Mortgage surveys etc etc

[Chicken101]

Hey!!
New to this site so apologies!!
Looking for advice really but not sure if this is the right section.. literally saw a house made an offer offer accepted etc (no issues) included we had a standard valuation which is NOT a survey anywho had all the papers through our solicitor advised we get a full structure survey.. fine don’t mind paying out and it’s peace of mind.. however the estate agent has refused this and has told the vendor to also.. is this an unusual case? I’m currently 15 weeks pregnant with my little angel so trying to keep the stress to a minimum but it’s so hard.. I’m fully entitled to this survey right? Why would the estate agent advisor the seller not to let us have access or book it.. totally stressed (NEVER MOVING AGAIN)

Thanks in advance guys I’m a first time buyer and trying to keep my cool but to me it’s like are they hiding something?
Xx

What totally bizarre behaviour.

I would be taking the view that unless they allow access for a buildings survey (often referred to as a full structural survey) then I'm withdrawing my offer.

What are they trying to hide?

I agree with @Mildura, I would be withdrawing my offer unless a full survey can be carried out. Unless they are hiding something, there is no reason to refuse it. It doesn't slow down the process.

I’ve never heard of this. I suspect they’re hiding something. If they don’t allow a survey I think the only option is to withdraw your offer and find somewhere else.

however the estate agent has refused this and has told the vendor to also..

Huge Big Red Flags and alarm bells going off straight away at this. Do not buy without getting a structural survey report done first. They're definitely hiding something. It's a very reasonable and basic request to get a survey when buying a property. You have no come back after the sale has been completed and finalised. It's buyer beware when buying a property. It is your responsibility to ensure everything is structurally sound and investigated. It's a big investment so don't be pushed around by the EA. He is working for the vendor only and getting as much money as possible for the property.

Everyone thank you so much for your help, I suspected as much. The vendor was very lovely and very helpful with all of our questions and she said to the surveyor I tried to hire that she was refusing to book this under the instruction of the EA and that they have told her to speak to her solicitor first. I just find the whole thing extremely confusing because I would suspect that they expected us to ask for a survey to be carried out (not to mention it’s in an old mining area) it’s not the money because we’re happy with the price just want to check it’s safe and sound!!

Don't be tempted to buy without getting a survey done and be on guard if they recommend or demand you use a specific one.

she said to the surveyor I tried to hire that she was refusing to book this under the instruction of the EA

Could there be a misunderstanding, in that the vendors think you want them to pay for the survey? Can you check they understand that you will be appointing and paying for the surveyor?

There’s got to be some sort of misunderstanding as this is really, really bizarre. I recommend you call the estate agent, relay what the vendor said about the refusing access to your surveyor on the EA’s advice and see what they say. But stand firm and say that you won’t proceed with the sale unless your choice of surveyor can carry out a full structural survey. To agree to anything else would be incredibly foolish.

I’d definitely pull out unless you get that survey and it comes back all clear. Very odd and suspicious behaviour

I’m not going to proceed without the survey don’t worry.. the latest update is that the vendor finds it ‘incredibly invasive’ due to the drilling of walls etc etc!!! We’ve put in writing that either she agrees for us to go ahead and conduct the survey with our own independent surveyor or we don’t buy the property! Plenty more houses on the market!!!

A surveyor wont drill holes or lift carpets/floors up, what nonsense.

Exactly what I thought, this was the response I got when I challenged the EA about their reasonings for advising their client to refuse the survey!

I just had a full structural survey done on a house we're hoping to buy. They won't even lift the carpets - they certainly won't be drilling or anything like that. I think they've misunderstood what this is.

Structural surveys are pretty much visual inspections from what I understand. They look at things use binoculars to look at the roof, take damp reading using machines......They done drill or remove floors etc. I would actually recommend a homebuyers report rather than a full structural survey tbh. Structural surveys are more for engineers where as homebuyers reports are for precisely that.....homebuyers. Something I have just discovered.

That said if they refuse to allow you to do one tell them you will withdraw your offer.

How far down the road are you with the purchase? You haven't waited until you're about ready to exchange before deciding you want this, have you? If you want a survey, you should be requesting these early on in the buying process.

No it’s still early days as soon as we learnt we could get the mortgage for it we started making the arrangements which I would imagine is standard.