Basic Valuation or homebyers report?

ri17

We have already paid the £220 for the basic survey but are unsure if we should upgrade to the homebuyers for an extra £180?

When we bought our house 9 years ago we has so much go wrong from crappy leaking guttering to a leak in the kitchen. We regretted getting the basic survey.

The house we are buying already has had a homebuyers report on it and the buyer pulled out even though the vendor said she would sort all the issues out.
As far as we are aware she has been fully honest and told us what the issues were and has started to work through them to sort them.Things like the beams in attic strengthening, planning permission for an RSJ etc..

Should we still get the extra survey in case? Esp since the other buyer pulled out after their survey?

Axled

If you are aware of some major work to be done then I would get the best survey possible. They seem to have been honest about things but you have no way to know if this is everything and also if the survey picked up everything. It's small money in comparison to a major structural issue.

nancmat

I think you've answered your own question, get the homebuyers one, might put your mind at rest, in the grand scheme of buying is an extra £180 make or break? We went with the homebuyers one. Our purchaser hasn't had one survey done, I think she's crazy!

AlexMac

nancmat wrote: »

I think you've answered your own question, get the homebuyers one, might put your mind at rest, ...

I disagree. (but then even at £180, I think Homebuyers' are a waste of time as they are superficial and only point to the need for more surveys- see my pst , #7 or #8 at https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/66689146#Comment_66689146 )

But if a previous survey has already listed the problems which the vendor will address, why not either get a full structural survey or better still, your own builders' estimates to fix? While your vendor sounds trustworthy, you need an independent voice accountable to you.

Good luck

Yorkie1

You are unlikely to be able to rely on the lender's valuation as any form of insurance if anything goes wrong which you didn't know about.

As the others have said, get something for your own benefit.

martin.cat

Ask the agent if you can have a copy of the homebuyers report. A good agent will have a copy as the previous buyers would have supplied a copy when pulling out / negotiating price / work.

If they don't share I would be very cautious

stator

Full survey if you want the best possible information.

Hoploz

If you have concerns then get a structural survey, I wouldn't bother with a Homebuyer report.
Having said that, we have just bought without a survey, as we knew we would still go ahead regardless of what it said as it is a totally ideal and unique house. Would you go ahead anyway, or would you easily find an alternative?

BaronVonDoon

Before the house I was buying fell through. I had the homebuyers report. I found it disappointing and more or less a waste of money. As it pointed out the obvious, and what I already knew about the property.

Things like.. the back door needs changing, the double glazing is old, a hand rail is needed for the steps in the garden, a vent was cracked on the outside of the house. Things that were blatantly obvious, and had already made a note of during viewings.

Now I've just had my mortgage approved on a new property, I decided not to bother, and save the cash.