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AIBU?

To think I need a Homebuyers Report...

36 replies

OhLookMarch · 17/03/2019 22:13

Sorry this probably isn't the right place to ask. I'm in the process of purchasing my first home at the grand old age of 34. Excited but absolutely terrified.

It's a mid terrace (all I can afford for a start home unfortunately) and was built in 1995. My mortgage broker advised me that the lender is currently offering a free "valuation survey" which is usually a cost of £350. I told him great but after it's done I'll get an independent one done too, I want things like wiring and damp and subsidence etc checked and don't believe a VS does all that. He was surprised and said VS will do all that and whilst I should get one done if it reassures me I'll just be wasting a few hundred quid. The mortgage broker is very helpful, capable and competent - he's been a life safer to many people I know but I was surprised at this as nearly everyone else has told me to get an independent RICS homebuyers report.

Thoughts for a clueless first time buyer please?!

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nespressowoo · 17/03/2019 22:18

Get one. It's not a waste of money. We picked things up that knocked £5k off of the price.

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CheekyChappy710 · 17/03/2019 22:18

A valuation survey and homebuyers report are the same thing but lots of different names. Both have no legal leg to stand on and won't go into loads of detail in regards to wiring etc but will pick up more major issues such as obvious damp. If you are really concerned and want certainty you need a full structural survey - more expensive but more thorough, depends how worried you are. Funnily enough the surveyor instructed by the free option might be the same one you instruct anyway as there's usually not loads in a small local area. Go for the free one,if it picks anything up then pay for a full structural.

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OhLookMarch · 17/03/2019 22:22

I was intending to get the level 2 one, so between the full shebang and the shit one. The reason being I've researched it a bit and got the impression the full structural survey is for older or detached properties...

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CheekyChappy710 · 17/03/2019 22:25

Honestly I'd just go for the free one. But up to you,you obviously are worried enough to do research and if you think the one you pay for will be better than the other one then crack on I guess. If you're willing to stump up the cash to put your mind at ease then no one else can really argue that logic with you.

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OhLookMarch · 17/03/2019 22:32

Lol the thing is I'm a massive worrier so nothing will put my mind at ease anyway!

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lavenderbluedilly · 17/03/2019 22:38

I got a homebuyers survey on my current house before buying, and it didn’t pick up the two massive problems we had within the first year. One was a huge hole in a flat roof! The other was an overflowing septic tank (he didn’t check the inspection hatch).

I have also been present when a survey was carried out on a property that I lived in. The surveyor spent about 10 minutes looking around and no doubt charged the buyers £££

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CheekyChappy710 · 17/03/2019 23:45

If you're that much of a worrier just put that £350 towards a full structural survey

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TitusP · 17/03/2019 23:55

Our bank told us a mortgage valuation would not be carried out by a RICS registered surveyor. I'm not sure if that is the case everywhere, but just to warn you. The mortgage valuation also missed a pretty obvious structural issue in the loft because as the estate agent let me know, they never bothered going up there.

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OhLookMarch · 18/03/2019 07:30

Thanks x

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OhLookMarch · 18/03/2019 07:39

The main things I'm worried about are the central heating system and the wiring / electrical system. Do RICS reports even check these?

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Geneticsbunny · 18/03/2019 07:42

They won't check the electrics or the heating except visually. I.e. if they look old they will write something about themnrrding updating. You need an electrician and a separate boiler guy if you want them checked properly.

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Geneticsbunny · 18/03/2019 07:44

In terms of heating the main thing which goeswtong is the boiler so if that is working you will probably be fine and electrics, the only thing which will probably be raised is that the switchboard needs ungrafing unless this is a project house. I assume someone is living there now?

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OhLookMarch · 18/03/2019 07:53

They've already moved out x

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bilbodog · 18/03/2019 08:11

A valuation survey shouldnt cost you anything - the mortgage lender will do that as a matter of course. I think they are offering you a home buyers survey at that price. If its free i would take it but understand as others have said that they dont check everything in detail.

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ThePants999 · 18/03/2019 08:15

A valuation survey will NOT do the things you list. It often doesn't even involve going inside the property! And a mortgage broker should know better, I'm very unimpressed.

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Thereshegoesagain · 18/03/2019 08:21

ALWAYS GET A PROPER SURVEY.
ALWAYS.

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VeryLittleOwl · 18/03/2019 09:41

No, they won't check the heating or wiring, they'll just cast an eye over what's been installed. If it was only built in 1995 I'll be surprised if it comes back with anything more than the advice to get electrics checked every 10 years by a qualified electrician.

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dietcokemegafan · 18/03/2019 09:46

If we hadn't got a structural survey, we wouldn't have known that our house had been underpinned (vendors 'forgot' to mention it) and our insurance would have been invalid when it next subsides. I am stunned how many people buy a house without a full structural survey.

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OhLookMarch · 18/03/2019 11:33

@dietokemegafan how old is your house? Surely the Solicitor should have discovered that during the searches?

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quiettiger · 18/03/2019 11:40

Get a full structural survey done. A friend of mine didn't when she bought her 1900's terraced Valleys house and so didn't pick up subsidence and all the other issues it had.

She had a valuation survey for her mortgage by the bank and was trying to save few quid. What actually happened was instead of saving £350, she ended up spending £45000+ to get the house to a liveable standard.

Now, admittedly that's an extreme example, but it is a true one.

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MereDintofPandiculation · 18/03/2019 12:22

If you're really worried about the electrics, you'll need a survey by an electrician. Even a full structural survey won't get further than advice to get an electrical survey done - different expertise required.

Or take the view that you'll get the electrics replaced and factor that into your calculations as to whether you can afford the house.

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OhLookMarch · 18/03/2019 12:36

I'll have a good few grand in savings when I move in and I've managed to get a good price on the house so that's all fine. It's only a small tidy looking 2 bed. I'm just having horror images of moving into a house that looks fine then ending up with an unexpected £50,000 bill for something and having a complete breakdown. I've never done this before and it's just pretty scary.

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Puzzledandpissedoff · 18/03/2019 12:36

The main things I'm worried about are the central heating system and the wiring / electrical system. Do RICS reports even check these?

No, they don't - and while you might as well have the "Homebuyer's Report" if it's free, it's been my experience that all the caveats make them not worth the paper they're written on

Much better to pay a recommended electrician or plumber for an hour of their time to give you some proper advice on how reliable the systems are. Ditto a builder if you just want some assurance about the roof or floor, though if there's an actual reason to suspect real subsidence - unlikely in a 1995 house - that's where you'd need a structural engineer

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dietcokemegafan · 18/03/2019 20:11

@OhLookMarch 1920s. Didn't come up on searches, why would it? Only the vendors have that info.

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Puzzledandpissedoff · 18/03/2019 20:23

dietcokemegafan I imagine that would depend on the reason for the subsidence ... if it was something like mining or underground water I'd expect the local authority to know about it and for it to show up on a search?

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