Home buyers survey

JM2194

Hi,

we are in the process of selling our house to a cash buyer, she has organised a home buyers report.

I have read various things online, is it true the surveyor tries to cover their back and issues a lot of generic comments? The house is around 25 years old with original UPVC windows and roof etc. Should we expect the surveyor to find problems? Or is it only major problems they tend to comment on? 

Thanks for you help

AdrianC

Yes, they'll put backside-covering. Things like they haven't tested the electrics or heating.

Should you expect them to find problems...? Depends on if there are problems to find.

FinallyStoppedLurking

They will always put generic comments in to cover their liability. Some would argue the survey is pointless unless there is a massive/obvious issue (which would probably call for a re-negotiation or buyer walking away). 

Expect things like: Whilst no signs of damp were spotted during the survey, not all areas of the house could be accessed and as damp is common with a property of this age we would suggest a full survey be commissioned with a damp expert.
A sensible buyer /sensible solicitor would be able to advise that this isn't an issue.

sweetsand

JM2194 said:

Hi,

we are in the process of selling our house to a cash buyer, she has organised a home buyers report.

I have read various things online, is it true the surveyor tries to cover their back and issues a lot of generic comments? The house is around 25 years old with original UPVC windows and roof etc. Should we expect the surveyor to find problems? Or is it only major problems they tend to comment on? 

Thanks for you help

Dear OP
Be aware to face faults and the potential buyer seeking money off and gentle pressure from you EA to sell as EA's only get money if you sell once completed.
Stick to your guns if you feel your property is worth more than that.
Consider how long its been on the market and previous offers and time taken for those or newly listed
ATB

JM2194

Thank you for your comments, there shouldn’t be any adverse problems that we are aware of. Thanks again

Falafels

JM2194 said:

Thank you for your comments, there shouldn’t be any adverse problems that we are aware of. Thanks again

It's quite a nerve-racking process, though, isn't it? Even if you know you've got all the basics covered!

Tracet74

I've worked for various surveyors and they generally aren't covering their backsides!  There will also be limitations to an inspection, which is unavoidable, and we have to uphold the standards of the RICS by producing a fair and factual report.

JM2194

Falafels said:

JM2194 said:

Thank you for your comments, there shouldn’t be any adverse problems that we are aware of. Thanks again

It's quite a nerve-racking process, though, isn't it? Even if you know you've got all the basics covered!

It very much is! Fingers crossed all goes well!

FinallyStoppedLurking

Tracet74 said:

I've worked for various surveyors and they generally aren't covering their backsides!  There will also be limitations to an inspection, which is unavoidable, and we have to uphold the standards of the RICS by producing a fair and factual report.

Sorry but I'm not having that. If you aren't covering yourself against liability in this day and age then you are being a bit daft. 

TA1990

I had a homebuyers survey done recently and I agree that they include a lot of generic comments - although I thought they nit-picked at things that didn't seem too much of an issue (i.e. one window was a little stiff to open). It didn't really pick up anything that I wasn't expecting it to.

Suseka97

Our property was built in the early 90s and we've had the homebuyers survey done - it didn't really show up any particular 'nasties' - except they found a wasps nest under the eaves of the roof and we were glad they did.  Got that sorted asap! 

Of course we got the usual and expected - recommendation that a full electrical test be carried out, but that's par for the course on most properties and we've declined although quite happy if the buyers' want to commission one themselves.  They also commented on the level of insulation in the loft, which we knew anyway from the EPC survey.

But there's no point worrying ahead of time, you can't avoid having the survey done and if it throws up any alarm bells, then talk to your solicitor and get advice.  Or it may find something you really ought to know about.