Wait for searches before survey, when survey is two weeks away?

newbieFTB

FTB here... I'm in the early stages of house buying - offer accepted, solicitors instructed and have mortgage decision in principle with the full application submitted the same day as the DIP.

My offer was accepted 16th April and the survey was booked in yesterday (25th April) but isn't until 10th May - I'm not sure if this is due to surveyor availability or vendor availability.

I read that searches shouldn't be done until after survey, to save wasting money if the survey throws anything up, however as the survey isn't until two weeks away would I be considered to be holding up the chain by not applying for the searches until nearly 4 weeks after my offer was accepted?

There was a lot of interest in the house with numerous asking price offers and I 'sold myself' in that I'm chain free and willing to move quickly but I'd rather not lose £400 on the searches if possible! Would appreciate the input of seasoned house buyers please

Harryp_24

are you having a full structural survery? or homebuyers?
How old is the house?
Does it look to have any problems?
If its fairly new and looks in good condition just do it. You might get a few things crop up but if its just a homebuyers report you wont find much anyway.

G_M

* if you're in a hurry, start the conveyancing now.

* if not, wait in case the survey shows a problem.

* but maybe you should have done the searches before instructing the survey. What if the solicior finds a problem with the searches? You'll have wasted money on the survey!

newbieFTB

Thanks both, I'm having a homebuyer survey. The house is around 25 years old and looks in good condition so don't anticipate any issues in that sense, I am a bit concerned that the surveyor might say it's not worth the asking price - Im happy with the price as it meets all my wants and needs but looking at comparable sold prices it's more than similar houses have sold for and I don't have the extra cash to top up any shortfall.

I'm happy to work to the vendors timescales so not in a rush as such, I wasn't sure if I'd be 'expected' to start the searches given the timescales between my offer and when the survey is booked for.