Rics or Rpsa

teddyemm

Hello,

Im a first time buyer of a nice 1930's 2 bed terrace house. I'm looking for a survey to cover everything from top to bottom as the house is very old inside and hasn't been looked after very well. the quotes i have been getting are around 580-900+vat and they all have different reports and included and not included things . I'm worried i will not get the right company to check it for me. and don't really know what to do. any advise would be great. i don't have any family to ask for advise on this. thank you in advance.

YoungBlueEyes

I'm in the process of buying a house. I rang a few RICS surveyors and chose one I liked the sound of. I asked them all kinds of questions about what is actually looked at whilst surveying and asked if I could add a few things for the surveyor to look at and give me advice on, which he was happy to do. I had a full survey carried out on it, with lots of little extra questions added on to the surveyor's worksheet, and he answered all but one of them. It cost me £640.

It seems like a bunch of money, but when you consider what a house costs - it really isn't the place to scrimp.

HTH

Davesnave

teddyemm wrote: »

.....they all have different reports and included and not included things .

There are three levels of report, and based on what you say, the most appropriate is a Buildings Survey.

No survey covers everything. Just like a GP can't cover all health issues in detail, a surveyor isn't a specialist, but he/she ought to point you in the direction of people who are.

In the case of a reasonably old house that's not been modernised, you might expect the electrics to need renewal, but a surveyor isn't an electrician, so they would just suggest you get someone who is to look and advise. A rewire would cost £3-5k so it's worth knowing about. Similarly, damp and drainage might be flagged-up asd appearing to have issues, but only people who deal with these things will investigate fully.

One thing is for sure, a 30s house that 'hasn't been looked after very well' will not get a clean bill of health, but you need to know whether the bills that follow are going to be £5k or £50K. As YoungBlueEyes says, what the surveyor will write is formal and probably a bit non-committal, so ask if they'd be happy to give verbal feedback too. That'll sort out who's likely to be helpful.

cloo

I always recommend finding a long-established local RICS firm - they will know the area, the properties and the kinds of issues you tend to get.

teddyemm

wow thank you for the replies. i have emailed a few companies but as i have said I'm total in the dark as-to what would need to be checked over normal.the damp thing you said i didn't think about tbf. its a big commitment for me to buy this so i hopeing to find someone/ company with that property type under there belt. someone at my work said about rewiring and i thing it may need this as it has very little plug sockets in the house and there very old ones. i have tried finding reviews of companies but there hard to find. and i would ask on the local facebook groups for advise but if the owner is on there i don't want to come across like a idiot.

would i need to get electics tested ?
do i get quotes for work needed to ask maybe lower the price? can you do that?


thanks for you advise.

YoungBlueEyes

My survey showed up a few things (not cosmetic nonsense, big issues). I rang the EA to say "this is what my survey shows, is the vendor willing to come down on price to reflect them? Or perhaps meet me halfway?" She flat out refused (I'd already had a good whack knocked off the asking price) but I still want the house so I'll deal with them when I get moved in.

I found that being flat-out honest with surveyors was a good move. I told them I was moving areas so I didn't know anyone who could view with me, didn't have a builder that could point stuff out so I was totally reliant on his survey. I even said "I know nothing about any of this kind of malarkey because I've never had to do this before, so please write it all out like you're speaking to a child!" And he did

Whereabouts in the country are you? I can heartily recommend my surveyor - I'll pm you his details if you'd like?

teddyemm

YoungBlueEyes wrote: »

My survey showed up a few things (not cosmetic nonsense, big issues). I rang the EA to say "this is what my survey shows, is the vendor willing to come down on price to reflect them? Or perhaps meet me halfway?" She flat out refused (I'd already had a good whack knocked off the asking price) but I still want the house so I'll deal with them when I get moved in.

I found that being flat-out honest with surveyors was a good move. I told them I was moving areas so I didn't know anyone who could view with me, didn't have a builder that could point stuff out so I was totally reliant on his survey. I even said "I know nothing about any of this kind of malarkey because I've never had to do this before, so please write it all out like you're speaking to a child!" And he did

Whereabouts in the country are you? I can heartily recommend my surveyor - I'll pm you his details if you'd like?

hello thanks for reply.im in the south of england Southampton. the lowest price i have had is 700 inc vat. if you have any details of someone who could help please that would help a lot.

Davesnave

I think YoungBlueEyes lives 'Ooop norf;' even beyond the Midlands.

However, if we mention Southampton again, nice and large, perhaps someone will be able to help you.

YoungBlueEyes

I do indeed live ooop norf, moving a bit farver dahn sarf though (well, to Derbyshire ha haa!)

Southampton is a bit farver sarf still, possibly outside my surveyor's area.

teddyemm

great new i have had a full inspection done. downside it needs a lot more work then i knew about.

Davesnave

teddyemm wrote: »

great new i have had a full inspection done. downside it needs a lot more work then i knew about.

So, did the surveyor think it was fair value for money at the price and what was flagged-up as needing attention?

Sometimes items need immediate work and others can be part of a rolling programme of maintenance. What's urgent?

If you have anything you're not sure about, post the relevant part and someone will explain further. That's if you are proceeding. Are you?