Full structural vs Home Buyers Report

topcat007

What are the major differences?

I have been researching this for a while now and there is so much disinformation and waffle out there i am really getting unsure!

From what i can tell home buyers report covers everything a full survey does except:

*Lifting the man hole covers
*Having comeback should anything be missed

Sort of information i am finding which i am not sure if is true:

*Full survey will lift carpets and look at floorboards
*Drills down into foundations to check them?!
*Will actually go into the roof space instead of just putting their head in for a look


If anyone can clarify that would be great , or even point me to somewhere which has a list of what they would both include

Many Thanks

daveyjp

http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/consumer-guides/home-surveys/

topcat007

daveyjp wrote: »

http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/consumer-guides/home-surveys/

Thanks for this although it is very sketchy on what they do on either

"advice on defects" - what defects are the looking for , wish they were crystal on whats getting done

Jhoney_2

If you google/open a page on each one, you can compare them.

Personally, I think they look at the property in much more detail and thus any form of defect is discussed at length and advice/costs can be provided.

The home buyers report is a template survey where some information may be given but not as much. Here's one listing

http://www.residential-surveys.com/structural-survey-home-buyers-report-building-inspection

I would never buy a property without a a full structural anyway - think of all the hundreds of thousands you are risking over a few hundred pounds!

stator

Both of them are just "looking" reports. Neither will involve lifting carpets and floor boards or drilling into walls or foundations. IF they spot an issue they will recommend a specialist survey.
If it's an old house that has ever been subject to potential structural issues or if you can see any cracks or sagging bits or anything that doesn't look quite right in any part of the house then go for a full structural survey. If it's a house only recently built and there are no signs of anything structural then you might want to save money and get a homebuyer's report.
If you want a valuation and a structural survey you should ask before hand. Homebuyer's report includes a valuation as standard.