Opinions on Full Structural Surveys

taba

If this helps I have just booked a survey, the quote was £ 235 for a valuation and £ 540 for a full structual survey, the purchase price is (at the moment) £ 280K. It did not seem a lot extra to pay for the additional information they provide.

jonny2510

taba wrote: »

If this helps I have just booked a survey, the quote was £ 235 for a valuation and £ 540 for a full structual survey, the purchase price is (at the moment) £ 280K. It did not seem a lot extra to pay for the additional information they provide.

Thanks for that. Was there a "homebuyers survey" option in between?

olly300

jonny2510 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Was there a "homebuyers survey" option in between?

If you are buying a house built in 1930 and don't have a friendly builder to go around the property with you, get a structural survey.

Yes a homebuyers report is in between but not really much use as if the surveyor can't see anything i.e. the loft being locked then they won't look for it.

JustKeepSwimming_2

I'd always have a full structural survey done rather than a homebuyer report - yes it is more expensive but surely worth it in the long run.

I've also tried to be at the property when the survey is being done & asked lots of questions about any areas of concern (damp patches etc.) - haven't had any problems doing this as most surveyors have been keen to help. Also a good idea to do this if you are thinking about any major works (extensions/loft conversions) in the future - more helpful advice!

My mortgage company were happy for me to appoint my own surveyor & accepted his full structural report without charging me any extra money for any valuation survey/survey by their own surveyor. Don't know if this would still be the case now though as this was Northern Rock in 2007 (possibly not the best time to buy in hindsight ). I felt happier knowing it was "my" surveyor & not "theirs"!

paulsad

I had a full survey and to be honest felt it was a complete waste of money - the surveyors just seemed to cover their backsides on any important issues ie slightly leaning chimmney stack "keep an eye on it over the next few years" was from what I recall their profound expert advice. I got more help from a brikkie/builder friend who gave me the advice I needed free.

bambam0074

I bought a 1930's house that needed cosmetic work. I instructed my own surveyor for a full structural which I also used with my mortgage company. It cost me GBP 550 plus VAT. Value of property similar to yours based in North West.

The survey brought out alot of information that I wouldnt have found out on a standard survey. This meant I was fully aware of most of the issues with the house and I used the survey to get 10K off my original offer on the property (the minimum copst it would have been to rectify the issues).

Well worth every penny, seeing as next door bought 2 months after me, had a standard survey and had none of the issues I knew about on my property highlighted. Many of the problems I had, he later discovered he had also.

charles_b_2

jonny2510 wrote: »

What I meant was to find whether Charles employed a surveyor directly to carry out a full survey, or whether it was arranged through the mortgage lender (who obviousy wouldn't carry it out themselves).

Other threads on these boards have reported differences between full surveys instructed independantly, and those arranged with the mortgage application.

Jonny, I went with the Mortgage Company, who offer Surveys through their own network of surveyors
Hope this helps
Charles