We spoke to Brett Ray, qualified RICS surveyor and founder of Survey Shack, about AI, DIY condition assessments, and why buyers should stop waiting for the formal survey to start understanding the property they're buying.
Quick intro to Survey Shack
Survey Shack is an app that guides buyers through a structured property check and produces an instant first-tier condition report, with an optional upgrade — Survey Shack Genie — that adds guidance from a qualified surveyor where it's needed.
Interview with Brett Ray, Survey Shack founder
Property Looker:
When people hear "do your own survey," most surveyors probably wince. What do you actually mean by it?
Brett Ray:
"I don't mean replacing surveyors, and I don't mean skipping surveys.
"What I mean is that buyers can do far more of the early work themselves than they currently do. Most residential surveys are non-invasive inspections. A surveyor is mainly looking, recording, interpreting visible evidence and explaining risk."
"Professional judgement still matters enormously. But the first layer of that process — knowing what to look for — shouldn't only start after you've paid for a survey. At the moment, that knowledge reaches the consumer too late."
Property Looker:
So what can buyers realistically do themselves?
Brett Ray:
"Observation is the obvious one."
"Externally, there are many visible clues that can point to future or existing moisture-related issues inside a property. Raised ground levels, bridged damp proof courses, defective gutters, roof defects, chimney stack issues, poor masonry finishes, cracking, deteriorating windows or joinery, and vegetation against walls are all common examples. These issues are often easy to miss if you do not know what to look for, but they can contribute directly to internal staining, condensation, dampness and other visible warning signs."
"You can also do the context work before you ever walk through the door — planning history, EPC records, flood risk, sold-price history and local context."
"Most buyers underestimate how much of that information already exists, and how much stronger their position becomes when they understand it before they make an offer."
"The trick is doing it in a structured way, not a guessing game. That's what we built Survey Shack to do — guide buyers through a property check, help them capture useful evidence, and produce a first-tier condition report they can actually act on."
Property Looker:
And what can't buyers do themselves?
Brett Ray:
"Buyers can visually inspect many of the same areas a surveyor can, provided it is safe, but they cannot give professional conclusions. Like a standard homebuyer survey, it remains non-invasive: no lifting floors, opening walls or exposing concealed areas. Services are similar. Buyers can visually note age, condition and obvious concerns, but they cannot test or certify them, and most surveyors are also only visually inspecting services rather than acting as electricians, Gas Safe engineers or drainage specialists."
That's exactly why we built Survey Shack Genie, an add-on that sits over the top of the consumer-led report. It lets users speak directly to a qualified surveyor about anything that's been flagged — before they decide whether they need a Level 2, a Level 3, or a specialist inspection. The self-led check is the start, not the end."
Property Looker:
So what's actually changing about the relationship between buyer and surveyor?
Brett Ray:
"For years, the buyer's role was largely to instruct, pay and read. If concerns were raised, the next step was often another fee, another referral, and another wait for the final answer."
"What has changed is not that buyers have become surveyors. It is that they can now assess the first meaningful layer of property condition in a more informed, surveyor-like way. They can consider how a property is built, how it has been altered, what visible defects or risks are present, and how that fits with planning records, EPC data, flood risk, sold-price context and AI that can reason credibly about visible evidence."
"With the Government now putting condition information into the future sales-pack conversation, surveyors may increasingly be asked to interpret, verify and challenge upfront information, rather than being the first point at which issues are discovered."
Property Looker:
There's a lot of discussion about AI replacing professional services. Is surveying one of them?
Brett Ray:
"No."
"AI is very good at reasoning from visible evidence. It's getting better at recognising patterns and highlighting areas of concern. Used well, it can educate buyers, explain risk and level up consumer understanding."
"But AI can't feel movement underfoot. It can't smell damp. It can't access a loft space, lift an inspection cover, or stand behind its conclusions with professional indemnity insurance."
"The future isn't AI replacing surveyors. It's AI helping buyers become better informed clients, and helping surveyors spend more time applying expertise rather than gathering information."
Property Looker:
If buyers remember one thing from this conversation, what should it be?
Brett Ray:
"Start understanding condition before your offer is accepted."
"Most buyers wait until they've spent money on solicitors, searches and mortgage applications before they begin thinking seriously about the building itself. By then they're emotionally and financially committed, and surprises become much more expensive."
"You don't need to become a surveyor. But you should understand what a surveyor or specialist is likely to be concerned about. Most property issues aren't hidden mysteries. Many are visible signs, context and risk indicators that can be explained clearly if someone guides you through them."
Questions to take into your next survey conversation
If you've already inspected the property yourself, you'll be in a much stronger position to ask focused questions rather than starting from scratch. For example:
- What will your inspection cover, and what are its limitations?
- Based on what I've already observed, what would you want to investigate further?
- In a property like this, what issues are most likely to require a specialist after your inspection?
- In your experience, what are the most commonly overlooked issues in a property like this?
The aim isn't to become your own surveyor. It's to become a better-informed buyer. By understanding the visible condition of a property before instructing a professional, you'll ask better questions, understand the advice you receive, and ultimately make more confident property decisions.
Buying a house?
Try Survey Shack for yourself: www.survey-shack.com
About Brett Ray and Survey Shack
Brett Ray is a qualified surveyor and Founding Partner & CEO of Survey Shack.
Survey Shack helps buyers and sellers get a clearer understanding of a property's condition earlier in the process — the app guides users through a property check and produces an instant condition report, with an optional upgrade (Survey Shack Genie) that adds qualified surveyor guidance where needed.
Find Survey Shack here:
- Website: www.survey-shack.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/surveyshack
- TikTok: tiktok.com/@surveyshack
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/survey-shack