Is this a stupid question?

Blotto17

I’m buying a house on an estate. It is 7 years old. The owner showed me around. She seemed lovely, moving for very understandable reasons - nothing to do with the house. Sad to leave it. Also the house ticks every box for me. I couldn’t be more happy and excited to buy.  The question is should I still get a survey? I have not done one yet. I thought seeing as it is only a few years old and there is still 3 years left on the warrantee it would be fine. The mortgage lenders have done a basic valuation survey - no details on the house at all. Is it foolish to continue without a survey?

Tabieth

I’d get a survey. Some new builds are shocking quality so I wouldn’t assume that just because it’s new it’s ok. Also, buying a property is by far the most expensive things most of us will ever buy. I see spending a couple of hundred pound on a survey as money very well spent. 

Section62

Blotto17 said:

I’m buying a house on an estate. It is 7 years old. The owner showed me around. She seemed lovely, moving for very understandable reasons - nothing to do with the house. Sad to leave it. Also the house ticks every box for me. I couldn’t be more happy and excited to buy.  The question is should I still get a survey? I have not done one yet. I thought seeing as it is only a few years old and there is still 3 years left on the warrantee it would be fine. The mortgage lenders have done a basic valuation survey - no details on the house at all. Is it foolish to continue without a survey?

Some newbuilds can be worse than somewhat neglected older housing stock.

If there is 3 years left on the warranty - and the warranty is worth the paper it is written on - then you'd ideally want to discover any problems with the building before the warranty expires.  So getting a survey done should flag up any issues that need attention while there's at least a theoretical chance of getting the developer/warranty provider to do anything about it.

theartfullodger

There are no stupid questions.  only stupid answers (unless you can afford the gamble - I bought a house at auction, only ever drove past it, but I knew it was a gamble & could afford. Owned over 20 years, worked out OK..)

Yes, get one done - but also if there are any similar nearby properties for sale go see them, might prompt some thoughts for almost no ££££ 

DE_612183

The NHBC warranty only covers specific things - you need a survey as others have said.

Chemistry777

I really would not bother.  It is pretty much just a visual inspection you can do yourself.  They will likely advise specialist surveys for drians, electrics, etc.   Better saving £500 and actually put that money to address any issue you find when you move in.

Smalltownhypocrite

OP maybe check this out:

https://www.instagram.com/new_home_quality_control/

Blotto17

Thanks for all the helpful comments everyone 

Bigphil1474

Might be worth asking the vendor if they had a professional snagger in when they moved in, if they've still got their report etc. I have read that sometimes a lot of minor defects don't get sorted under the NHBC part of the warranty (after the first 2 years) as it has a minimum of £1k of work. They basically just cover major structural defects afaik. If your spending £thousands on a house, a L2 survey is a no brainer to me.

Don't forget, the vendor is the sales person here. They may quite well be genuine, but it's not unknown for a vendor to make up a sob story. 

Blotto17

I’ve been told I may need one to get home/building insurance? 

user1977

Blotto17 said:

I’ve been told I may need one to get home/building insurance? 

Who told you that? It's nonsense.