full building survey

stranger12

hi guys,

I finally had an offer accepted and want to do a detailed building survey including structure.

Any reputable firm ? I have read online that some of them are not good and write so little and leave it open ended to protect themselves

i don't need that. I need someone to 100% examine everywhere and it seems below company does it for £700 on a 400k property .

thanks

http://www.millermetcalfesurveyors.co.uk/choose-your-survey/rics-home-buyer-report/?gclid=CJ_qjOq-78sCFWMq0wodcS0Mtg

dc197

Be prepared for a different interpretation of EVERYWHERE than yours.
Whichever firm you choose, no one will truly look everywhere.
If there are any specific areas of concern then ask them to focus on those.
I can recommend Allcott Associates in the south east and midlands, but I don't know where you are

stranger12

Many thanks, I am based in London.

Does £700 seem to much for this.

dc197

For a building survey it seems fine. I paid £622 on a house worth 440k in Buckinghamshire and that was the cheapest of three quotes. 400k in London gets you a smaller house, with less to look at, which proably offsets a London weighting for the cost of service.

stranger12

Sure and I think they all provide some sort of insurance or indemnity with their report right?

dc197

They indemnify themselves, yes. They limit the scope o the validity of the report to you and your agents.
They are probably insured against personal injury while visiting the house.
What kind of insurance and indemnity do you want?

stranger12

Something that pays for any mistake of theirs not identifying an issue

Just called one and she said they won't allowed accompanied person , that is suspicious to me. Why not?

She said a building survey is better and it takes 4 hours

She said home report is basic compared to building survey.

Inam doing my own researh now

dc197

Well they will mention in their report the areas they looked at, and the areas they did not or could not examine. For example, could not access loft because it was locked without key.
They will probably not use language that would expose them. It is unlikely that you could claim against them for anything missed as you would have to prove the issue was there on the day they visited.
Not suspicious that you canno go with them. Perhaps their insurance will not cover you if you get hurt. Also you would get under their feet.
Yes a building survey is more detailed than home buyer report. But it is still a General overview unless you ask them to focus on a specific detail.