Property survey software tutorial

Start a clear, evidence-led property survey

From the dashboard to the final PDF, this guide explains a calm, repeatable workflow for snagging, condition reports, home surveys and commercial inspections. The app organises evidence; professional judgement remains yours.

Read the guide

The workflow

Your first survey, step by step

  1. 1. Set up the job

    From the dashboard, create a survey and add the property address, client, inspection date and your report details. Check the instruction before you start.

  2. 2. Pick the dedicated workflow

    Choose General Inspection for the flexible room-and-area workflow. Choose RICS-aligned Survey, then Home Survey or Commercial Survey, to open the matching dedicated report workspace.

  3. 3. Follow the selected workspace

    General inspections use dashboard cards and Next Section. Home and Commercial Surveys open a separate structured workspace with instruction, property, element, summary and sign-off sections.

  4. 4. Record the evidence

    For each element, select a condition rating or priority, write or dictate your observations, and add context and close-up photos. Tap the help icon whenever you want guidance for the section you are completing.

  5. 5. Review the story

    Use the readiness review to check outstanding information, limitations, photo coverage, ratings and recommendations, then open the report preview to make any final wording changes.

  6. 6. Finalise and share

    Keep the report marked Draft while checking it. Add the surveyor declaration and signature, change it to Final when authorised, save it, then use the available email or share options.

Understand the general inspection dashboard

The + button begins a new survey. Once inside, the dashboard is more than a menu: each card represents a part of the inspection and report. Start with job and scope details, then use the cards to cover external areas, internal rooms, services or custom sections. A completed card is a prompt to review, not proof that every relevant feature was inspected.

Use Next Section as a practical route through the cards. It reduces missed sections when you are moving around a property, while still letting you return to a card whenever an observation, measurement or client instruction requires it. This card-based dashboard belongs to the general workflow; Home and Commercial Surveys use their own dedicated report workspace.

Free Home Survey Levels 1, 2 and 3

This is a dedicated, free RICS Home Survey Standard-aligned reporting workflow—not a bolt-on card. Record the agreed instruction and terms, property research and particulars, D–G elements, legal matters, risks, declaration and next actions.

  • Level 1: concise visual condition overview without repair or ongoing-maintenance advice.
  • Level 2: material defects, repair advice, consequences and timing.
  • Level 3: construction and materials, fuller diagnosis, remedial options and future maintenance.
  • Before reporting: use the readiness review to resolve unrated elements, unexplained NI ratings and missing instruction information.
  • Issue status: keep the report marked Draft during review and select Final only when it is authorised for issue.

Free standards-informed Commercial Survey

This is a dedicated, scope-led workflow for building-condition and technical-due-diligence instructions, informed by the RICS Technical due diligence of commercial property professional standard. Record purpose, scope, tenure and reliance, access and sampling, documents, specialists, property context, immediate safety notifications and the element schedule.

A schedule of condition is a separate factual instruction, not automatically a technical-due-diligence or dilapidations report. Keep output marked Draft while it is under review, then mark it Final only after professional sign-off. Tailor the inspection and report to the asset, transaction, jurisdiction and agreed instruction.

Guidance inside every RICS survey

Look for the ? help icon throughout the Home and Commercial workspaces. It explains what belongs in the current instruction, summary, property, schedule, rating, limitation, evidence or sign-off field without taking you away from the survey.

The guidance is a practical prompt, not a substitute for the agreed terms, current professional standards or your own judgement. Keep every entry specific to the property and the evidence available to you.

Supporting evidence and sign-off

Within Property Information, both dedicated workspaces offer an Optional report enhancements area for Energy & EPC, Weather & Orientation, Soil & Drainage and a supporting Floor Plan. The floor plan can be drawn, uploaded or—on a supported LiDAR-equipped iPhone or iPad—captured with Apple RoomPlan. This keeps the core report order clear while making connected evidence available when it is relevant to the instruction. Imported data and drawings must be checked against the property and inspection date.

