Full structural surveys

[mmmmmchocolate]

House sold a few months ago and buyer has finally decided to have a full structural survey. I’ve had a nosy about online but it seems to be very vague as to what they look for and how they look for it. One website said that they ‘look between floor and ceilings’ and ‘behind walls’. How? I’ve got visions of them leaving holes all over my house! 😂 so, anyone who has had one done on their house or had a report for a house they were buying, please tell me what to expect.

[minipie]

I’ve had one done. No holes made! The surveyor will look where they can without doing any damage, that’s all. I have no idea how they would look behind walls or between floor and ceilings, ours certainly didn’t!

[mmmmmchocolate]

Thanks mini pie, what sorts of things were they looking at if you don’t mind me asking? Did they pick up on anything that needed addressing?

[MissCherryCakeyBun]

When we had ours done we used a RICS surveyor and we got a detailed 41 page report. Included drawings and photos of issues, the house we were buying was vacant possession tho and had been owned by a DIYer with a solidly no skills
Each room where there was 'blown' plaster or if it was plasterboard so what would need remedial work
the flooring types and issues so the damaged floorboards in the bathroom and 1 bedroom so needed new floors and that's the front hall had a quarry tile floor under the carpet
The damp staining on the walls was historic and no sign of damp now
The electrics needed full replacement
The heating system replacement
The roof was in good condition and which tile had slipped and need to be sorted
The downstairs loo was not working/flushing properly
The stopcock for the water had been walled into the downstairs loo wall!!!!!
Which window units needed replacing
The double garage had planning permission but the drive up to it didn't
It was very thorough and worth every penny.....we are 7 weeks into the return of the house with 3 weeks to go and we haven't found one thing that wasn't mentioned on the survey. It also meant we paid a price for the house that was realistic for the work that needed doing considering a complete DIY lunatic had wrecked the house over a number of years previously.
An example of plumbing is here......we called it Steampunk Plumbing

[MissCherryCakeyBun]

A solidly? Absolutely

[MovingThisYearHopefully]

Same issue here chocolate. Had valuation booked in a few days ago & done today so thought that would be it, but had a call yesterday booking in for the full structural survey early on Saturday morning. I'm shatting myself tbh. Not that I think anything drastic is wrong with the house, but its a 30's build, not new, so its unlikely to be 100%. We simply can't afford to reduce further so I'm really worried. Would love to hear others stories about what happened when they had one done!

[MovingThisYearHopefully]

Sounds very thorough MissCherryCakeyBun. We already priced to reflect the level of work our house needs doing & accepted a substantial reduction, lower than we would of accepted to start with, but we'd had enough. It's not a fixer-upper. Electrics, plumbing, boiler, kitchen & bathroom are fine, but it needs some redecoration in the way of flooring mainly & possibly a bit of replastering on a bay for cosmetic value, plus garage isn't in the best of health. All factored in & they got a great deal at 20k reduction. Worried now.

[Mrsramsayscat]

From a buyers point of view, they can be unimpressive. I had one done which just recommended a pile of extra surveys (gas/elec/damp) so I may just as well have had those done for free to start with and save myself £1000.

[Poppyinagreenfield]

A structural survey is a survey of the structure of the house relating to issues such as settlement that may require underpinning and would be raised by the presence of cracks particularly at or near openings. It can also include other issues of basic stability. Chimneys, foundations, drains, nearby trees are other items which can effect the structural integrity of a house.

The looking behind walls could be related to the condition of cavity ties between the inner and outer skins of masonry.

What others are referring to is more of a house survey relating to other non structural items such as plumbing and electrics.

[flamingofridays]

cherry are you in Halifax by any chance?

[MissCherryCakeyBun]

@flamingofridays nope in Somerset.

[flamingofridays]

Ah we viewed a house with pipework just like that all over the place it was crazy!

[minipie]

Mine was similar to MissCherry’s.

• overview of roof condition, including chimneys and gutters
  
• any damp looking patches and idea of where they came from, were they old or still wet
  
• blown plaster areas, condition of woodwork and windows
  
• noticed a drains smell when kitchen tap ran (turned out the main drain had collapsed)
  
• sagging porch
  
• sagging bay, sign of subsidence - led to us asking qs of the owner and eventually getting info re a prior subsidence issue

[mmmmmchocolate]

Thanks everyone, I tried to get in earlier to read any replies but mumsnet was down 😮

So, it’s quite thorough then.. like one of the previous posters mentioned, ours is also 1930’s so somethings will no doubt come up. Even though we’ve looked after it, had lots of work done on it and it is immaculately presented. I’m worried because if the buyer tries to knock us down we won’t be able to afford to move. I’d definitely underestimated what extra costs moving would create versus staying in a house which would be paid off in a few years. Mortgage, council tax, insurances have all gone through the roof and we will be paying right up to retirement to pay the new house off. It’s so hard ☹️

[MovingThisYearHopefully]

We had ours done today. Surveyor was outside for about an hour & 15 minutes & then came inside for about the same length of time. He was a really nice guy & said there was nothing drastic & it was a very honest house in the fact it was what you see is what you get. Will have to see what the buyers make of his findings now & if they try to squeeze anymore money out of us.

They already have tried to get us to stump up £750 for an indemnity policy to allow them to extend without issue because of some covenant. We have refused this & any further reductions due to the level of the offer accepted being as low as we could go. Plus if they want to extend then its down to them & nothing to do with us. The house is sold as seen, but given that pretty much everyone in our street & surrounding ones have extended & next door quite dramatically, there is a clear precedent set & it would not be a problem getting planning permission as it is clear the council has an anything-goes policy pretty much when it comes to extending these houses.

[RossPoldarkfan]

I am currently in a position whereby my buyers want to drop their offer on my Victorian house considerably due to the survey. I have new boiler, kitchen, bathroom, paintwork, carpets etc. The windows need replacing, the roof is sound but getting old. I accepted a low price because of this but they could see the windows were old and nothing urgent needs to be done to the roof so I think they are unreasonable. They would have to pay 50k more anywhere else locally. I'm not sure how to respond.
The house I'm buying is also showing things that the surveyor recommends are serious enough to ask for a reduction. in this case I am not getting the house cheap so think would be justified to ask for a small reduction.

[MovingThisYearHopefully]

This is my fear too Ross. We also reduced significantly because we know there are certain things that need doing, plus we agreed to break chain & move into rented if necessary. If our buyers request a reduction that amounts to how much it would cost us to rent for a few months then we will give them the option of that amount off but they'd have to move by our timescale & we won't go into rented, beyond that we can do no more. Good luck with your buyers & sellers Ross, chances are they're just trying their luck & you just need to get your estate agent to put them in the picture that there is no more money to reduce by.