How to answer surveyor's questions?

Windsorcastle

eddddy wrote: »

If the surveyor does suspect that repairs have been done, I guess you need to decide whether to volunteer information about it, or let him/her draw their own conclusions. (The surveyor wont take your word for anything, but may add a positive note to the report along the lines of "The vendor informed me that..." - which might make make the report sound less harsh.)

Although the reason I'm tempted to point it out is because I could tell him it's being dealt with, and also point out where the offending trees have been removed. Whaddyathink??? Would that help or hinder?

marshall666

It will get flagged anyway. The homebuyers report will likely just say that it's a possible cause of concern that should get looked into by a specialist.

Windsorcastle

marshall666 wrote: »

It will get flagged anyway. The homebuyers report will likely just say that it's a possible cause of concern that should get looked into by a specialist.

Thanks Marshall. It's just a mortgage valuation they have gone for, despite me mentioning my previous insurance claim and repairs on the solicitor's forms. Will a mortgage valuation take as much notice of next door's bay window do you think?

The surveyors told me it will 'only take 15 mins' to go round...

suebfg

As a buyer, I have asked previously about prior insurance claims via my solicitor.

greenbee

My buyers had a valuation survey. As far as I can make out the surveyor measured the house and checked that all the rooms were present and correct... It only took 15 minutes because he introduced himself and explained why he was half an hour early.

giddypenguin

When we were selling our house a couple of years ago (a bit of a wreck) I met a number of surveyors... I pretty much left them to it... Only time I got into an actual conversation with any of them was when the house was full of wedding stuff, and his daughter had just gotten married. I doubt most of them will talk to you at all!

marshall666

the purpose of the mortgage valuation is to let the bank know whether the property is worth the price the purchasers are paying, so they can recover their costs if the purchasers default.

The surveyor should be able to notice warning signs of major issues like subsidence but will not provide a detailed examination of it.
I'd like to think (as a purchaser) that they weren't so blinkered as to not notice issues with an adjoining property.

But I wouldn't worry too much; if there is anything of concern, the purchasers will just have to pay for a more detailed report. The worrying bit is if you do actually have a problem with subsidence.

By the way; I've just had a structural report done on the place I'm purchasing as well as a bank valuation.
The bank valuation took about 15-20 mins and noted some signs of previous movement in the house that did not look current. The structural took about 3 hours and went into more detail about the movement, (and a whole bunch of other interesting facts) but aside from potential root entry into drains did not find anything the bank valuation missed.

Windsorcastle wrote: »

Thanks Marshall. It's just a mortgage valuation they have gone for, despite me mentioning my previous insurance claim and repairs on the solicitor's forms. Will a mortgage valuation take as much notice of next door's bay window do you think?

The surveyors told me it will 'only take 15 mins' to go round...

moneyistooshorttomention

giddypenguin wrote: »

When we were selling our house a couple of years ago (a bit of a wreck) I met a number of surveyors... I pretty much left them to it... Only time I got into an actual conversation with any of them was when the house was full of wedding stuff, and his daughter had just gotten married. I doubt most of them will talk to you at all!

Well I guess they vary on that then. My buyers surveyor was here for 2 hours and I think had just about asked every question under the sun by the time he left - right down to personal questions, the lot...

I was a bit surprised by just how much questioning he was doing...almost thought he missed his vocation as a lawyer...:cool:...and it was just the typical Homebuyers Survey (not the "full deal" type one).

Windsorcastle

suebfg wrote: »

As a buyer, I have asked previously about prior insurance claims via my solicitor.

Thanks Sue - I have disclosed the previous insurance claim on the solicitor's PIF which has gone to the vendor's solicitor - but they haven't queried anything about it so far!