Use the declaration and sign-off card to add firm-approved wording, an optional snapshot notice and the surveyor signature. Every narrative field has its own comprehensive Smart Build library covering evidence, assessment, limitations and next actions; it inserts editable text only into the field you opened. AI Polish sits below that field, and voice dictation is available for rapid notes. All wording remains editable in the workspace and during the final report review.

Build sections around elements—not assumptions

Start with standard elements where they fit: roof coverings, rainwater goods, walls, windows, doors, floors, ceilings, kitchens, bathrooms, services and external areas. Add custom elements for unusual construction, a plant room, outbuildings, common parts, tenant alterations, heritage fabric, solar equipment or anything else the instruction requires.

For commercial work, a clear structure may include site and boundaries, envelope, structure, interiors, MEP/services observed, fire precautions observed, access, occupancy, repair obligations and photographs. That structure is a working aid, not a statement that every system has been tested or every legal duty met.

Ratings, priorities, photos and notes

Condition and priority

Apply the selected scale consistently. A condition rating describes what you found; a priority helps the reader understand the recommended attention. Explain the reason in your narrative, especially where an issue is urgent or potentially consequential.

Photographs

Take a wide context image, then a focused image of the issue. Record the location, direction and visible evidence in the element observation so the attached images have clear context. Photos do not prove a cause, concealed extent or compliance.

Notes and recommendations

Write factual observations first, then clearly separate your advice. Avoid diagnosis beyond the evidence. Record where further investigation, testing or specialist advice is needed.

Limitations and access

Record inaccessible roofs, locked rooms, concealed construction, unsafe areas, occupied spaces, unavailable documents and anything not inspected. State the effect on your advice rather than burying it in general wording.

Before you issue a report

  • Check that the instruction, property and client details are correct.
  • Re-read every high-priority item and recommendation against your photos and notes.
  • Confirm limitations, exclusions, access restrictions and uninspected items are specific and visible.
  • Check that any dictated, Smart Build or AI-assisted text is accurate and appropriate.
  • Confirm the Draft or Final status, declaration, signature and professional details.
  • Preview the complete PDF, retain your records, and obtain any required internal or professional sign-off.

Professional and legal boundaries

PropertySurvey Pro supports evidence capture and report drafting. It does not inspect a property, certify condition, determine compliance, replace a competent surveyor, engineer, electrician, fire specialist or other professional, or make a report suitable for a purpose beyond its agreed scope. The Home Survey workflow is independent and RICS Home Survey Standard-aligned; it is not endorsed by RICS and does not grant a RICS report licence. Keep current with applicable law, standards, professional rules and client instructions.

Questions people ask

Is this an official RICS product or report template?

No. PropertySurvey Pro is independent software. Its free, dedicated Home Survey workflow is aligned to the recognizable Level 1/2/3 framework, condition ratings and reporting structure of the RICS Home Survey Standard, but it is not endorsed or licensed by RICS and does not grant RICS membership or a report licence. RICS says members and regulated firms need a licence to produce branded RICS Home Survey Reports.

Which Home Survey Level should I choose?

Choose the scope that matches your instruction and competence: Level 1 for a concise visual condition overview, Level 2 for a more detailed visual inspection and advice, and Level 3 where a fuller inspection and more detailed advice are appropriate. Agree the scope, exclusions and limitations with the client before inspection.

Is there a single RICS commercial survey template?

No. There is no single prescribed RICS commercial report form. For technical due diligence and building-condition instructions, the workspace is informed by the RICS Technical due diligence of commercial property professional standard. A schedule of condition is a separate factual instruction; the surveyor must define the scope, reliance, limitations and specialist input for each job.

Can I use the app offline?

Core field capture and PDF generation are designed to work offline. Services such as cloud sync, live data and AI features need a connection when used. Keep exported reports and your own records in line with your practice policy.

Need a feature-by-feature answer? Visit the Help Centre or contact support.