Type of survey to get?

Zelie

oneeye1 wrote: »

true but he wont need it as he will tell you whats what and then you decide.surveyors are pants

Yes. All builders are good and honest souls and none of them would ever mislead a customer in any way whatsoever.

georgehere

As has been pointed out, in some ways the cost of a survey just gets you in a position where you actually have someone (surveyor) to sue if necessary ... so maybe it is a kind of insurance premium in one way. I have no idea whether in practice surveyors actually are often sued successfully ....

Some say that the survey is more for the mortgage company - after all if it all goes wrong they lose usually (not in your case).

Personally, I would really value the opinion of a trusted builder - but they may not be fully up to speed on regulations covering all aspects of a property and they may not have as much experience of a surveyor who spends most for their time inspecting properties.

I would definitely talk to 2 or 3 surveyors before commissioning one because (as has been alluded to here) some seem to me to be unable to commit and give a firm opinion, its all ifs buts and maybes (perhaps they are afraid of getting sued!).

I am in the process of buying a small 70's terraced house and frankly there was nothing to survey ... a wall at the back and the front and the roof, concrete floors and newish plastic windows - so with that in mind I just went for the Homebuyers Survey. HOWEVER, I did shop around and get sample reports from surveyors and went with one who when I read their sample report appeared to be very definite and clear in their reporting and to me seemd to say it how it was and did not rely on pat phrases and cut and paste.