Ask sellers for old Home Survey

gab3x

MCI said:

If I were the seller I wouldn't give it to you, and that's because in our house we are addressing the points in the survey and having work done based on them. So if we ever sell hopefully the issues mentioned would be long gone and that survey would no longer be accurate.
I also found the valuation to be useful as we bought right around Brexit (exchanged before and completed after). We had to negotiate 5k off based on the price on the valuation and I'm glad we didn't pay over the odds.

That's a fair point, I never did this before and was wondering if it would be odd to ask. Of course I have doubts about this strategy hence I am here on this forum.

You raise a good point about the valuation which I didn't consider. Bank of course does their valuation but they don't share with you (even though they charge you £200 for what is essentially a desktop review).

Other than Zoopla, are there any other credible online valuation tools free or otherwise?

AdrianC

gab3x said:

Other than Zoopla, are there any other credible online valuation tools free or otherwise?

I like the suggestion that Zoopla's valuation is "credible"... It's as credible as anything that simply looks at the type of property, previous sold prices, and the general market trends for the area, I s'pose...

The only way you'll get a credible valuation is to get a professional to go round the house. The question is how much detail they go into while doing that. They will, of course, want paying to do so, and they will provide an element of professional indemnity in doing so. Their valuation will take into account their findings as to condition. If they find things that affect the condition of the property markedly, they will take those into account in their valuation, and they will describe them in their report.

What name you wish to give to that process is entirely up to you... but I believe there's a couple of standardised levels of detail...

gab3x

AdrianC said:

gab3x said:

Other than Zoopla, are there any other credible online valuation tools free or otherwise?

The only way you'll get a credible valuation is to get a professional to go round the house. The question is how much detail they go into while doing that. 

Adrian - read my question, I specifically said online valuation tools and there are some that are better than others. Zoopla isn't that bad, at least not in London.

Marvel1

gab3x said:

I was thinking on not doing a separate one should the sellers old version show nothing of worry

If I was the seller and there was no worry and you were not getting one, I would gladly show you, that way if it anything changed, not my problem and you are none the wiser until you complete.

AdrianC

gab3x said:

AdrianC said:

gab3x said:

Other than Zoopla, are there any other credible online valuation tools free or otherwise?

The only way you'll get a credible valuation is to get a professional to go round the house. The question is how much detail they go into while doing that. 

Adrian - read my question, I specifically said online valuation tools and there are some that are better than others. Zoopla isn't that bad, at least not in London.

Zoopla is a wet finger in the air, everywhere. It's more accurate where there's lots of similar properties - location in the country is irrelevant to that.

And, yes, I did read your question. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to read my answer, which explains why the whole concept of online valuations is flawed, no matter who does them.

gab3x

AdrianC said:

And, yes, I did read your question. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to read my answer, which explains why the whole concept of online valuations is flawed, no matter who does them.

I did and agree with you. Apologies, little jaded after a few comments here. Appreciate your input.

gab3x

So... here is my thinking after sense checking with y'all
I am getting the home buyers survey, will not bother asking sellers for one

Why?

1. Even though 4 years is a short time there could have been severe weather events that could have caused damage that simply won't be reported in the previous survey
2. Sellers might find this unconventional ask odd
3. Peace of mind of additional valuation

Having said that the argument that uses surveys as an insurance against critical faults that haven't been discovered either by you or the surveyor - I assume the industry has found many ways of protecting itself from such claims and probably pays out in small number of very exotic cases.

Thank you all for sense checking this. Appreciate everyone taking time to help.