Is my surveyor talking rubbish?

0o0

My RICS homebuyers report contains a number of issues highlighted by my surveyor. They are described in the 'Red' section of the traffic light system.

When questioning some of these points, I mentioned that because he had marked the issues as Red, then it means it is classified as "defects that are serious and in need of repair/inspection" (as described by RICS).

He responds by saying that everything included in the Red section is "precautionary".

Is he talking out of his bottom?

Surely the term "precautionary" would belong in the Orange section of the report?

fishpond

As he is not an expert in various trades he is covering his backside by pointing out possible problems.
Normal practice as far as I am aware.
If you need further confirmation of problems that may or may not be present, then employ an expert in the various trades needed, but make sure they are independent if at all possible.

0o0

But surely something which is deemed serious and urgent is not the same as precautionary???

kinger101

Red = requires urgent attention. Unfortunately, the surveyor will stick as much as possible in the red section to cover their own !!!! for any claim. IMO the RICS and the surveys it's members provide are not fit for purpose.

By (slight over the top) analogy, if someone took their cat into a vet because it had a funny eye, you would expect the vet to tell you the cat is dead just to be on the safe side. For some reason, surveyors think this approach is perfectly acceptable.

0o0

I see. The reason I question this is because from the report all but one of the issues were related to utilities such as gas, electricity, water, drainage. He had probably marked them as Red having not seen any official certification. Howrver I've seen reports where uncertified utilities marked as Orange. So I wasn't sure if the surveyor was being overly cautious by including them in the Red, which made me question whether he was being overly cautious with the other noted issue - crack in the exterior wall. He mentions movement but says it will need further investigation to determine whether its progressive. Such tests would take many months and I wanted to press him for more info by saying " well you marked it as red so if it's so serious tell me more about it" kind of way ( as he was very slow in even giving me the dimensions of the crack) which is when he said that Red means precautionary, rather than an urgent matter, which I disagree with!!!

michael1234

kinger101 wrote: »

Red = requires urgent attention. Unfortunately, the surveyor will stick as much as possible in the red section to cover their own !!!! for any claim. IMO the RICS and the surveys it's members provide are not fit for purpose.

By (slight over the top) analogy, if someone took their cat into a vet because it had a funny eye, you would expect the vet to tell you the cat is dead just to be on the safe side. For some reason, surveyors think this approach is perfectly acceptable.

I have to say I agree with that. I didn't get a survey for my current property (other than the mandatory mortgage survey that basically checks the house exists). I suspect most of what the surveyor does could be done by the purchaser directly. I certainly don't want to pay someone to tell me how many plug sockets and light points there are...

0o0

kinger101 wrote: »

By (slight over the top) analogy, if someone took their cat into a vet because it had a funny eye, you would expect the vet to tell you the cat is dead just to be on the safe side. For some reason, surveyors think this approach is perfectly acceptable.

If the vet advised "precautionary" advice that you give the cat some daily medicine, this is very different to if they had given you "urgent and serious" advice for your cat to take medicine!! My surveyor thinks they are the same meaning!!!!

G_M

It IS misleading, but it IS how the RICS system works.

As you yourself pointed out:

it means it is classified as "defects that are serious and in need of repair/inspection" (as described by RICS).

(my emphasis)

So it does not mean there is a problem (misleading because FTBs like you panic when they see 'red'), it means it is important that you investigate ('inspect') further - usually because the surveyor is not qualified to comment eg on electrics, gas etc

The items in question may be fine, but the surveyor is not able to say so, thus must advise you to investigate further.

0o0

G_M wrote: »

It IS misleading, but it IS how the RICS system works.

As you yourself pointed out:
(my emphasis)

So it does not mean there is a problem (misleading because FTBs like you panic when they see 'red'), it means it is important that you investigate ('inspect') further - usually because the surveyor is not qualified to comment eg on electrics, gas etc

The items in question may be fine, but the surveyor is not able to say so, thus must advise you to investigate further.

Thank you. You are correct I am first time buyer, how did you guess?! I don't really feel I got my money's worth with this report (£400). It seems I could have got better advice at similar cost by hiring a brickie, roofer,plumber and sparky for an hour!?

fishpond

0o0 wrote: »

Thank you. You are correct I am first time buyer, how did you guess?! I don't really feel I got my money's worth with this report (£400). It seems I could have got better advice at similar cost by hiring a brickie, roofer,plumber and sparky for an hour!?

Sad, but true.

upoiupou

0o0 wrote: »

I don't really feel I got my money's worth with this report (£400). It seems I could have got better advice at similar cost by hiring a brickie, roofer,plumber and sparky for an hour!?

Except that those people a) would not cover general environmental checks such as nearby toxic industry and mobile phone masts,, b) you wouldn't have covered all your bases even with the structure of your property - for example, which one would have taken damp meter readings exactly? and you would probably have little recourse if their advice turned out to be noodles.

But if you think your way is better, I'm sure you'll use it next time in preference to a surveyor. Horses for courses.