Countrywide Surveyors

llmorg

Three weeks to instruct the survey, then refused to give a valuation as apparently the bank's handbook said they couldn't value a property with tenants in (??), then refused to call the bank to clarify. I sorted this out but it took 3 weeks to get the two to understand each other (which was, er, just that the property needed to be vacated before exchange), then they woefully undervalued it (£50k under my offer). Arguing/proving that took over 2 months JUST to get someone to actually look at all the comparables I sent, at which point they immediately re-valued at my offer, but by now almost 5 months had gone by since the offer was accepted and the vendor decided to put the place back on the now booming market (for another £50k! Which he sold it for immediately)

So basically, they lost me the property. THANKS, Countrywide.

AndyT678

sug172 wrote: »

There are loads of poor reviews on the reviewcenter, I cant put a link but it's easy to find.
I think there should be a change in the law so customers can choose there own surveyors. After all the customer is paying for it.

There is no law to change. Your mortgage lender requires a valuation which they will insist is done by someone they have "approved".

For anything over and above this you are free to hire anybody you want. For convenience it's common to use the same firm that are doing the valuation.

kingstreet

sug172 wrote: »

There are loads of poor reviews on the reviewcenter, I cant put a link but it's easy to find.
I think there should be a change in the law so customers can choose there own surveyors. After all the customer is paying for it.

Often, mortgage fraud is a combination of bent borrower, bent broker, bent surveyor and bent solicitor.

Lenders have done a lot to control their panels of brokers and solicitors, culling many who are less active and controlling the survey panel is just another extention of that. You don't often find bent surveyors working for corporates, they are usually smaller firms and more susceptible to bribery/greed with less oversight.

Hence lenders tending to have corporate panel managers like Countrywide, Esurv, Connells, Colleys etc.

Outside of the mortgage report & valuation, you are still free to appoint a surveyor of your choice to carry out your desired inspection/report as Andy said.

readytofly

I've been googling these guys since we have applied to Nationwide for our mortgage, so we decided to go with Countrywide to do the survey at the same time as the mortgage valuation.
Our application was made on Tuesday, On Friday I received a text from Nationwide telling me the Valuation has been booked for 15/4/14 and a text countrywide asking me to call to confirm and to arrange the T&Cs sent to me for signing etc. I had the email within 5 mins of hanging up the phone. So far, so good, but to be honest im not holding out much hope with these reviews. Wish I wasn't easily persuaded and went with another surveyor! Time will tell...

kingstreet

Your valuation would have been done in three or four days if you'd arranged your own survey. You're waiting until 15th because only a small number of surveyors can actually do the extended reports for a corporate survey firm, so you have to wait.

readytofly

Yes I knew we would have to wait, we were told by our MA that it would be the case for the mortgage valuation. We could have appointed someone to do the homebuyers survery much sooner, but we wouldnt have a mortgage offer before Easter anyway. As far as I know, our vendors have not yet found a property to buy(they were not actively looking when we made the offer!) Its been two weeks since our offer was accepted. We are not in any great hurry as we rent at the moment, but I am well aware that having to wait for things to happen can cause ripple effects up the chain. Im just really really hoping that we do not get any other issues with the surveyor! So far everyone I have spoken to (EA,Solicitor, MA) have all said to expect it to take at least 3 months for completion! I've done everything I can to get things rolling......

kingstreet

readytofly wrote: »

As far as I know, our vendors have not yet found a property to buy

I would have advised you to hold off applying for a mortgage or spending any money until the chain is fully formed.

FWIW we're getting valuations done within three or four working days on Nationwide cases at the moment...

readytofly

kingstreet wrote: »

I would have advised you to hold off applying for a mortgage or spending any money until the chain is fully formed.

FWIW we're getting valuations done within three or four working days on Nationwide cases at the moment...

Well that's great but it doesnt really help us now :-( Whats done is done, So this is our situation and now we've just got to sit it out! If things fall through, then we will lose £870. A !!!!!! indeed, but theres nothing I can do about it now, is there?

Thank you for your input! Any comments on countrywide surveyors?

PS we are buying in Essex

kingstreet

Countrywide Surveyors is a corporate, just like the others lenders use.

You've already contracted with them, so hopefully you'll have no problems.

FWIW, sometimes posts will benefit future readers of the thread, rather than the individual at the time. To a certain extent that's the reason for my comment about waiting for the chain to form before you start spending.

I would however have expected your advisor/broker to have pointed this out to you so you could make an informed decision.

readytofly

Thanks kingstreet- useful info for the future but fingers crossed for us for now!