Pre-Sale EICR for Estate Agents in Sturry, Kent

For estate agents managing the listing of an older Sturry property, a pre-sale EICR is one of the lowest-effort tools available for controlling the post-survey narrative. We carry out the inspection, deliver the report, and — if remedials are needed — quote them at the point the vendor still has time to act before the buyer’s surveyor arrives.

What an EICR involves for Estate Agent

The technical inspection follows BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 and produces a standard-format EICR — form, schedule of inspection, schedule of test results. C1, C2, C3, and FI codes are used per the regulations, and a satisfactory report has no C1, C2, or FI observations. For pre-sale work specifically, we’ll often include a short cover note summarising the findings in plain English, alongside the certificate itself. Estate agents can attach the cover note to the listing’s contract pack without anyone having to translate the technical detail for the vendor’s solicitor.

When you need this in Sturry

Pre-sale EICR is most worthwhile when the alternative is finding out at survey stage that the electrics are a problem. Sturry stock that fits this profile: anything Victorian or Edwardian, any property where the consumer unit hasn’t been replaced in twenty years, anything with original wiring from the 1960s or earlier, and any conversion or significantly extended property where the wiring history is patchy. For modern stock built post-2010 a pre-sale EICR is rarely worthwhile.

What the report contains

The deliverable is the standard EICR PDF — three-part document as the regulations require, in the format every solicitor and surveyor recognises. Plain-English summary on the front for the vendor’s benefit; technical schedules behind for the buyer’s surveyor or solicitor to refer to. Failed reports include a remedial quote alongside, so there’s never a gap between finding the problem and being able to do something about it.

Why book CJA Electrical for your Sturry EICR

Estate agents recommending a pre-sale EICR usually want three things from the inspector: someone the vendor will actually engage with positively, a quick turnaround that fits the marketing window, and a report formatted in the standard way every solicitor expects. CJA Electrical does all three. Same-week appointments for Sturry properties, written report within 48 hours, and remedial quote attached to any unsatisfactory findings. City & Guilds 2391 qualified inspector, fully insured, ten years on Canterbury property.

How the inspection runs

Standard flow for a pre-sale EICR: Initial contact — by the agent or by the vendor directly. We confirm price and book a slot that doesn’t disrupt viewings. Inspection on the day. Report PDF within 48 hours. Where remedials are needed, the quote sits alongside the report. If the vendor instructs the work, we book it in and re-test on completion to issue a fresh certificate. Whole cycle from first call to clean certificate is usually under a fortnight.

What affects the price

No published prices — too much variation between Sturry properties to make a single number meaningful. The quote depends on circuit count, consumer unit type, accessibility, and the age of the installation. Same-day quote, no deposit, fixed price agreed before the visit.

FAQs

Who pays for remedial work flagged by a pre-sale EICR?

Whoever the negotiations land it on. Most commonly the vendor pays — having flagged the issue pre-sale, they fix it before listing or before offers come in. Occasionally the price is adjusted instead. What pre-sale EICRs avoid is the buyer surveying, the buyer flagging the issue post-offer-accepted, and the resulting renegotiation eating into the agreed price.

How recent does an EICR need to be for a sale?

There’s no legal minimum — an EICR doesn’t expire in the same way a tenancy-related certificate does. In practice, buyers and their solicitors accept reports up to about five years old; older than that and a fresh inspection is usually preferable. For older Sturry stock specifically, a recent report carries more weight than an older one.

Can the buyer use the vendor’s EICR for their own due diligence?

Yes — that’s the point. A vendor-commissioned EICR can be supplied to the buyer through the conveyancing process, and the buyer’s solicitor will typically include it in the contract pack. The buyer is free to commission their own inspection if they want a second opinion, but most don’t bother when a recent satisfactory report is already on file.

How long does a pre-sale EICR take?

The inspection visit on a typical Sturry three-bed home is a morning or an afternoon. The written report follows within 48 hours. Where remedial work is needed, that’s a separate booking — usually a half-day or a day depending on scope, with re-test issued on completion. From first call to clean certificate is typically under a fortnight.

Will the EICR check the consumer unit and main fuse?

Yes. The consumer unit is one of the first things inspected — opened up, examined for damage and signs of overheating, and tested for RCD operation against the times BS 7671 requires. The main supply fuse and meter cupboard are visually inspected too, though the main fuse itself belongs to the DNO (UK Power Networks in Kent) and isn’t part of the EICR scope.

Should I get an EICR before listing my house in Sturry?

If the property’s older than the late 1980s and the consumer unit is original, yes — a pre-sale EICR is the cheap insurance against the buyer’s surveyor flagging the electrics post-offer. For modern stock with a recent consumer unit, the value is lower. Worth a phone call to talk through the property before booking either way.