Paying for survey

dragonsoup

I've just instructed a surveyor to do a survey on a house for me and he wants paying in advance.

I've bought and sold houses in the past and don't ever recall being asked to pay before the survey was carried out. Is this the new norm?

rosie383

The last two that I had done I paid in advance both times.

ethank

You have to pay in advance for this and the valuation.

dragonsoup

Thank you both -things have clearly changed in the last 10 years then!

AndyT678

I paid the mortgage company up front for them to do their valuation but when I had my own separate building survey done the guy did the job then sent me an invoice.

Mardle

I paid in advance for a building survey last year.

Annie1960

I had to send them a cheque in advance, but they did not cash it until they had done the survey.

kingstreet

Outside of how mortgage lenders do things, a surveyor can ask for payment in advance, or payment on receipt of report.

It's their business and they can run it how they choose.

stator

I hired a surveyor I found through a website, he didn't ask for payment up front. Once he'd done the survey and we discussed it over the phone and then he asked for payment before he e-mailed me the actual Home Buyer's Report. He was an independent RICS registered surveyor, not part of a company.