Level 2 Home buyer survey

eurobabe

Hi with this survey type will the surveyor be able to turn on and off switches that have appliances currently running such as washing machine PC cooker etc?I take it with appliances that are part of sale they'll just do a visual check for the condition?Do they usually go into cupboards and are they able to start moving the contents about?How about sofas do they move these?Do they test the burglar alarm?should hopefully be Ok just wondering how intrusive the surveyor can be and whether they go beyond what they should when they turn up.

BarelySentientAI

A surveyor isn't going to start turning people's computer and tv on and off, nor are they going to rummage through the contents of people's cupboards.

What do you think they'd be able to tell you by doing so?

They're probably not going to comment on appliances at all, except perhaps the boiler (which they will say "get a gas safe expert to inspect"), and their comment about the electrics will be "get an electrician to inspect".

I wouldn't expect them to do any testing of anything at all - that's not their job.

I think you've misunderstood what a survey covers.

eurobabe

Thanks I thought they start turning switches on and off to check they work.for the cupboards it was in case they wanted to view some services or check wall conditions etc.not that they're interested in the contents.

BarelySentientAI

This is what RICS says is in a level 2 survey:



Described in more detail:



Visual inspection only, doesn't move any furniture, move any contents in cupboards or loft, doesn't lift insulation or carpets, doesn't test electrics, gas, plumbing, heating or drainage...

You get a traffic light report in a template that looks like this:

https://www.rics.org/content/dam/ricsglobal/documents/standards/rhs_level_two.pdf

Albermarle

eurobabe said:

Thanks I thought they start turning switches on and off to check they work.for the cupboards it was in case they wanted to view some services or check wall conditions etc.not that they're interested in the contents.

The fact that a light switch works, gives no real indication of the state of the electrical system anyway.

I think normally if possible they will look at the meter/fuse box/consumer unit and the cables around it. If it looks old/potentially not safe they will mention this .

Same with the boiler/heating/hot water system, they could mention it looks old/new.

Otherwise as already said they will recommend that you get it all tested anyway, although probably unnecessary in the majority of cases.