FTB: Survey/Surveyor questions

andre_xs

We have an offer accepted and now look for a surveyor. The house (mid-terraced, build in the 1950ies) looks good from the outside and inside - as far as I can tell (I'm not an expert).

However, because we want to be on the safe side (after all it is a huge investment), we would like to get the "best" survey.

What I have found out so far is that this would be the "Building Survey" (also known as Structural Survey), is that right? One thing I wondered is whether this Building Survey is something different to a Homebuyer's Report, or whether it is all what is covered by the Homebuyer's Report and in addition some more detailed stuff. Thus, to be on the safe side, would you need both?

I've heard a lot about the difficulties finding a good solicitor - what about surveyors? Are they all doing usually a good job, or should we really spend effort to find a good one?

Finally, I've heard that in the survey, checks of electric and gas installations are not included (anything else not included)? Would it be strange to arrange for an electrician / plumber who then visits the property and checks it out (very roughly, how much would such checks cost?)

Apologies for the basic questions, I'm still trying to find my way through all this...

Best wishes,
Andre

Edit: In addition, would a structural survey also comment on whether walls are load bearing and could be removed easily?

csgohan4

Building survey is the most expensive and most detailed of the surveyors report. Highly recommended to get it considering it's your most expensive purchase to date


As the name suggests it only checks if the building is sound and will note any flaws e.g guttering missing, roof needing repairs, subsidence.


However note their limitations, they cannot unearth floorboards, make holes in walls and move vendors furniture to check 100% nothing is wrong.


Go on some surveyors website and see what their reports cover, the majority do not cover electrical, drains(Needs CCTV), plumbing e.t.c


You can get the above at your own discretion, although a plumbing and electrical highly recommended especially if an old house.


There some rated websites out there like reallymoving.com.


Get a local solicitor or one via word of mouth. Means less delays and easier to rage in person if their slow

kinger101

I'd make an effort to find a good surveyor if possible. However, in my experience, none of the people I spoke to who recently purchased were willing to recommend theirs (and I'd never recommend the one I used). Surveyors usually have a lot of splinters up their @rse IFSWIM. If you know a builder, take them to a viewing too. They're usually more forthright.

robatwork

andre_xs wrote: »

Edit: In addition, would a structural survey also comment on whether walls are load bearing and could be removed easily?

Absolutely not.

Whatever survey you get will be couched in so many get-outs as to be almost worthless, but not quite. So a house buying survey will say "internal walls seem of sound structure with some evidence of past settlement and no current evidence of damp but you should check with the current owners" but never "wall between kitchen and dining room isn't load bearing and can be easily removed".

For the latter you will need to employ a builder or other professional after you move in (or before if it's a show stopper) specifically to inspect for that purpose.

Davesnave

If it's essential to move a specific wall, you should ask a structural engineer to report on the fabric of the house and that aspect in particular. You'll then know if it's worth going further with other checks.

Just don't hire the one I last used!

Tassotti

Go the the RICS website, member directory, put in location and should bring up a list of qualified surveyors.

G_M

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


https://www.istructe.org/finding-a-structural-engineer

andre_xs

Thanks for all replies.
Just to give you an update, I asked around for quotes on a Building Survey, and nearly all of them also comment on whether walls are load bearing of not. Some of them do charge extra for this service (e.g. one quote was an additional £120 inc VAT for commenting on 2 internal walls).