Buildings survey or structural engineer

[lawyeredout82]

We are in the process of buying a Georgian detaches farmhouse. We have had the mortgage valuation done, separate electrical checks and a damp and timber survey. We obviously want to protect ourselves as much as possible and make sure we understand all defects in the property but we are stuck what to do next!

Shall we use a surveyor to carry out a buildings survey or shall we go straight to a structural engineer to confirm the house is sound and stable? I’m wondering what additional information a surveyor could give over and above that of a structural engineer - and isn’t it possible that they just defer to the structural engineer anyway in their report for things like chimney stacks etc?

As the owner of a Victorian house, a large part of me thinks that if you're buying a Georgian house that has stood for 200 years or so, the chances are it's structurally sound!

A buildings surveyor has a very general brief to look at the entire property, and identify areas that may require further investigation by specialists. A structural engineer has a far narrower brief to look at the structure itself. Unless when you have identified areas of concern in the structure when you have looked round I would go for a buildings survey.

Surveyor will be fine
If there's no obvious signs of slipping /cracking/underpinning and it's 200 years old still going strong I'm pretty sure it's structurally sound!!!

Thank you - I was also just wondering what a surveyor could tell us that a structural engineer couldn’t...quotes for a full building survey are coming up around £2k mark! Admittedly it is a large square footage but that does seem a lot

I'd go for a full structural survey by a qualified surveyor. They will also give a valuation so you are sure that you are not overpaying.

Ours took loads of photos to include in the report. e.g. of cracks or deterioration.