Would you have a survey?

loveka

We 'sold' our house twice. Both fell through. The first was because of the full structural survey which was just ridiculous. The buyer was terrified about the amount of work she would need to do on a house that looked perfect.

The survey said that as as he couldn't check behind the kitchen cabinets for damp they should be removed! So his suggestion was that a solid wood in frame kitchen, only 8 years old should be ripped out to check for damp! He said the conservatory should be pulled down ' because it will be very cold in the winter'. It has full central heating. He said that the porch should be removed and replaced.' as it doesn't meet current building regulations'. It was built in 1909. He said that there was evidence of no running water in the bathroom. He hadn't worked out how to turn the tap on.

The second buyer also had a survey. Not one issue appeared on both surveys. Not one.

We are buying a house now, and have had a builder/roofer , damp/dry rot surveyor, electrician and heating engineer look at it. I really think surveys are worthless. I have 2 friends who discovered major issues having had full surveys, and neither had any come back at all.

TamsinC

Having just had a RICS structural survey that told us nothing we didn't already know - and just said get a specialist in basically - it was money thrown away and I wish I hadn't bothered.

G_M

G_M wrote: »

martin was receomending a SE, not an RICS surveyor.

Compare hospital consultant with GP.

But to take the comparison further, there's no point getting medical advice from a cancer specialist if you have a hernia.

The GP (RICS surveyor) does have a role but it is of a more general nature, and covers a wider spectrum of issues.

In this scenaro, a structural enggineer will look soley at structural issues.

Running_Horse

Many thanks for all your comments.

So it looks like it might happen. Got to pay for a valuation anyway, so will pay a bit more for the mid-range survey, just in case we are missing anything obvious. What order would be best for works? Electrics look surprisingly good and I'm related to an electrician.

Small electric jobs and get sockets etc in good place.

Double glazing.

Wall removed to combine toilet and bath and build shower room.

New kitchen and move boiler one metre to more sensible position.

Skim ceilings.

Redecorate.

New flooring.

Does this sound like a sensible order of works to you?

martinthebandit

G_M wrote: »

.......a structural enggineer will look soley at structural issues.

The report I got from mine was much more than just 'structural issues'

It went from the age of the house, how old the electrics were etc to the type and age of the trees in the garden.

Far more comprehensive and far less caveats than any report I've had from a RCIS type person.

SG27

I used to be in the always get a survey way of thinking. But after having my own amd reading a few from friends I dont know if I would bother again. It just lists all the things potentially might be wrong and just tells you to get specialists in. Probably better off getting a building to.check it over amd paying them for their time.