Surveys - I'm clueless, can someone explain please???

[SquashedInTight]

We're buying an older type bungalow that needs some work. Nothing major (as far as we could tell), but new bathroom, new kitchen, loft conversion needs work etc. Ideally I'd like a survey that checked for the usual stuff (damp etc) but also checks for asbestos, checks the construction of the loft conversion that was done, possibly checks the other side of the loft for insulation etc, looks at general insulation (condition/placing) and just generally assesses the condition of the house. Is that possible at this stage, or is the Homebuyers Survey that max that you can get done before you buy the house?

Aargh lots of typos - sorry, have 2 year old on my lap interfering as I type!

I think you need a full structural survey. It's the most comprehensive kind. We had one on a 1930s bungalow recently and it cost about £900. We pulled out of the purchase as the floors in the two upstairs rooms (built less than 5years ago) were seriously bowing. The surveyor said this might cost £5k to sort out but of course wouldn't be able to guarantee that price.

We were going to have to get a structural engineer's report who would need to lift the flooring.

It was probably built wrongly and it put us off.

The bungalow looked immaculate to us!

Yes, you need a full structural survey. You can tell the surveyor specific things you want to look at and if there is anything they suggest you look more closely at you can get other people in for this.

Thanks so much! So (am really clueless lol) do we pay for the valuation survey for the mortgage company and then get a structural survey done separately? I asked if we could get a more comprehensive survey done with the valuation one and my financial advisor said we could only get a homebuyers report (£500ish) but that only looked at things the surveyor could physically see. Will any surveyor do a structural survey?