Help with Building Survey

fraya

I wonder if anyone here has had a building survey and can advise me

We had a building survey on a 100 year old house a few weeks ago and I was disappointed with the lack of detail in the report.

The report was 13 pages long and the rest of the report was padded out at the back with an appendix of terms. The report was very vague about most of the house. For example on the subject of woodworm he wrote:-

"There is evidence of wood boring insect infestation which may or may not have been treated"

That was all that was written on the subject. There was no mention of where in the house it was found! When I phoned the surveyor to ask him where it was he suggested at first that it was in the front bedroom which had been laid with laminate. When he realise his mistake he told me it was in the back bedroom. Surely a full structural survey should have more detail written down than this?

I could give many more examples.

We had a house buyers survey 10 years ago and it was of similar length and detail. The vendor told me the surveyor was at the house for no more than 40 minutes and didn't flush the toilet or turn any taps. I feel the surveyor has failed to supply us with a proper survey. I wanted peace of mind as we are buying an older property. The grammar and typing on the report was appalling. It was obvious the report hadn't been read through before posting out.

Does this sound like a typical building survey or have I wasted £750 + £280 for a valuation?

silvercar

Is this a homebuyers report or a full survey?

I recently had a homebuyers report that was 15 pages long!

Wickedkitten

Sounds like a waste of money, I'd go back and actually tell the surveyor what you just posted.

fraya

Hi Silvercar

It was a full survey

Doozergirl

I can't advise on what to do about the satndard of your surveyor's report, but with regard to wood boring insects, you should ask your vendor whether it has been treated and ask for copies of guarantees if it has.

Otherwise, you would need a Damp and Timber specialist to come at look at the whole house, as whilst the surveyor has been too vague as to affected areas, you would need to get the whole house looked over as a precaution.

...unless there wasn't a problem and he forgot to delete that section from an identikit form that he uses and that's why he didn't elaborate in the first place or know where the problem is now. :rolleyes:

Tassotti

Point is , a full survey should highlight these points. If not, take it up with the surveyor's company...escalate it to the boss if you have to.

Make sure you get what you paid for!!!

fraya

Hi Doozergirl

I took my builder to the house and had more sense from him for free. The "woodworm" was in one plank in the back bedroom floor which was very old and dead and we will remove the plank and replace it when we move in.

Do you think I could ask for a reduction on the survey. I brought up the rubbish survey (not quite in those words) to the surveyor when I phoned him and he just dismissed it.

Doozergirl

Maybe you could contact the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors a call (assuming he's a member) and ask them what you do in the event that you're not happy with the depth of a full structural survey? After all, it is supposed to be all-singing, all-dancing!

If you can report him to them, then you could ask him to redo the survey to your satisfaction and threaten to report him if he doesn't?

Just an idea