FTB - Do surveyors have set charges?

atruefaker

Hi All

I am buying a maisonette in Tooting, sw17, London - 64sq metres/ 2 bedroom.

I have been told to go with an Independent surveyor from my broker - as the bank will be more expensive.

The quotes I am getting are-
Homebuyers - £450 +vat
Structural - £650 + vat

Is this a standard set price for all surveyors please?

Thanks in advance.

mufi

No standard set price - your best bet is shop around, even better get recommendations. Make sure you know what is included - some will do add-ons for extra cost, others will include these in their set fee. Then google the one you decide upon, just to make sure nothing unpleasant comes up.

If you have a mortgage, it may be worth asking the building society's/bank's surveyor to upgrade to a full structural survey if that's what you want - your bank will insist on a valuation survey, so the surveyor will be going to the property anyway, and you will incur two sets of charges if you employ an independent survey as well.

atruefaker

I am going through a broker, and they said it will definitely be more expensive to go through the mortgage company.

The surveyors said it was a standard rate when I spoke to them - they where all RICS members - but from what I have read on the forums the quotes seem to be a lot more than other people's...

mufi

Well, I would never rely on what anyone told me (including on forums:D) and check myself. As a general rule, it is cheaper to top up the lender's valuation survey to a full structural (or whatever they're called this week) than it is to pay for a building society valuation survey (and they won't let your surveyor do this - they have their own tame surveyors), then wheel in another surveyor and pay him to do a full structural.

FWIW, we've had several quotes for more than you've been quoted, but we've buying (probably) a higher value house - having said that, you're in London...