Survey results

[Suzyboo]

I'm a first time buyer so pardon my ignorance but the survey says "the applicant should consider it desirable to obtain full tests on all service installations before exchange of contracts, in order to ensure that these are in safe and satisfactory working order" Does this refer to gch and the electrics or anything else too? Who would I get to do these tests? Does this sound worrying or just cautious advice? Any advice from ABers would be gratefully received!

[buildersmate]

All that is happening here is that your surveyor is covering their rear-end because they are not warranting that the service installations work. It depends on what you asked them to survey.
Its worth asking the seller for evidence of when the last service was done on the gCH - and if the system is old, then paying for someone to look at it, if you don't feel competent to have a general look at it yourself. I say this because it could be expensive to replace.
Unless the rest of the house is older than say 25 years, I'd just go around checking that everyone else works. And I mean everything - every hot and cold tap, every electrical socket and switch, open every opening window, check every locking door, flush every loo. You'd be surprised how often some people can't be bothered to fix stuff.

[theonlyone]

Get a electrical survey as when we bought our last house we never bothered and ended up having a full rewire , not what you want when you are on a budget . Do agree with Bmate as you can have a look at the gas contract , ours was on a contract , safe but so noisy , so eventually replaced it . So better safe than sorry !! Hope all goes well and have a good house warming !!!!!!!!!!!

[tiggerwoo]

Same here...my daughter is going thro' the same process and the survey said the same as yours.I just passed it on to the solicitor with an accompanying letter asking whose responsibility it is to pay for these checks.Be guided by your solicitor...thats what you are paying him/her for.Good luck in your new home.

[fluffy apple]

The house we are curently buying on my survey i had to get a electricical report, heating and plumbing and also a damp and timber report. I paid �100 fpr my electrical report which was well worth it as at least you won't get any surprises i.e rewire. There was also a patch of wood worm in th eeloft and understairs.

So get a local electrician and corgi reg plumber who will charge for the reports. But damp and timber experts that ive called don't charge for doing a report