For homes that need a bit of work
The listing shows you the best side. We show you the rest.
Send us the house you're serious about. Within 48 hours you get a plain-English pack: what's wrong with it, what your plans will really cost, what it's worth, and what to offer. Then talk it through with a specialist.
“Beautifully presented… extended to side and rear…”
On for 8 months, cut 3 times. There's room to negotiate.
You get one short viewing to judge a six-figure decision.
Surveys come after you've offered, and they tell you what's wrong, not what to do about it. Online estimators give you a number with nobody to ask. We sit in the gap before you offer.
On your own
- 20 minutes walking round, mostly looking at the kitchen
- A guess at what the roof, boiler or extension will cost
- No idea whether the asking price is fair, or how far to push
- Find the problems in the survey, after you've committed
With a Second Look
- Every photo and the floor plan checked for red flags
- Your plans costed line by line, with a sensible contingency
- Sold prices nearby, a fair value and a walk-away figure
- A specialist on the phone to talk it all through
What's in your Second Look pack
A 10–15 page report you can read on your phone, print for your partner, or take to the negotiating table.
Worth it or not?
A one-page answer: our view of the house, a fair price range, what to open at and where to walk away.
What the photos don't say
Every listing photo and the floor plan reviewed, with problems marked high, medium or low and the questions to ask the agent.
Knock-through, kitchen, bathroom
Tell us what you want to do. We sketch the layout and cost it line by line, with today's prices for your area.
How much is too much
What the house could be worth after the work, and how much you can spend before you're paying more than you'd get back.
The EPC, decoded
Wall type, insulation, heating and what it will cost to run, now and after the work, including grants like the £7,500 heat-pump grant.
Before you exchange
Which survey to book, which specialist checks are worth paying for, and the order to do the work in.
How it works
No apps to learn and no jargon. If you'd rather do it all by phone, that's fine too.
Send us the house
Paste the listing link, or just give us the address.
Tell us your plans
What worried you on the viewing, and what you'd like to change. Add your own photos if you have them.
We do the digging
Photos, floor plan, EPC register, sold prices, planning history and current building costs.
Pack, then a call
Your pack arrives within 48 hours. Book a call and we'll go through it together.
From a real pack
An extended 1930s semi near a mainline station, in Kent. The buyer's budget was £465k, with plans to open up the back and add a bathroom upstairs.
Advice from that pack: open at £440k, aim for £450–455k, and walk away above £465k.
Simple prices. Less than one survey.
Pay per house. No subscriptions, no surprises. Start with a £19 Quick Check and upgrade if you like what you see.
Quick Check
- One-page red-flag scan
- EPC, wall type and price history
- Is the asking price in the right ballpark?
- Back within 24 hours
Second Look Pack
- The full report, as shown above
- Your plans sketched and costed
- Fair value, opening offer and walk-away price
- Within 48 hours
- £149 with a 30-minute call
Offer to Keys
- Your Second Look Pack included
- Help with your offer and negotiating
- We go through your survey with you, and help you renegotiate
- A first-year plan for the work and your energy
- Already have a pack? Upgrade for £349 within 14 days
If your purchase falls through, your next Second Look Pack is free.
Get Offer to KeysHouse Hunter plan
A monthly plan for buyers viewing lots of houses: Quick Checks on everything you like, and money off full packs.
Buying with someone?
Share your pack with your partner or family, and bring them on your call at no extra cost.
For brokers & conveyancers
Give your buyers a Second Look as part of your service. Email hello@secondlookhomes.co.uk.
Energy Institute
Who's looking at your house
Every pack is prepared by an energy specialist with more than eight years in energy efficiency and retrofit, and an Associate Member of the Energy Institute (AMEI). That means a working knowledge of the things listings skip over: roofs, walls, insulation, heating, extensions and what it really costs to put them right.
Second Look Homes was set up by people who have bought and renovated homes themselves, and know how easy it is to fall for a house and miss what it needs. Every pack is checked by a person, not just a computer.
Questions
Is this a survey?
No. It's a desktop review done before you offer, using the listing, the floor plan and official records. It is not a RICS survey or a mortgage valuation, and we'll always tell you which survey to book before you exchange. Think of it as the step that tells you whether a survey is worth paying for.
Do you visit the property?
Not for a standard pack. Add your own photos and notes from the viewing and we'll use them too. That's often where the best clues are.
Which areas do you cover?
Anywhere in England and Wales. We use local sold prices and regional building costs for every pack.
I'm not very good with computers. Can I do this by phone?
Yes. Email us your phone number and we'll ring you, take the details, and go through the pack with you on a call.
What if I'm buying with someone else?
Send the pack to whoever you like, and bring them on the call. Many of our buyers are parents helping their children, or the other way round.
How accurate are the costs?
We give ranges based on current 2026 prices for your area, with a contingency included. They're for planning and negotiating; always get at least three quotes before work starts.
Get a Second Look
Tell us about the house and what you'd like to do with it. We'll confirm the price and send a payment link, and your pack will be with you within 48 hours of payment.
Prefer to talk? Email hello@secondlookhomes.co.uk with your number and we'll call you back.