Why do they want me to have a home buyer survey?

Masterchef_mum

Hi

We are in the early stages of buying our first home, it's a 3 bed semi build around 1940, with a recent extension on the back.

We thought we'd have a full structural survey but the mortgage adviser and the rep from the survey company both recommended a home buyers survey.

I'm suspicious, why are they not pushing their most expensive product? Isn't it always best to get a full structural survey?

Thanks

csgohan4

who says you can't get it done from an independent company as any defects only you will know and therefore unlikely to have any retention amount on the mortgage offer.

Might want to consider other types of surveys, such as electrical and plumber e.t.c

AdrianC

Probably because a HBR takes a lot less time for a bit less money, and has less risk of coming back on them - so while it's less revenue, it's better business.

Rambosmum

Are either from the estate agents the house is being sold through?

My surveyor (independent, RICS) recommends homebuyers for houses less than 100years old. His homebuyers report is by far the most comprehensive one I've seen though and we've had several by different surveyors.

MyOnlyPost

I agree for houses built in last 100 years then a HBS done by an independent RICS surveyor should suffice over 90% of the time, It will certainly identify things such as landslip, subsidence, a hole in the roof etc. but will probably then tell you to get a more detailed report about what has been found.

From experience I made an offer on a house which I really liked and was a really good price but I was concerned that when you walked on the floors upstairs it didn't feel like you were upright but tilting. My surveyor said the same, to get a HBS and he identified the gable end of the house was falling away, even though it wasn't apparently obvious from the outside