Vendor survey vs buyer survey

paul82uk

numbercruncher8 said:

Why did the vendor have a survey? Did you request them to do this?
I'd put more credence on the one I paid for as opposed to one I didn't pay for. 
Almost sounds to me that they got themselves a 'clean' one to try and hardball over any problems.... their whinging is a bit of a red flag to me.

I just took a copy a and paste from the report about structural concern with the bay window and said more due diligence.
I would paid myself or done a 50/50 split but the vendor just went straight ahead and booked a structural engineer.

paul82uk

es5595 said:

This sounds like you got the cheapest survey, which is full of bottom-covering from the ‘surveyor’. 

They pretty much always find damp, and I’m sure they’ll offer to sort it for you for a pretty penny. 

Every house has ‘possible’ structural issues. What you need to know is yes or no. But for pennies they won’t offer themselves up to that liability. 

The vendor has now forked out the £ for a full structural survey after yours, and is understandably pretty ratty to have it come back with a clean slate. 

If this is a house you want and you’re prepared to pay what you offered, I’d get in touch with the EA post-haste to find out if the vendors survey can be put in your name if you pay for it. You are then covered. 

It was full building survey and wasn’t cheap the RICS who conducted the survey was also a fellow not that makes a difference.

there was no additional offer of other price options for additional surveys 
the damp was only in one specific area where other damp was my survey said it was condensation likely from it being empty and no open window.

the surveyor has a long talk after they done the survey saying “ this sounds serious due to language but wouldn’t worry about it” or “yes could do with an upgrade but nothing serious just there to provide clarity”

paul82uk

And the estate agent said the vendor spent £500 on a structural engineer survey which sounds cheap and didn’t think they would check stop !!!!!! and damp

eddddy

paul82uk said:

And the estate agent said the vendor spent £500 on a structural engineer survey which sounds cheap and didn’t think they would check stop !!!!!! and damp

As you say, a structural engineer would be looking at a specific problem - presumably "possible structural movement".  It wouldn't be a survey of the whole house.

So to summarise:

• Your surveyor said "possible structural movement".
• The seller's structural engineer (hopefully a specialist) checked and said "no structural movement"

But since the structural engineer was instructed by the seller, you might want to get your own structural engineer to give an opinion.

paul82uk said:

Just legally binding confirmation there is no structural issues.

FWIW, that's not really a concept that exists.

A surveyor or structural engineer will give their opinion - but they won't give any guarantee. But if you later find that they were negligent (e.g. they didn't spot a problem which they should have spotted), you may be able to claim damages from them.

skm1981

paul82uk said:

And the estate agent said the vendor spent £500 on a structural engineer survey which sounds cheap and didn’t think they would check stop !!!!!! and damp

We had a structural engineer and paid £400 + VAT and I live in London, so i don't think that sounds cheap, sounds about right.  We had a few quotes all around the same price.