Which level survey?

PMMLondon

I’m wondering if anyone can advise me please. I’ve had an offer accepted on an end of terrace house which the owner said she thought was built in the 1900s, but looks more like a 1930s style property to me. There are no immediately obvious issues and it looks like it’s been looked after. I’m wondering whether to go for the full structural survey or the homebuyers report. I’m a cash buyer so there’s no mortgage in case that’s relevant. Many thanks in advance. 

Competsoph

Homebuyers is your most likely answer. On my understanding a full structural survey should only be required in the case of significant building work to the property or you are planning any of the such. 

blue_max_3

I wouldn't go with any myself. A homebuyers report will tell you next to nothing that isn't obvious. And a structural will tell you little more. Unless there are obvious issues that need professional advice, I'd say you are largely wasting your money. There are going to be things that need sorting out as part of regular maintenance, so put the money towards that.
If you're the sort who wouldn't sleep unless it had a full structural survey, it may be worth it to you.

SameOldRoundabout

Personally I’d have a full survey. We had one on ours for peace of mind (a late 1800s end of terrace that we knew would need work) and whilst for the most part it confirmed issues we’d already spotted, it also spotted a structural issue that wasn’t obvious to the untrained eye unless you knew to look for it. In the end it meant we paid a few grand to remedy it instead of finding it in 5 years when it had got worse and it costing a lot more! 

Slithery

Brilliant. That's all three different answers for the OP in the first 3 replies

Personally I wouldn't bother, but only because of my previous building and house buying experience. Your experience and attitude to risk will obviously differ from mine.

PMMLondon

I’m even more confused now! I would describe myself as risk averse so will definitely get a survey. However, I wonder if the detail of the full survey would freak me out and whether, if the homebuyers report would pick up on the major issues anyway, would that be the best option. From my reading, full surveys are recommended for older houses but is a 1900-1930s house considered old?

stuart45

Only about 20% of home buyers bother getting a survey apart from a valuation. A lot of people who get one say they are disappointed to pay out a fair bit of cash to end up with a list of experts to call in for further checks.
However for someone with little building experience it can be useful to help renegotiate the price. 
For people in the trade like the previous poster a survey is often seen as a waste of money.

FreeBear

PMMLondon said: From my reading, full surveys are recommended for older houses but is a 1900-1930s house considered old?

Any building built before the turn of the century is old. Personally, I'd go for a basic survey on anything built after 1980, but anything older, a full survey would be warranted. Pre-war, I'd also want to know about inappropriate repairs as well as anything that could indicate structural issues.

blue_max_3

And if they say there are a couple of issues and you should get the main services check out by specialists, will you?
Will you try to renegotiate the price? Or will you just buy it anyway.
You could spend £600 and end up with nothing. And onto the next property to repeat.
Surveyors can't damage the property looking for problems, so they have to be visible. You're looking for relatively obvious things really.
Bit if you're risk averse, get the most expensive one you can. Nothing else would put your mind at rest. 
Please report back whether it was money well spent.

youth_leader

Glad to see you asking this question, I've been wondering about it too. 

starrybee

Used to work for a surveyor (admin, but spoke to various surveyors regularly) - they would always recommend a homebuyers if the property was standard construction and post 1900s.