Home Survey - What gets checked?

cress1

Hi all,

Due to have the survey on our home tomorrow. We know a few things will come up but does anybody know exactly what gets checked?

We have a loose tap that needs tightening but it's boxed in and we can't get to it. Would they check this?

I know it's a small thing but want to keep the list as short as poss as first time buyers and don't want to scare them off with a long list.
Thanks

G_M

Unlikely they'll check each tap on a Homebuyers report - what do you mean by 'Home survey'? What level of survey?

But if the tap is boxed in, how will the surveyor get access to it? Is this a mains stopcock? (and if so why is it boxed in/inaccessible....?)

terrencetrentderby

Doubt taps are checked on a Basic Mortgage Valuation or the Homebuyer Survey. That only leaves a structural survey and very few people get them on a normally structured residential property.

AlexMac

Let google be your friend; for example, one typical surveyor says-

' The (Homebuyer)surveyor inspects the inside and outside of the main building and all permanent outbuildings, but does not force or open up
the fabric. They also inspect the parts of the electricity, gas/oil,
water, heating and drainage services that can be seen, but they
do not test them.
To help describe the condition of the home, the surveyor gives
condition ratings to the main parts (or ‘elements’) of the building,
garage, and some parts outside. Some elements can be made
up of several different parts. For example, a home can have a
pitched (sloped) roof to the main building and a flat roof to an
extension. In this case, the surveyor will give each a condition
rating...'...
'The surveyor will carry out only a visual
inspection. This means that they do not
take up carpets, floor coverings or
floorboards, move furniture or remove
the contents of cupboards. Also, they
do not remove secured panels or undo
electrical fittings.
The surveyor will inspect roofs, chimneys
and other surfaces on the outside of
the building from ground level, and, if
necessary, from neighbouring public
property and with the help of binoculars.
They will inspect the roof structure from
inside the roof space if there is access
(although they will not move or lift
insulation material, stored goods or
other contents). They will examine floor
surfaces and under-floor spaces so far
as there is access to these (although the
surveyor will not move or lift furniture, floor coverings or other contents). The
surveyor is not able to assess the
condition of the inside of any chimney,
boiler or other flues.
The surveyor will note in their report if
they were not able to check any parts
of the property that the inspection would
normally cover. If the surveyor is
concerned about these parts, the report
tells you about any further investigations
that are needed.'...

olly300

What is checked depends on the surveyor, however with a Homebuyers Report the surveyor will only check things s/he can see or has easy access to.

However just because the surveyor hasn't seen something it doesn't stop the potential buyer coming round for another viewing with a builder, another tradesman, an experienced DIYer or just another random person who can see something wrong. In fact even children can find problems.

One of my own family members caught out one of their vendors trying to hide a hole in the wall by placing a piece of furniture in front of it. However a friend of theirs saw it while their surveyor didn't.