Level 2 survey worth it

wolves1985

I'm buying a late 1950s house that has been completely renovated recently. Nothing concerns me with the house but I'm still getting a level 2 survey done as I just thought that's what you are supposed to do.

Am I wasting time and money? Some have said I'll just get a load of if, buts and maybes no real answers about anything.

Worth it?

Maahes

Although my L2 survey only brought up things I could see with my own eyes, I was glad I got it done (because it found nothing) and I didn't consider the cost excessive compared to everything else involved in buying a house.

If I bought again would I get another survey done - yes.

Myci85

Do you know a decent builder? We bought a 1960s house and instead of a level 2 survey we got our good builder friend to come and look at it with us, so he could point out any areas of concern, and give us a genuine opinion of if it was a good buy. I think I'd value that even more for a recently renovated property as a level 2 survey can't tell you anything that they can't see, whereas a builder who may know about renovations, can tell you what things should have been done so you can check them with the vendor/solicitor.

monkey-fingers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6652880/level-2-survey-worth-it

I saw someone yesterday who'd had a L2 survey and it picked up that there was some unregularised work done by a bodger and the roof was inherently unsafe and needed £12k worth of work.

Up to you though. If you think you know as much as a surveyor (and admittedly, some of them are rubbish), then you could take the risk.

Albermarle

If the house has had considerable alterations, especially to any structural walls, a Level 3 survey is normally recommended. The extra cost is not that much compared to a Level 2.

Bigphil1474

Yes, I would spend a few hundred quid getting a professional opinion on the condition of a house I am spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on. The trusted builder is an option, but they are unlikely to give you a written report which could form the basis of a negotiation on price. I reckon it depends on your particular circumstances. If i was an experienced house buyer/seller, I'd be more inclined to do the builder option.

Tabieth

It’s the biggest purchase most of us will ever make. What’s a couple of hundred quid in the grand scheme of things?