Surveyor or Solicitor first?

KKSK

 Our offer has been accepted and now we have to instruct our solicitor. Before incurring the cost of solicitor, is it better to get a survey done, preferably a level 2?  Don't want to get surprised at a later stage. But will the buyer agree at this stage or better to instruct the solicitor as want the property off the market
Thanks

MikeJXE

Is there any point getting a solicitor on board if you don't even know if you will buy the place ? 

You can of course put everything in motion and suffer the consequences (if there is any) later at a cost. 

Richard1212

If you want everything to run quickly and smoothly then ALWAYS instruct a solicitor or conveyancer as soon as you put in an offer and before any surveys are completed. Starting conveyancing is always the first priority. Surveys are optional ( but in my view necessary) but can be carried out anytime before exchange of contracts.

user1977

Instructing a solicitor doesn't necessarily mean incurring any material cost, it can just mean getting the ball rolling (and then asking them to stall until you're happy with the survey).

Jonboy_1984

Solicitor
Mortgage application 
Surveyor (can be arranged whilst MA is in progress, but for a date after approval)

mebu60

Instruct the solicitor and instruct them to wait until you are happy to proceed post survey. But that will delay things like searches. 
Look for a no sale no fee conveyancing arrangement. You will still be required to pay disbursements but then I'd suggest progressing survey in parallel knowing that any costs will be limited to those amounts which will be detailed up front as part of the quote if you withdraw.  

Grizebeck

If your not having a mortgage you can not bother with searches or just Order what you want. (I ordered 2 directly)

BobT36

Jonboy_1984 said:

Solicitor
Mortgage application 
Surveyor (can be arranged whilst MA is in progress, but for a date after approval)

Doing my Mortgage in Principle call, the Mortgage company (Nationwide) told us as FTBs in no uncertain terms to contact them FIRST, before talking to Solicitors or Surveyors. 

Probably so we didn't rack up a load of costs but then have the mortgage company bail out or something. Anyways as per their instructions it was 

Mortgage Application
Solicitor
Surveyor

propertyrental

Your seller will want your solicitor's details asap and if not forthcoming will not consider you a serious buyer. Yould, if you wish, select a slicitor and passon ther details, but instruct them not to start work.

My own view though is that wasting time is pointless (providing the chain is complete) and you should instruct everyone to start work: solicitor, surveyor, mortgage lender, and potentially gas engineer too.

Conveyancing takes long enough at the best of times, but doing each task sequentially just drags it out further.