Survey first or Offer?

HardyRexion · 31 August 2021 at 8:05PM

Hello

I went to view a property that I like. It needs a full refurb. My only concern was cracks in all the plaster in all the front windows. There were no visible cracks in the brickwork on the outside of the house

It's 20 years since I moved house. Would this need an expensive structural report? Do I get the BEFORE an offer? Do I even need one or will the mortgage company assist?

Any advice is welcomed

NameUnavailable · 31 August 2021 at 8:12PM

You pay for a survey AFTER you have an accepted offer. Otherwise you might be sending a surveyor around just as someone else agrees to purchase the place.

The mortgage company will need a valuation survey which is simply to confirm to them that the place is more or less what you're going to be paying for it.

Surveys won't tell you everything - it will probably note the cracks and give an opinion but also suggest a structural engineers report if it looks potentially more serious than plasterwork.

1. Agree a price / accepted offer

2. Instruct solicitor but ask them to hold any searches until you have the survey

3. Apply for mortgage - make sure they are happy with the price and you definately have an mortgage offer

4. Get your surveyor in.

5. Assuming no major issues proceed with searches etc. OR if major issues are noted decide if you want to spend more money looking into them and or renegotiate price or pull out and look for something else.

dimbo61 · 31 August 2021 at 8:14PM

I think you need to make an offer subject to survey !
I don't think the owner/estate agents would let a complete stranger turn up at a property and start inspecting it and bring in builders, structural engineer, surveyor, plumber, electrician etc unless they knew they were serious buyers with the finances in place to buy.