Homebuyer Survey on house under NHBC

SuzieSue

Lord_Baltimore wrote: »

And what exactly do you think a surveyor will do if the OP finds something seriously wrong with this property? They are expert at one thing only - covering their backsides.

A Homebuyer Survey won't identify anything serious because it isn't designed to do so; you'd need to pay a surveyor a lot more for a so-called detailed structural survey.

And it is you who will still pay for remedial works because you will have been told to get in a specialist. A surveyor is not a specialist and that will stand out like a sore thumb in the resultant report.

If you don't think that anyone should have a full structural survey, then fine, but your initial reply said that the "house was under guarantee".

I am pointing out that the NHBC "guarantee" is worse than worthless (because people rely on it without knowing it is worthless) especially after the initial 2 years.

In answer to your question "And what exactly do you think a surveyor will do if the OP finds something seriously wrong with this property?" Well, hopefully they will tell you and you can then decide whether you want to buy the property or not. I am quite aware that most surveys don't actually tell you anything, but you might be lucky and get a good surveyor who spots something serious and short of qualifying as a surveyor yourself, that is the best you can do to protect yourself.

Of course, the surveyor will advise that you get in a specialist as a surveyor can't possibly be an expert in everything. So, unless you want to pay for several specialists to survey your house, you have no option to use or surveyor or perhaps just keep your fingers crossed and hope that the property you are about to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on has no major problems.

Lord_Baltimore

SuzieSue wrote: »

I am quite aware that most surveys don't actually tell you anything

I rest my case your honour.

bigadaj

Lord Baltimore seems to have a problem with surveyors but in most instances they've added little in cases I've seen.

I am a geotechnical engineer so have a lot more understanding than most of major structural issues. However Nhbc and surveyor can be looked at in a Similar light, in that they are general checks but if some thing were to go wrong then everyone involved would be primarily concerned with covering their PI backsides.

The only thing that amazes me is how the rose tinted lenses not only come on when someone views a property but how they then stay on.

The property has to appeal but in some. Respects the house is no different to a second hand car, yes you've got to like it and inspect it, but you also want to research in as much detail as possible.

If a house isn't new then problems are frequently evident, and if not they aren't likely to be evident to a cursory inspection by anyone with more knowledge than the average house buyer.

A second look at a house should be a proper nosey around, try and get into the loft and any basements etc, look for any signs of cracking. Large trees near a house may be problematic, are you in a mining area or one with carbonate solution a potential problem. For older houses when was the house last rewired, state of windows and roof, any signs of damp.

A survey is not a bad idea but even if the surveyor does pick something up then they just refer you onto a specialist, logically it might be better to get a structural engineer to check the integrity of the structure if you're concerned and potentially an electrician or gas engineer if concerns are in those areas.

knightstyle

I agree the buyer should get a proper survey, work done since build could be dangerous.
BUT the NHBC are not always useless. Our double glazing has broken down on our 7 year old house, builders gone to the wall, so I contacted NHBC and they are going to refund the cost of the faulty units subject to a minimum claim of £1347 and if the current units cost is less than this and more fail later the costs can be added together.

SuzieSue

Lord_Baltimore wrote: »

I rest my case your honour.

Really? So you're saying that no-one should have survey at all, well that is fine if that is your opinion as you are entitled to it, so why say that the house was "guaranteed" in your first reply? And what exactly is it "guaranteed" for?

SuzieSue

knightstyle wrote: »

I agree the buyer should get a proper survey, work done since build could be dangerous.
BUT the NHBC are not always useless. Our double glazing has broken down on our 7 year old house, builders gone to the wall, so I contacted NHBC and they are going to refund the cost of the faulty units subject to a minimum claim of £1347 and if the current units cost is less than this and more fail later the costs can be added together.

Good, but that is what they should be doing, but there have been too many horror stories over the years for me to take the risk that they will remedy anything without a fight.

Lord_Baltimore

bigadaj wrote: »

Lord Baltimore seems to have a problem with surveyors but in most instances they've added little in cases I've seen.

More accurately, I have a problem with paying for a service that is no more skilled than plain and ordinary observation.

SuzieSue wrote: »

Really? So you're saying that no-one should have survey at all, well that is fine if that is your opinion as you are entitled to it, so why say that the house was "guaranteed" in your first reply? And what exactly is it "guaranteed" for?

Really. But the insecure will continue to pay through the nose.
As for the guarantee, well, windows for starters it seems.