Surveyors........

[askyourgran]

We've bought a bungalow and arranged for the surveyor to look it over. They rang today to ask which type of survey we required, MrAsk wasn't sure so we have ended up having a full survey costing £510 inc vat, which I think is a lot. We are buying the bungalow outright, no mortgage, and it looks to be Ok about - 70 years old. Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the full whack survey and the usual one?

[bednobs]

can i just ask you if you have already bought it? If so, no need for a survey surely?

[askyourgran]

Not paid yet it is still with the property lawyer, but the surveyor is about to look over the property before we buy it.

[factor-fiction]

The cheaper one is usually little more than a basic valuation. I think there is also one more thorough than yours- a full structural survey- which would cost a lot more than £510

[woofgang]

I would always have a full survey. You are spending a lot of money on a house. If there is something wrong with it, it could be extremely expensive. I am betting that the price of the survey is a small percentage of the purchase price?

[Peaspeculiars]

Hi AYG - That's pretty cheap if the surveyor is registered with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and they are carrying out a Full Structural Survey (also known as a Building Survey). They will probably add Vat onto the cost.
It is invaluable that you have this done to make sure there are no hidden nasties - The surveyor will be 100% unbiased and will tell you the truth on the buildings structural condition. It sounds like a good deal to me (I work in a property department and most surveyors charge £850 +Vat and upwards for a full structural survey on a standard sized property)

[gness]

Gran...you can google types of surveys and decide on which you want but I always have a full survey for peace of mind...it's not a huge amount on the cost of a house and as Woof says.....unexpected repairs will be much more expensive.....x

[tonyav]

Cost me £750 plus vat five and a half years ago.

[Peaspeculiars]

Sorry AYG, to be more specific to your OP:
Full Structural surveys will tell you in detail how stable your building is on top of everything a cheaper 'Homebuyer Survey' (HSV) or Condition survey will tell you. The survey will give you remedial recommendations to advise on how to resolve any structural issues that they come across e.g. underpinning or damp proofing/ tanking works. They will also have a look at the ground the house sits on and the close locality to spot any issues i.e. Tree root encroachment.
The HSV and condition surveys will be a photographic 'tour' of the property and will only tell you of issues that are 'Visible' to the surveyor. They will make assumptions on the materials used in the supportive structure and may not pick up on issues such as subsidence likelihood or other long term structural issues.

[kat-kin]

My survey cost £400 inc vat and that was a full one.

[askyourgran]

Thanks for your replies, it looks as though I'm getting off lightly with the surveyors fee. Mrask decided that we should get the more expensive one, the bungalow had been sold and suddenly put back on the market a week ago. We were told it was not a problem with the building but that the previous buyer had heard that the HS2 train would be in the vicinity of the estate, and that changed his mind. There is a railway station a few miles away but it is in a built up shopping area, hardly a place to wipe out a whole district for a railway expansion. The surveyor suggested that, because we haven't a mortgage it would be safer to have the full survey done.

[askyourgran]

Thanks peas, I was curious to know what they look for. The people who have bought ours have had a survey done on my house which took about an hour and a half, but he 'viewed' everything through binos at the roof etc. and looked in cupboards and loft.

[TonyV]

I would always go for full survey, can be a negation point if any defects found and shows vendor that you are serious buyers

[Buenchico]

From the RICS website:
http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/more-services/consumer-guides/home-surveys/

[Peter Pedant]

£500 knicker is a lot you say
and you are paying HOW much for the bungie ?

admittedly I dont usu do surveys but that is because the family is stuffed with roofers, decorators etc

[buildersmate]

I'm not sure I'd trust a decorator to give me an unbiased opinion on death watch beetle in my cut roof, even if he is my great uncle once removed.

[askyourgran]

Lol buildersmate. This is the most frustrating thing I have been through. I have completed the forms for my house sending copies of Corgi certs. etc and his solicitor is asking for building consents for the roof which was renewed along with my neighbours in late 1989ish, which I don't have. This will be our eighth move in 54 years marriage and we've never had anything like this before. I almost feel like telling them to get lost.