Desktop Research - Documentation and Help

Welcome to Surveyor Notes – Desktop Research, a purpose-built research and reporting tool designed specifically for UK residential surveyors.

These help pages are here to guide you through using the Desktop Research module efficiently and confidently — from entering a property address, through collecting authoritative data, to generating a structured, professional research report ready for inclusion in your survey documentation.

Surveyor Notes has been designed with speed, accuracy, and professional judgement in mind. The platform brings together key desktop research sources — such as planning history, environmental considerations, location context, and supporting evidence — and presents them in a clear, consistent workflow. Generative AI is used where appropriate to assist with summarisation and drafting, while always leaving final control and responsibility with the surveyor.

Whether you are:

• completing pre-inspection desktop research,

• supporting a Level 2 or Level 3 survey,

• or standardising research output across your practice,

these help pages will show you how to get the most from the system.

Each section of the help is structured to:

• explain what the feature does,

• show how to use it step-by-step,

• and highlight best practice for producing clear, defensible research notes.

You do not need advanced technical knowledge to use Surveyor Notes. The system is designed to feel intuitive, fast, and familiar — allowing you to focus on other things.