Will surveyors take into account previous surveys?

CityTiger

We have a homebuyers report being conducted on our property. Just wondering, if the surveyor spots any issues, will he discuss them with us, as the owners, before he files his report?

We had a structural survey done a few years ago as there were a few cracks that looked more than cosmetic. However, the structural engineer gave everything a good bill of health and stated everything was long-standing and non-progressive. Unsure as to whether to provide the surveyor with that survey when he arrives to help pre-empt any concerns he spots, or just to let him look and only bring it up if he mentions something.

Alter_ego

He should only discuss with his client - the buyer.

He may be interested in a previous report, but will form his own opinions.

TBagpuss

You are not their client, so it's unlikely that they would discuss it with you. .
 But there's nothing to stop you from mentioning it or offering to show them the report , although I suspect they will probably still state in their report that it requires further investigation, to cover their own backs

AnotherJoe

CityTiger said:

We have a homebuyers report being conducted on our property. Just wondering, if the surveyor spots any issues, will he discuss them with us, as the owners, before he files his report?

We had a structural survey done a few years ago as there were a few cracks that looked more than cosmetic. However, the structural engineer gave everything a good bill of health and stated everything was long-standing and non-progressive. Unsure as to whether to provide the surveyor with that survey when he arrives to help pre-empt any concerns he spots, or just to let him look and only bring it up if he mentions something.

Absolutely NOT, its not your survey, you arent paying for it.

Have you covered up the cosmetic cracks? If not, should an issue be raised as a result of those then you can pass across the structural engineers report to your buyers who will likely go and get their own anyway if they are interested.

And I certainly would not raise any doubt in the surveyors mind by drawing their attentiom to issues which they might not spot ! And to repeat myself, they will almost certainly not mention anything to you at the time.

1. You are not the surveyors client

2. They dont want to get into a possibly acrimonious  argument with the homeowner protesting that the cracks are just cosmetic if he thinks they aren't, or whatever else they dont like. 

eddddy

If the structural engineers report was favourable, I'd definitely have a copy ready and tell the surveyor that they're welcome to take the copy away, if they wish.

The surveyor would think twice before contradicting something that a structural engineer had said in a recent report - in case they end up looking foolish.

The slight downside might be that the structural engineer's report mentions some minor problems that the surveyor wouldn't have noticed, etc.

In a similar vein, when remortgaging, I have given visiting mortgage valuers copies of valuation letters from estate agents. (The first question one mortgage valuer asked me was "Have you had any other valuations recently?")
 

youth_leader

My buyer's surveyor did whisper in my ear as he left that my water tank joint was leaking.

jeaniemsm

Not sure what your intention is, but to want to speak to the surveyor before he files his client's report im assuming you want to insert your view.

Personally I'd be annoyed if the surveyor that i paid for discussed any issues with my vendor.

Im sure handing your report over to them to look through may be handy, they should be professional enough to make their own decisions and a good professional should not discuss matters with his client's vendor

CityTiger

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm not saying I want to discuss or lean on the surveyor in any way.
Just simply if they spot something will they say to me "Are you aware of this issue, have you taken any steps to resolve it?" - you know, stuff that could be useful information for them to pass on to our buyer that only the seller would know.
If that doesn't happen as a matter of course then fine, just means we need to decide whether to volunteer our structural report or not. I'm leaning towards yes, since the report was extremely favourable and states there are no ongoing issues to be concerned about.

lookstraightahead

My sellers gave me a recent structural engineers report so I could give it to my structural surveyor before the report was carried out. He took note of it and included it in his report. 

AnotherJoe

eddddy said:

If the structural engineers report was favourable, I'd definitely have a copy ready and tell the surveyor that they're welcome to take the copy away, if they wish.

The surveyor would think twice before contradicting something that a structural engineer had said in a recent report - in case they end up looking foolish.

The slight downside might be that the structural engineer's report mentions some minor problems that the surveyor wouldn't have noticed, etc.

In a similar vein, when remortgaging, I have given visiting mortgage valuers copies of valuation letters from estate agents. (The first question one mortgage valuer asked me was "Have you had any other valuations recently?")
 

Very unlikely they would.

Much more likely they'd say "cracks may be evidence of structural issues I recommend a structural survey" and I certain;y cant see them in effect saying "was worried about cracks but survey done some years ago by owners says it OK so no need to be worried"

lookstraightahead

My structural surveyor said "a structural engineer stated in his report that X problem was of no concern ......" 

The vendors paid for the structural engineer report (£1000) as they knew something would come up in a survey. Best £1000 they spent as we bought the house because we already had the answers.