Colley & Halifax

[Allthatglitters11]

We have just been told that our offer on a house has been accepted. We have a mortgage meeting with Halifax this weekend as we have to port our current mortgage, so staying with them.

Their mortgage advisor has said that we have to use Colleys for their survey but that we should pay them more and get them to do a more detailed survey while they're there, instead of paying for an independent one.

I'm not sure what to do, as I can't find any good reviews of Colleys online (although isn't that always the way with reviews!) and I just don't know which way to proceed.

If anyone has had any experience with Colleys or this sort of situation any help would be gratefully appreciated.

We had Colleys do the survey on our house. I think they have a contract with Halifax. We had no issues - I chased the surveyor for his report myself and asked him for some further info on something he'd flagged. He was fine with both.

The Halifax are suggesting you pay for a homebuyer's or full structural survey rather than the basic valuation one. It's in your interests to have a more detailed survey carried out. It may save you money to use Colleys as they are already going to go to the property; it may save you money to use an independent surveyor for your own survey - I'd get a quote from both before going any further. I imagine the Halifax will insist on Colleys for a basic valuation survey - it'll be in their terms and conditions.

Thanks, that's very helpful. I've had a quote for ??650 for a building survey from an independent RICS surveyor but will go back to them and ask for more detailed information, so I can compare it with the prices from Halifax on Saturday.

We were always going to get a more detailed survey carried out so have no issue with paying for one, I just feel like we're being forced into the more detailed on by Halifax. However, it may work out cheaper as you said so I will look into it a bit more.

Can I ask where abouts you're based? Thanks

I went with Halifax surveyor and paid for homebuyers, worth it I think, we are planning renovations and keep referring to that survey.
I think it was ??500 for valuation survey (compulsory) and then 295 extra to upgrade to a homebuyers. Mine was with Connells though, likely area dependant. Nice, easy and done very quickly, no complaints.

Fwiw it's sound advice to pay for a more detailed survey - at least you will then have more idea what you are letting yourselves in for. A couple of hundred pounds now is money well spent.

Thanks, I'm in the process of getting some quotes, and one of them has raised the issue of Hoop Iron in the property. So definitely going to get a detailed survey done.

Hi, Weve just used Colleys. All was well until we tried to contact them via email regarding a query that came up on the survey and are now just being ignored.