home survey Question

pc_wizard

i am in process of buying a semi detatched property and needed to know at what stage do i receive a copy of the home survey? my sister told me that i do not get to see it ,its only if there is any faults with the house i will be told.
i have paid a few hundred pounds so surley i must see some proof a survey was even completed before i exchange contracts
many thanks:j

shirlgirl2004

I think it's probably fair to say every house has faults so you will get to see the survey. As you say you paid for it so you will still get to see it regardless. You normally get it fairly soon after it having been done. I think the longest I've waited is about a week.

Archlever

Hi,

If the survey is a homebuyer survey then you must recieve a copy before exchange of contracts as the survey is for you not the lender. You should also recieve a copy of the basic valuation (though it is for martgage pruposes). I you're worried call the surveyor and they will email a copy to you.

Richard_Webster

OP doesn't say what kind of survey. If it is only the basic one for the mortgage lender then it is up to it whether it provides a copy to is borrower. It doesn't have to do so - it is for it to assess the risks of lending on the property. OP should arrange own survey if this is the case.

Emmzi

agree with RW, if it is the valuation for the bank, the its for the bank - they will probably show you it if you ask but they dont have to, and it wont tell you very much about the house.

You need to cmmission a proper survey if you want more detailed info.

cattie

If it's a valuation survey only, then you may not receive a copy as other's have mentioned. Years ago lender's would arrange for a copy to be sent to purchaser, but many lender's have now stopped this practice & Halifax is one of the lender's I know that don't supply a copy.

For homebuyer's survey or buildings/structural survey then this is for your information & you'll receive the full report with any recommendations for work needing doing or things to get checked out.

pc_wizard

i dont think it was structual survey,so i won't be getting a copy then,thanks for your help:T

Mutton_Geoff

I would instruct your own survey. Ask a local surveyor who will carry out one to suit your needs vs the age/condition of the property. A full structural is not always needed (if there is an NHBC guarantee in place etc).

Budget around £500-600 bearing in mind that even the most minor of problems uncovered by a decent survey would have cost you more than that to repair. Once in possession of such information, you can renegotiate the price with the vendors to take into account repairs/survey costs.

It's about the best value for money in the whole house buying process and I'm surprised just how many people are happy to commit hundreds of thousands of pounds of their own money without carrying out even the most basic due diligence on their purchase.