Estate Agent doesn't like our surveyor

looknohands

We contacted a chartered surveyor who we know (a family friend) to conduct a survey on a property we've had an offer accepted on. The estate agent just called me after the surveyor called to book and the agent was concerned because they've never had a sale go through when this surveyor has been used. I reassured him we are deadly serious about the house and really want it and it to me seemed in great condition (but I'm not a surveyor hence getting one..) Our surveyor is a family friend and the survey is extremely cheap, i told the estate agent that, he is chartered and has been in the business for years.

Bit confused now what i should do, does anyone ever get two surveys for piece of mind, seems silly but maybe we could get this comprehensive one and then a secondary buyers report or something? Can surveyors say what they want, what would be the point in doing that? Also i don't want the agent to say to the vendor, oh yea the sale wont go through because the surveyor from hell is doing the survey... though i was very re-assuring on the phone to how serious we are.

Senior_Paper_Monitor

Well that's a tricky question !!!

Should you trust a qualified surveyor / family friend ?

or

Should you trust an estate agent - who you presumably hardly know ?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

davidmcn

Yes, I'm sure the estate agent would prefer a nice tame surveyor who overlooks the occasional problem.

Ignore them and use whoever you feel comfortable with.

DandelionPatrol

looknohands wrote: »

....
Bit confused now what i should do, does anyone ever get two surveys for piece of mind, seems silly but maybe we could get this comprehensive one and then a secondary buyers report or something?

What do you do?

Well, I would report the conversation to my surveyor and say "what do you think the agent is trying to hide?"

2nd thoughts, I would email this to my surveyor and copy the agent in. Just so as the agent gets the general idea that his intervention was counterproductive.

If the agent wants to dictate the surveyor, the agent should be the one buying the house!

Jamesjames

I would rather trust the surveyor as I would expect him to work in my interest. This is irrespective of whether he is a family friend or not.

Not knowing the full details of the EA's previous experiences with him, I would still be tempted to go with this particular surveyor, after all, you never knew he had previous experience with the EA.

I am sure you would not feel comfortable asking another surveyor to carry out the survey because the EA objected to your use of current one. Just my opinion.

looknohands

Thanks, agree with some of that, don't want to stir the pot too much with the agent so might not report to surveyor yet... it's early days and there were offers close to us. The agent seemed worried as if i might as well withdraw from the sale before the survey. I'm going to let him survey it, it's so cheap it'd be silly not to. I'd prefer someone to knit pick than brush over things that might be worth noting.

Marvel1

The EA works for the seller and has their best interests at heart.

The surveyor works for the buyer (you) who has your best interests at heart.

DandelionPatrol

looknohands wrote: »

The agent seemed worried as if i might as well withdraw from the sale before the survey.noting.

What he has done would have pushed me closer to withdrawing.

marksoton

The EA has inadvertently made himself look suspicious IMO.

At the same time any survey should be taken in context.

Remember the EA works for the vendor, in this case the surveyor for you.

But they will also both indemnify themselves. Bear that in mind.

m0bov

If the EA is frightened of the surveyor then they have something to hide. Has the property been on the market for a while? Do the vendors know the EA is unhappy with you using a surveyor of your choice? Run for the hills!

TBeckett100

Is it too close using a family friend. How would you feel about claiming against him if he made an error?