Survey on house

boxer234

After a year of looking I’ve finally had an offer accepted.  The property is quite old so I do need a survey.  What level would you recommend? 

Also should I wait for my mortgage offer before spending the money on a survey? 

youth_leader

Congratulations!

I learnt on here to wait for the chain to complete before having a survey.

If the property is quite old I'd have a full structural, and also pay for an electrical check.  I didn't pay for an electrical check and had to get the smoke/heat alarms changed as they were out of date, as well as new transformers for 17 halogen spotlights so I could instal LED's.  There's another survey vendors aren't obliged to provide, think it's for the central heating/boiler if it's not been regularly servied.

user1977

How old is "quite old"? I'm quite old, but are we talking 1970s old or 1790s old?

propertyhunter

Depends on how old the property is, and the current condition it is in. I'm purchasing a 1950s home, only been in one family since then and needs a complete refurb as it hasn't been renovated in 20-30 years. I had a full structural level 3 survey for this reason. This then identified the need for an electrical survey and, since there was no recent boiler service, a check on the gas too. 

Wait until the chain is complete before spending any money and applying for the mortgage. 

propertyhunter

boxer234 said:

Also should I wait for my mortgage offer before spending the money on a survey? 

Are you worried about your affordability for the mortgage, and that it might be declined, hence the reason to avoid going ahead with the survey until you have the offer? 

boxer234

propertyhunter said:

boxer234 said:

Also should I wait for my mortgage offer before spending the money on a survey? 

Are you worried about your affordability for the mortgage, and that it might be declined, hence the reason to avoid going ahead with the survey until you have the offer? 

Hi everyone thank you; the house is over 100 years old so I definitely want a survey done. I’m just not sure if the timeline. There is no chain so good to go.

Not so much worried just haven’t done this for years so not sure if I should wait for the offer.  So far I’ve only had one quote returned.   

Noneforit999

boxer234 said:

propertyhunter said:

boxer234 said:

Also should I wait for my mortgage offer before spending the money on a survey? 

Are you worried about your affordability for the mortgage, and that it might be declined, hence the reason to avoid going ahead with the survey until you have the offer? 

Hi everyone thank you; the house is over 100 years old so I definitely want a survey done. I’m just not sure if the timeline. There is no chain so good to go.

Not so much worried just haven’t done this for years so not sure if I should wait for the offer.  So far I’ve only had one quote returned.   

I would get a Level 3 done on a house >100 years old personally. Have you visibly looked at the consumer unit and the heating / hot water system? Do they look modern ish?

A house of that age is likely to have had some modernisation done over time so it really depends when stuff like the electrics and heating system were last upgraded. A full rewire on a 3 bed semi is likely to be £3.5k upwards, probably more these days so its worth checking these out and factoring in these costs. 

If you have a decent LTV, your credit history is good and you are not concerned about affordability then get a survey done whenever you want. If there is a concern about getting a mortgage offer then just wait until the offer comes in. 

boxer234

Noneforit999 said:

boxer234 said:

propertyhunter said:

boxer234 said:

Also should I wait for my mortgage offer before spending the money on a survey? 

Are you worried about your affordability for the mortgage, and that it might be declined, hence the reason to avoid going ahead with the survey until you have the offer? 

Hi everyone thank you; the house is over 100 years old so I definitely want a survey done. I’m just not sure if the timeline. There is no chain so good to go.

Not so much worried just haven’t done this for years so not sure if I should wait for the offer.  So far I’ve only had one quote returned.   

I would get a Level 3 done on a house >100 years old personally. Have you visibly looked at the consumer unit and the heating / hot water system? Do they look modern ish?

A house of that age is likely to have had some modernisation done over time so it really depends when stuff like the electrics and heating system were last upgraded. A full rewire on a 3 bed semi is likely to be £3.5k upwards, probably more these days so its worth checking these out and factoring in these costs. 

If you have a decent LTV, your credit history is good and you are not concerned about affordability then get a survey done whenever you want. If there is a concern about getting a mortgage offer then just wait until the offer comes in. 

You see I hadn’t thought about the electrics.   That’s a separate survey I take it? Boiler is fairly new.  I didn’t get anything checked with my last house which was stupid. Lucky it was all ok. 

youth_leader

Is it fully carpeted boxer234?  I've been caught out, surveyor had stated he couldn't inspect the subvoid or floorboards because of the fully fitted carpets throughout. 

I've now discovered there is water under the building, all floors are rotten with mould and joists are soaking. I'm packing to move out so they can all be replaced.  I've just had a quote of £9K plus VAT for timber replacement, waiting for a quote for concrete. So lucky I have equity left to pay for it.

user1977

youth_leader said:

Is it fully carpeted boxer234?  I've been caught out, surveyor had stated he couldn't inspect the subvoid or floorboards because of the fully fitted carpets throughout. 

This can be the trouble with going for a level 3 survey - it will include a more detailed report on under the floors, in the loft etc, but only if the surveyor can access the relevant areas. They're no more likely to start shifting furniture etc out the way than they would for a level 2 survey.

boxer234

youth_leader said:

Is it fully carpeted boxer234?  I've been caught out, surveyor had stated he couldn't inspect the subvoid or floorboards because of the fully fitted carpets throughout. 

I've now discovered there is water under the building, all floors are rotten with mould and joists are soaking. I'm packing to move out so they can all be replaced.  I've just had a quote of £9K plus VAT for timber replacement, waiting for a quote for concrete. So lucky I have equity left to pay for it.

What a nightmare! Yes most of it is carpeted.