When a Homebuyers survey isn't a Homebuyers survey ... is it any good?

[Akandra]

So we're chugging through the buying and selling process. Now our mortgage company want to charge a lot for a Homebuyers Survey if we go with them. They also were making it a nightmare to do as it wasn't included with our product and we'd have to reapply for the whole thing. Plus the advice on here is not to go that way, but to get a local, independent surveyor.

Local surveyors have quoted us for an 'alternative' to the Homebuyers Survey that is more building focused and less valuation focused. Its not a full survey as they won't be doing any damage at all, but they will look everywhere a full survey looks short of doing any actual damage. It sounds ideal for us as the mortgage company are doing their own valuation but our property is only about 15 years old so no need for a full survey.

Has anyone had one of these done? Were you happy with the final report?

I don't think full surveys inolve any damage being done - you can't lift carpets or anything like that. I've never heard of the type of survey that you're referring to, but I'd be interested to know more about it.

Make sure your surveyor has professional indemnity insurance then if she misses anything you can claim on her insurance!

Tell your buidg soc that you are getting a proper survey done and that you'll send them the report - they might waive the need for their own poxy surveyor report then (which is worth less than the paper it's written on in terms of teeling you the real condition of the property).