too.

Searches help uncover issues that could affect your property’s value, your mortgage approval, or even whether you should proceed at all.

And when bought together, a full pack is substantially discounted compared to ordering the same searches individually.

How to Order

UK’s easiest and fastest process. Designed to cut delay (which otherwise increases your risk of a fall through) as searches can take weeks to arrive.

How?

Go to our online portal.

Pay online or with Apple Pay etc

The searches are automatically ordered and tracked for you from the independent search company specialist. No cash passing hands. No delays. 100% secure.

Searches to order

Option 1 The two most basic searches — but with a higher risk of loss

Some firms only offer the basic minimum two searches to look cheaper. But that can increase your risk of nasty surprises later by missing hidden defects, losing you thousands later.

1/ Local Authority search

2/ Water and Drainage search

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Option 2: Discounted seven searches pack (depending on property)

This isn’t just the safer option — it’s the overall cheaper option too.

The more searches you order, the more chance of finding issues upfront that you can ask your seller to fix before you complete - but will devalue your property by thousands later because of ‘buyer beware’.

There’s 35 in total but we’ve put together a 7 pack substantially discounted bundle, so it costs less than £200 more than the riskier 2 pack.

1/ Local Authority search

2/ Water and Drainage search

Plus

3/ Contamination search - safer

4/ Chancel liability search - safer

5/ Flood search - safer

6/ Climate Search - safer

7/ Energy and infrastructure search - safer

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