Property valuation clarification

danadanny

Hi.

Can I confirm that the valuation/survey of a property is always conducted by the mortgage lender's appointed surveyor, regardless of whether the mortgage application is submitted directly to the lender or via a broker?

Thank you,
Danny

toonfish

usually yes, although some packagers do instruct on behalf of the lenders

dwight-van-man

or unless you're in Scotland.....

danadanny

How do you determine if this is the case?

Previously, I submitted a mortgage application through a broker from Bridgford Estate Agent (Countrywide Mortgages Services) to Halifax. I was then told by the mortgage adviser to pay a valuation fee of £295.

Few moons later, I was told that my application was rejected. I called Halifax to request for a refund of the valuation fee but was surprised to hear that my broker did not pay them the valuation fee in the 1st place. In fact, no valuation was done on the property.

Is this normal or I was in some kind of scam??

kindly advise,
thank you
Danny.

toonfish wrote: »

usually yes, although some packagers do instruct on behalf of the lenders

toonfish

"Countrywide Mortgage Services" - the prosecution rests

they have their own surveyors, ask them for it back

danadanny

Thank you for your advise, toonfish.

homer_j_3

countrywide - notoriusly poor.. good luck.

danadanny

Notoriously poor in terms of?

To be honest, I have a few complains about the services of the financial adviser.

homer_j wrote: »

countrywide - notoriusly poor.. good luck.

AndrewSmith

All the Connells / Sequencehome chains are the same. They own Connells surveyors and, as such, try to charge the client for a valuation which can be instructed immediately (thus spending your money before the lender has even had a chance to look at your full application) regardless of whether the lender themselves charge a fee or not.

Related thread here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=394194

The moral? Think carefully about using an Estate Agency mortgage broker, especially one employed by a large chain such as Countrywide or Connells/Sequence as they usually always have a hidden agenda regarding insurance or survey sales.