Lender using a bad surveyor.....what can I do?

jazzyja

Hi, So my lender is TSB....mortgage is accepted subject to valuation. I've chosen the homebuyers survey (cost £300), house is an older house, end terrace.
First of all they couldn't get a surveyor in my area so had to go to this other company....said company rings me today to let me know they're going to contact the vendor to arrange and sent me over forms to sign etc. I've googled the company and crikey.....they have terrible reviews. Quite literally there's about 3 out out of 66 that are positive. Alot say they're massively off the mark with valuing. Also that they're terribly slow and not good at communication. Now im fretting, if it was down to me I wouldn't be using these. But on the other hand I don't want to delay anymore as I know solicitors are taking forever so I just want to get it done so I can instruct and get moving. I mean what options do I have?! I've paid TSB the 300. Can I ask for that back?? Shall I just ride it out see what they're like? Or shall I not even bother with the survey and have it valued at a risk?! I'm a FTB so this is all new to me. I do have a broker whos very helpful, I was going to ask her but I feel abit daft. Don't know if im just being over cautious! 

Lavendyr

£300 for a homebuyers survey is very cheap. Whether or not you can cancel that depends on what you signed up to - so talk to them. 
I wouldn't risk a purchase without at least a homebuyers survey on an older property which is end of terrace. If I were you I'd find and instruct a surveyor I was happy with and suck up the additional cost.

jazzyja

Lavendyr said:

£300 for a homebuyers survey is very cheap. Whether or not you can cancel that depends on what you signed up to - so talk to them. 
I wouldn't risk a purchase without at least a homebuyers survey on an older property which is end of terrace. If I were you I'd find and instruct a surveyor I was happy with and suck up the additional cost.

Thankyou...so you mean have 2 surveys? Or cancel this one and just lose my £300? 

user1977

I'd hope they're not going to charge you £300 for a survey which they haven't done.

hazyjo

Lavendyr said:

£300 for a homebuyers survey is very cheap. 

Not if it's done at the same time as the valuation by the lender. It usually knocks a fair bit off the price as opposed to getting them done separately. Wasn't clear if this is the case.

jazzyja

hazyjo said:

Lavendyr said:

£300 for a homebuyers survey is very cheap. 

Not if it's done at the same time as the valuation by the lender. It usually knocks a fair bit off the price as opposed to getting them done separately. Wasn't clear if this is the case.

Valuation is being done at the same time yes

MalMonroe

Hi, if you are new to house buying then please don't feel daft or over-cautious and do ask as many questions of everyone as you need to. Buying a house is a major expenditure and it's your right to ask as many questions as you need to. Do also have a word with your broker. 

As to the surveyor, if I were you I'd get in touch with TSB and tell them that you don't want the surveyor they have arranged. You are the customer and you are well within your rights to tell them that you've had a look at the surveyor's website and you are not impressed by all the negative reviews. There MUST be some other reasonable surveyors in your area. You could have a look on the internet yourself if TSB can't find any.  I think £300 is a lot of money to lose if you're not happy and you are not. Even if you are being over-cautious, it doesn't matter. I wouldn't cancel the survey - just ask for it to be arranged with a company you are happy with. It's your money, so it has to be your choice. 

RelievedSheff

Just bear in mind that people only tend to write reviews when they are not happy. 

The surveyors will do many hundreds maybe thousands of surveys a year. The 66 who felt the need to leave bad reviews will be a tiny proportion of their work load.