Full strucutural survey vs Homebuyers report-is it worth it?

[jane313]

We are looking at buying an edwardisn property in very good condition. Everyone I know who has bought recently says they didn't bother getting the full survey but I am a bit of a worrier. I didn't get one last time but then I had a newer house.

Anyone got any views?

Thanks, its intersting that everyone seems to say it. (And quite exciting as I had budgeted for it, maybe we could get a huge bed now!)

How much detail does the homebuyers go into?Sorry for the hijack but have 2 viewings on our house next week and need to think about these things Thanks Beety

I remember mine being quite detailed. It addresses all the major points I hope!

Homebuyers are really quite detailed, often run to 6 pages plus. Should be sufficient. I would try and speak to the surveyor that your lender is using to raise any specific points you have with him/her. The surveyor could tell you whether a full structural survey is necessary, but is rarely is. Homebuyers should be fine.

We're moving ATM and the surveyor told us the homebuyers tells you whats wrong with the house the Full structural tells you whats right and wrong.
6-8 pages of stuff to report for homebuyers, 35+ of a full strucural.

We've had homebuyers done, on the surveyor advice.

We had the full one done and it highlighted the fact that the boiler was on its last legs. The vendor disputed this, I threatened to walk away and ended up with a £3k reduction which more than paid for the full survey.

Oh and the icing on the cake ??

The day we moved in, there was a note to say terribly sorry but the boiler rolled over and died when we turned it on for the winter. I was LOL ing for ages over that one.

It seems to be harder to sue on the basis of a homebuyer's report than on a full one. Have to say that I have personally preferred the layout of the homebuyer's report.

Having been caught out I think I would be more concerned over the choice of surveyor (and getting one who is recommended) than over the type of report. My experiecen has been that it is easier to choose your suveoyr if you go for a full report, but if it is just a valuation or homebuyer report, then the mortgage lender seems to choose the surveyor. Can you opt for homebuyers and choose your own surveyor?