Connells Survey & Valuation

retepetsir

Does anyone have any personal experience of Connells Survey & Valuation? The 1* review average on Google does not fill me with confidence.

Having been told by Virgin that we'd have a desktop valuation for the property we are looking to buy, they then said on Tuesday that a proper valuation will be needed.

I have just received a phonecall from Connells asking to confirm the property address, whether I'm living in it and if I have keys. I'm the buyer, not the vendor?! I passed along the details of the vendor but I wouldn't have said that was overly hopeful. They also seem to be based nowhere near the property which is in SE England.

Lots of the reviews talk about lack of a professional surveyor and most of the valuations being down valued - which is also a worry as we've agreed a very good price on this place.

allygate

You can safely ignore the reviews.

The surveyor is working for the lender on a cut price contract with very thin margins. Most of them will not communicate with or answer to the borrower or their broker. That's where the poor reviews come from.

It's odd that they contacted you though, as you (if direct with the lender) or your broker should have given the lender the EA details for arranging the valuation visit.

retepetsir

It's a private sale and I provided all of the vendors details on my direct application, so I'm surprised they made that mixup?

Squeaky9

We didn’t have a physical valuation in the end but Connells did a desktop for our lender and they valued it at our offer price. 🙂

retepetsir

Thanks for the replies. I was really hoping it would be desktop-only but unfortunately not. Hopefully it comes back ok!

dunstonh

There is little wrong that can happen from a valuation.    Homebuyers reports are, in my view, a waste of time and money.  Surveys are more detailed and useful but cost more.  
Is yours a valuation report, homebuyers report or a survey? 

Squeaky9

retepetsir said:

Thanks for the replies. I was really hoping it would be desktop-only but unfortunately not. Hopefully it comes back ok!

If you’re worried about a down valuation then I think it’s less likely to happen with a physical than a desktop. I was really worried when we were told it would be a desktop for that reason but it worked out ok. 😥

tervozina

We had valuation and homebuyers report done by Connells, it was valued at our offer price

Thrugelmir

Surveyors unfortunately down value properties. That's why lenders employ them. As it's their money that's being advanced to purchase the property hence have a vested interest. 

retepetsir

dunstonh said:

There is little wrong that can happen from a valuation.    Homebuyers reports are, in my view, a waste of time and money.  Surveys are more detailed and useful but cost more.  
Is yours a valuation report, homebuyers report or a survey? 

This is a valuation report for the lender, instructed by them.

We have instructed a separate full building survey, not linked to the mortgage company.

juliedee4663

We are selling our property and our buyers had a home buyer's report done by Connells. We now have to have a Japanese Knotweed survey undertaken, at our expense, because even though the surveyor stated that he could see no knotweed on our property or the surrounding land he gave it a "red 3". Our buyers are now understandably worried, and are threatening to pull out unless we spend £250+ on this survey. We will be putting in a formal complaint both through the company and taking it further to an ombudsman if necessary.