So, do all Homebuyers Reports say "Despite no evidence of woodworm/damp/collapsing walls etc recommend getting a specialist report anyway"?

[Tinker]

And how many people did get the extra reports?

How far do you go in checking everything when buying a house?

ours didn't but the house was only 3 yrs old and had NHBC guarantee for another 7 years.
In an older house I would check

every report we've ever had has suggested further reports...once we did - regarding something structural, but other than that we didn't bother

yes, If its an older house it's worth doing. I did it and on our previous house there was £1,000 of damp proofing to be done, which we asked to either have taken off price or done.

yes, they suck don't they?

We only got the ones our mortgage company told us to get.

Not sure if that's entirely wise, but tbh I couldn't be fked getting any more.

Which reports have they told you to get?

I didn't bother
We had a quick survey to check the house wasn't going to fall down (it's a bit wonky)

Depends if the outcome of the report would make you change your mind about the purchase

Everyone's telling us not to bother(with extra reports) Partner is very cautious though, first time he's bought a house.

yup , a standard caveat. A Homebuyers' report involves minimal intervention , so no cupboards opened, furniture moved, carpets lifted, maybe a quick look with a torch through the attic opening. This basically covers the surveyor for not having highlighted any non superficial issues.

Needs new roof eventually (but vendors told us that)

Says something near the wall has bridged the damp proof course? Think that's easily fixable???

Says to get reports about woodworm etc but know any reports would always say that - no evidence of it.

Check where French windows/internal wall knocked down that done properly - will ask vendor about these first.

Get gas and elec checked. Well know when my purchaser got these checked in my house they found stuff that was "illegal" but wasn't really a problem at all.

Check where a chimney has been knocked out that proper supports are in place.

Um, think that's it.

Think that is pretty standard tinker.

Our latest one said to check about any work thats been done (your solicitor will ask your buyers for the relevant paperwork)

Gas and elec is definitely standard and we have never done it. I would if I believed the wiring or boiler was old. Think wood worm is pretty standard too - we've always been told that an old house will usually have had some at some point.
Not sure about damp course.

Does your survey have a section at the end that says 'urgent action' 'recommended action' etc. If you like the house I would say address the 'urgent action' points but not worry about rest.

God, I've bored everyone away.

Nothing in the urgent bit. But then says these bits shoudl be addressed "urgently"! Boiler is as old as my current one and same make but think it's under a 12 month service, in which case am not overly concerned.

in that case, if I were you (but am no expert) I would just make sure my solicitor asks for evidence of building regs for the chimney breast/french doors/ internal wall and ring a damp proof person and just ask what work would be required to fix the problem.

If its an old house I would just accept that some issues may arise that might need dealing with ! In fact, thats what |I just did and we're moving a week tomorrow !!!

That's my view too, wheelybug. Just want to move.

Yes we did and thank goodness we did - the structural report threw up localised subsidence. Consequently, vendor still wanted top whack for his home and we walked away, this was just one area that needed a lot of money throwing at it, in addition the roof needed major work doing on it, asbestos garage needed demolishing, etc, etc.

Actually, I think we must be b***y unlucky, this is the second purchase that has fallen through because of structual probs and we are mightily cheesed off with the amount of money we have lost on 2 abortive purchases, although grateful I suppose that the problems were thrown up before purchase. Still out there house hunting, but certainly in the areas we are looking in demand seems to be far outstripping supply.

Was the subsidence mentioned in the Homebuyer's Report pacinofan?

We asked a couple of damp proof companies to do a survey of the house (most do this free in the hope of getting the job). They put their findings in a report with top whack quotes.(not sure if they actually found much as the two companies stated entirely different problems). We then presented the "findings" and quotes to the vendor through the estate agents and negotiated a £10k reduction in the asking price!
We have lived in the house for 2 years now with NO work done and NO sign of damp what so ever!

Even though it costs a few extra quid would wholeheartedly reccomend gettng a more advanced survey.As FTB with rose tinted spectacles we ignored this reccomendation and ended up shelling out for damp proofing.It could also give you leverage with the sellers if a problem arises.HTH

Tinker - no, subsidence only showed up in our survey, a full structural, building survey. Expensive but worth it, in my opinion.

Tinker, I don't think homebuyers' reports are worth getting, because they hardly cover anything and are full of arse-covering caveats. I would EITHER go for a full structural survey, or go without a written report but walk around teh house with a builder who can point out any obvious defects. Most property professionals I know do the latter, but unfortunately a lot of lenders insist on homebuyers' reports.

i agree with tuttifrutti, homebuyers reports are a waste of money. when going for a survey, either go for the basic valuation or a full structual. homebuyers reports are just a list of get out clauses for any comback. we paid £550 for one in june for the house we bought and got 13 pages of crap. i spotted more than the surveyor did. there were 2 pages covering the re-felting of flat roofs as the garage and porch have a flat roof. but the roof is actually a concrete slab, exactly when will a concrete slab need re-felting??, it would take an atomic bomb to damage it. things the survey didn't spot incude, re-wiring, lighting ring unsafe as its not earthed, heating pipes not earthed to name but a few, waste of money imo.

doesn't really answer your question as i'm ranting

Hmm. Ours tells us that the porch is uninhabitable! Hadn't planned on living in the porch.

Oh god, I just want to buy a house!