survey

girlsmum

my parents are buying a bungalow and will be cash buyers, the bungalow recently had a sale fall through as the survey said the electrics needed updating the sellers agreed to get this done, but the original buyer still wanted the price reducing so the sale fell through,
My parents offer was accepted and the electrics have been done now (on Friday actually as we went for another viewing during this) and they have a certificate etc,
my parents are now wondering if it is worth getting a survey done, my dad spoke to the EA who said that they have the original survey and its all fine (except the elec) but the solicitor said that if they are not going to do it they will need to sign a form to say that the solicitor is not liable for any probs if they dont have a survey?? Even the solicitor said that in all honesty it might be a waste of money they would be better off getting a builder round. (i guess that why they need to sign the form)

My parents are going to get a survey done just in case, but is there any comback if it does not point anything out that it should?
are they wasting money?


thanks
Amanda

clutton_2

wouldn't they rather have peace of mind ? spending a few hundred might save them thousands of pounds in grief later on

Doozergirl

If the estate agent has the original survey, why don't they let your parents see it?

Otherwise, I too would want some peace of mind. As clutton says, it's a small investment to ensure the safety of a much larger one.

Will.Power_2

They should get a survey; they're spending a vast amount of money and should have the peace of mind that the survey will give. They will also have a come-back on the surveyor if he failed to pick up a problem that he should have seen.
There are different levels of survey costing different amounts, but the age and general condition should guide you on how detailed the survey needs to be (the older or poorer the condition, the more detail you need in the survey).
The agent won't let you see the other survey as it was paid for and therefore belongs to the previous potential purchaser (and only he is able to rely upon it).

TTMCMschine

Won't they need one for buildings insurance? If it doesn't has a survey done, and say for example had a building weakness that wasn't declared on the insurance application, the insurance could be null and void as it hasn't been declared/orfixed (as that could be a condition of the insurance). That is a guess of course. It is down to you to declare anything, and i would have thought they would expect you to know.

sleepymans

Most bldgs insurers dont insist on a survey unless there is a known or percieved problem with the property. (They ask you to declare anything on the proposal form)

Surveys are not worth the paper they are written on. They cost hundreds of pounds and are written in such a way as to cover the surveyors back - especially on all the areas that are of most concern.

If you cant take a trusted builder to look at the place prior to purchasing, just be very very careful.

It really is a case of buyer beware - we really are all on our own here.

I speak from some experience.

girlsmum

They have gone ahead and organised one, as you say for peace of mind,