Not impressed by RICS Homebuyer's Report survey...

gundo

reverie wrote:

I would suggest that if you do opt for one of these reports go for a local company who is not affiliated to you mortgage company and obviously make sure that they are RICS. People seem to generally get a much better service that way in my experience.

I did get a separate RICS surveyor (no choice as valuation had already been done by the BS before I had a chance to opt for theirs to do mine) and sadly they were still incompetant. Oh and they were a local firm too.

I read at the weekend that apparently 80% of home buyers rely on just the lendor's valuation. If my experience is anything to go by who can blame them?



A friend of mine moved and then found that the £600 structural survey hadn't spotted serious faults which cost several thousand pounds to put right. He contacted the surveyor and was told and I quote "So take me to court - my insurance will cover the costs".

RICS members have access to the best barristers in the land to defend them, what can a lowly individual who can't get legal aid or afford decent lawyers do? Basically you're "stitched up like a kipper" and no mistake.



Today my surveyor will go and have another stab at getting the survey right. A quick 10 minute wander round, whizz back to the office, 5 minutes of cut and paste in Word and voilá, he's justified his £318 fee.

reverie

How frustrating for you, buying is so stressful even without people not doing what they are being paid to do. It makes me so mad when some people do such a good job that others can be so negligent

Re. your friend. However blase the surveyor may be acting, it is a BIG deal to make a claim on their Professional Indemnity Insurance. Their premiums will increase and they will have to declare it for years to any insurer and also the RICS.

Have you spoken to the RICS? As I understand it (having survived RICS inspections) the RICS are there to protect the consumer. We as a firm have to prove that we are competent and if other people aren't they should pay for that! Also, if you do want to take this further, I found this for you:
http://www.rics.org/Builtenvironment/Buildinginspection/building_up_complaint.htm
It basically says that after complaining arbitration is the next step. I imagine this would be far less costly than legal action. If you get armed with the info from the RICS as to where you stand and write a formal letter putting the surveyor on notice that you will be reporting them, I hope you would get a decent response! At the very least you shouldn't have to pay for the terrible job they did. Beat them into submission I say

Debt_Free_Chick

I've only had one Homebuyer's Report in the past and now prefer a Full Structural Survey. However, I have NEVER allowed the surveyor to inspect the property without me being present. This way, you can discus anything you have spotted and also talk about anything that the surveyor notices. You learn far more this way and also learn about what to look out for "next time".

So ... accompany your surveyor when he/she inspects the property you are thinking of buying.

Zaphod_Beblebrocks

Had similar,report stated "property is believed to have double glazing" when I questioned the building society the guy told me it was probably a "drive by survey".Apparently if the loan is less than 75% property value they do this if busy pulling text from reports on similar properties.Phoned head office to complain and was told that I shouldn't have been told this.
Another good one on the searches,I was advised to spend out on an environment report which would protect me from having to pay to have contaminated land cleaned up, had it done and was somewhat surpised to find that although the report was fine they offered me 15 years insurance against their report being wrong! all for only £50 more!!

EdInvestor

I shudder to think what it will be like when we have to have "home inspectors" to do similar reports for the "sellers packs". Money for old rope?

loanranger_4

Shudder I did after reading some of these comments.

We taken out a HomeBuyers report on a property and I'm now going along to make sure that it's more than a "drive by survey"!

siteinspector

Fair comment in a lot that has been written on the subject of Homebuyer Surveys but I'd like to make a few comments..

I began my construction career as a Carpenter & Joiner and progressed through the ranks to Senior Site Manager and onwards becoming a Project Manager, in charge of a number of development projects and then I joined a Chartered Surveying practice and have, over the past twenty odd years, undertaken hundreds of property condition reports.

I would agree that some of the reports that I have read are misleading to say the least and in a lot of cases, the 'buck-passing' when advising and I quote: " Have the electrics tested by a specialist, Have the heating / plumbing checked by a specialist, Flat roofs need replacing every 5 to 10 years and you should budget for replacement." WHY?

During my inspections, if I notice anything untoward or perhaps non-compliant with the regs, I say so in my report explaing my reasons and, if whatever I am reporting on requires - say the services of an NICEIC qualified sparks to confirm my report statement or a CORGI / Gas Safe heating engineer to check the boiler, I say so.

The problems as I am seeing them today are, we have for some reason become a nation of form fillers rather than relying on individual initiative and that's where it has all gone wrong.

I would most certainly agree with Debt-Free-Chick when She says and if the property is occupied "NEVER allowed the surveyor to inspect the property without being present. This way, you can discus anything you have spotted and also talk about anything that the surveyor notices. You learn far more this way and also learn about what to look out for "next time".

Since my Surveying Practice days and due to the downturn, I have been undertaking Homebuyer Reports independantly and whilst I have the utmost respect for the RICS, providing people with an accurate condition report is perhaps much more beneficial than simply filling out a standard form?

DVardysShadow

siteinspector, does any detail ever get past you? PM the original poster and offer your services - it has only been 5 years and 5 months, so you might be in with a chance.

harz99

This is ridiculous; why are threads like this not closed after 6 months of non activity?

Any response now to a thread this old is simply irrelevant.

siteinspector

Your'e quite right of course DVardysShadow - I PM'd as you suggested but he's now moved to MonteCarlo.