Finding a surveyor, Cash buyer

ChilliBob

Hey everyone,
Yesterday we had an offer accepted on a property, which is great news as we have been looking for about 10 months.
We'll be buying the property in cash sitting in the bank, and will be using the solicitors recommended by the estate agents (I have done research on tyem before, they seem good the pair also have a working relationship).

In my mind this means all we need to find (besides moving logistics) is a surveyor, I Googled for this but there's so many sites which come up I had no idea what the 'go to' ones were from the naff ones. 

Any tips much appreciated.

For reference it's a 4 bed semi detached house in Essex/London, between 7-800, and I'd guess its around 1930 or something similar, extended sbout 10 years ago.

Any help, or tips on other things I have neglected much appreciated! 

JJR45

On the age and extension I would got for a full structural survey, it maybe costly but could save you a fortune in the long run.
Just go for the ones with the best reviews in your location. But from experience the big ones don't tend to be that great.

justworriedabit

ChilliBob said:

Hey everyone,
Yesterday we had an offer accepted on a property, which is great news as we have been looking for about 10 months.
We'll be buying the property in cash sitting in the bank, and will be using the solicitors recommended by the estate agents (I have done research on tyem before, they seem good the pair also have a working relationship).

In my mind this means all we need to find (besides moving logistics) is a surveyor, I Googled for this but there's so many sites which come up I had no idea what the 'go to' ones were from the naff ones. 

Any tips much appreciated.

For reference it's a 4 bed semi detached house in Essex/London, between 7-800, and I'd guess its around 1930 or something similar, extended sbout 10 years ago.

Any help, or tips on other things I have neglected much appreciated! 

Ask the EA's. then check them out.
The type of property you are buying is usually sound structure wise but the clay soil can move and cause cracks.
When we have bought cash in the past, no survey as we were happy with what we say and we were not, a full survey is a lot of money and we would not have bothered.  

google their qualifications. Ask them questions what they do what you get how long it takes and costs and what happens if they missed something important.
Thanks

justworriedabit

forgot - ask the solicitors you are using they may know someone

ChilliBob

Thanks both I'll ask both the solicitors and Agent, part of me wondered if the Agent would be on the wrong incentive side though and might suggest a surveyor more likely to just go yeah it's all cool, buy it mate! 

Regarding the extension, it's double height, and looks to have had planning approved in 2007, hence my guessing age.

I looked on a few sites, it seemed more the 'tell us all your details, we'll get people to give you a call' - which I totally hate! - I prefer to find someone, dig around a bit then contact them.

Scotbot

RiCS is the association for surveyors, I  would use a RICS surveyor but still check reviews. Like any other profession some are bertter than others

There are 3 levels of survey this link describes them
https://www.rics.org/uk/upholding-professional-standards/sector-standards/building-surveying/home-surveys/

.A good surveyor will advise which they think most appropriate when you ask for a quote. 

The RICS search link for members
https://www.ricsfirms.com/residential/

ChilliBob

Cheers - I'll see what I can find rather than using the GoCompare type things!

JJR45

There are 3 levels of survey this link describes them
https://www.rics.org/uk/upholding-professional-standards/sector-standards/building-surveying/home-surveys/

Just don't do a home buyers, they are pointless (from experience). go basic or full structural.

Heres_the_deal

ChilliBob I'll be interested in what you find out. I'm in a similar position: cash buyer , Victorian property. I decided on a Rics Level 3 and started to gather quotes. They've come back all over the place. Reviews are very similar between the cheapest and most expensive (£500-£1200), but I have no yard stick by which to measure them, and no clue what to look for.  The EA gave me an additional two contacts which came back around £1100.

All have provided me with very similar sample reports.  One company hinted the quote they gave me may differ from the final price they charge??

All a bit of a nightmare. What do we get for £500 and what is offered for £1200.

ChilliBob

Those quotes are all for a level three? That's better than I thought, but I guess it depends where you live. I think I had a level 2 done 6 years ago on the current house and it was 1.2k or something. I emailed one surveyor so far, from rics, waiting on a reply