How thorough are mortgage valuation surveys?

[runforthehills65]

Yesterday a surveyor carried out a valuation report on behalf of Santender. I was amazed how thorough he was. He took photos and measurements, took damp readings, went up in loft and was at the property for a good 30 minutes. When I sold my last house the valuation surveyor was no where near as diligent.

Are they all like this now?

When we last got a valuation they did it by driving past. These days they lift the floorboards and tell you it is worth 2k less than you are paying. Probably better now.

I think it depends how much equity they have invested. Our mortgage survey was little more than a drive by and a comment to the effect that the place has been standing for 400 years so it's probably OK for the next 50.

The EA said the people buying my property only need a small mortgage as they are downsizing so that made the detail he was going into all the more surprising.

Hmmm ours got the property down as terraced when it was end of terrace... And a friends got the lease wrong (80 years remaining vs 900 years).... I suspect it was more of a poking his nose in to nosy around!

That is what worries me. Several houses have just sold for £10-15k less than I have been offered but they did need a lot doing to them. Mine is all done but how will the surveyor know that? I dread the valuation coming back much lower. In general the house is fine but there is bit of damp on one external wall of house though none visible in house.