Survey time! Which type to go for?

watcher27

Hi,

So it's time for us to let the mortgage lender know which survey we would like on the property we are purchasing.

But not really sure what to go for, so wanted a bit of advise?

Details of the house: It a 1960's 3 bed semi. It needs a lot of work, its been empty for 18 months as the current owner has been moved into a nursing home and its taken her son this long to clear it of her stuff (a bit of a hoarder by all accounts).

We will be ripping out the electrics and getting it fully rewired, the old back boiler will be going and a complete new central heating system fitted,the same goes for the bathroom & kitchen & windows.

So the condition/working order of these items isn't a concern.

From what we can see, there are no obvious damp patches or cracks in the walls etc.

So do we go for the free survey by the lender (they drive past it to make sure it exists lol), the home buyer survey @ £275 or a full survey?

Sorry for the waffle, first time moving in 14 years

Penguin2017

Full.. its lots of money but always worth spending it now vs. lots later

sugar-hill

I am currently buying a 1930's home and said to the surveyors I wanted a full structural survey. The told me that that a full building survey wasn't worth it for standard construction house under 100 years old, so I opted for the home buyers report.

hazyjo

The 'free' one is a valuation, not a survey. That will be compulsory anyway due to having a mortgage.


I've always gone for a homebuyer's - most slate them, but I've always found them to be fairly substantial (if you ignore all the 'get an expert to check' wording which is throughout and can read between lines).


In this case, I'd consider full structural as you say it needs a lot of work and does sound like it's been somewhat neglected. Who knows what's been ignored or bodged.

watcher27

hazyjo wrote: »

In this case, I'd consider full structural as you say it needs a lot of work and does sound like it's been somewhat neglected. Who knows what's been ignored or bodged.

Thanks!

Its not been neglected, its just never been updated lol

The boiler all works, as do the electrics etc but it looks like the old girl never updated the house.

Although it has a new looking electric fuse box next to the old bakelite one lol

Externally, the guttering and facias are all new,certainly under 2 years old, so I'm guessing money has been spend when need's be.

hazyjo

I'd prob just go with a homebuyer's then. Others will disagree so at the end of the day it's down to you :beer:


Depends how averse to work you are. If a FSS shows work needed that a HBS won't, are you likely to pull out? The HBSs I've had have always talked about cracks, windows, movement, slopes, replacement bricks, chimneys, roof, gaps, etc. It's not like they just write a 2 page report - my last one was over (I think) 30 or 40 pages (granted, most of it box filling and most of it standard spiel, but it did contain an awful lot I'd not noticed or realised).

watcher27

hazyjo wrote: »

I'd prob just go with a homebuyer's then. Others will disagree so at the end of the day it's down to you :beer:


Depends how averse to work you are. If a FSS shows work needed that a HBS won't, are you likely to pull out? The HBSs I've had have always talked about cracks, windows, movement, slopes, replacement bricks, chimneys, roof, gaps, etc. It's not like they just write a 2 page report - my last one was over (I think) 30 or 40 pages (granted, most of it box filling and most of it standard spiel, but it did contain an awful lot I'd not noticed or realised).

Wow! Didn't realise the home buyers went into so much detail??

Nationwide want £275 for the home buyers, so I think I'll opt for that then! Thank you