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Original poster

Not sure whether to opt for surveys and searches when buying my first house

42 replies

Pinga · 21/08/2019 12:04

So..……….. Im buying my first house and I really cant decide whether to opt for searches and a survey. Id welcome your thoughts if you know about this stuff.

House is currently owned by a very thoughtful, honest, fastidious man. He only bought it 3 years ago and in that time has installed new double glazing, new kitchen, decorated throughout (except carpets). Bathroom and garden were done about 5 years ago. All to a very high standard. Loft conversion to a bedroom (with new roof) was done about 15-20 years ago.

All local land is already built on/developed and all the nearby gardens are small so its tricky to see any obvious future planning permission issues that will come up??

The road is already one way and already has double yellows on my side (theres no off street parking but I don't drive so no biggie for me)
Water, drainage, coal, brine, chancel search - tricky to see how any of these are an issue for this particular house.

Only issue I have is environmental - concern about flooding as the brook at the end of the road regularly floods, but doesn't get within 50 metres of the house.

So should I opt for searches and a survey or go nuts and save my money (haven't got much to spare)
Thanks for reading if you've got this far.

OP posts:

greenlynx · 21/08/2019 16:53

By the way, it’s interesting why the owner is selling after only 3 years and so many additions to the house. Sorry, if I missed it.

MediocreOmens · 21/08/2019 18:06

I looked at a Victorian house, it was immaculate. Survey showed it was underpinned. The very nice sellers at no point offered this information then turned very hostile. You would do checks before buying a car so why not a house which is so so much more.

You do sound very very naive and trusting of a man who has no vested interest in being on your side. I would suggest you read some more threads on here and places like Martins Money Tips etc to get your head round how buying in England and Wales works.

mumdone · 21/08/2019 19:47

We’ve sold and moving just after 3 years and did an extension and renovated the rest of the house. We’re moving for school reasons which is out if our control. However people do change their minds and move for many reasons. I’ll probably get shot down but we don’t bother with full surveys in fact we’ve just done a valuation on our next property as we will do extensive works and other reasons.

Dobbyhasnomaster · 21/08/2019 20:02

Please do the searches and survey - you aren’t a qualified professional, and if you are buying a house for hundreds of thousands of pounds, £500 isn’t exactly unreasonable to check you won’t have any expensive problems!! Expect to sign a waiver from your solicitor saying you opted to do this so you have no recourse if anything goes wrong in future...

Sellers will do anything to make you think the house is a sound investment and go to extreme lengths to cover up problems.. and you can’t go back and sue them afterwards - the law in this country is caveat emptor I.e buyer beware!!

Wingingitsince2018 · 21/08/2019 20:15

100% do them and get a decent survey not the basic as a cash buyer.

We skimped and got the cheapest survery which didn't find the joists supporting the whole back of the house were rotten and had to be replaced to the cost of £2k!

Also, are you sure the loft conversion has been fully signed off?

lastqueenofscotland · 21/08/2019 20:46

Yes always. If you ever plan to sell it on you’d be insane not to

Chanteuse · 21/08/2019 20:59

We are FTBs and the house we are buying is a 1960s build that's just had extensive work done (new kitchen, bathroom, stripped back to brick and replastered, etc) and we have still opted for the full survey. Lender offered valuation or home buyers, so we have told them to do the valuation survey whilst we appoint a surveyor to complete the full survey.

We were under the impression that the searches aren't really optional anyway... We may just be naive on that though.

Shop around for quotes - the first surveyor we approached wanted £900 + VAT but we have found a more agreeable quote after shopping around.

WBWIFE · 21/08/2019 22:33

I believe searches are compulsory. Surgery's are not however a mortgage valuation which normally costs is if you're having a mortgage

TapasForTwo · 21/08/2019 22:45

I would never not have at least a homebuyer's report done. We are trying to sell my late MIL's house, and thought thst it just needed modernising. The first buyer pulled out after receiving his home buyer's report because there are so many things wrong with the house. He sold us the report for half price so we know exactly what needs doing. I wouldn't buy that house based on the report either.

MummytoCSJH · 21/08/2019 22:45

WBWIFE - No mortgage, OP is a cash buyer as mentioned several times.

Definitely get them OP. As others have said the seller may seem honest but all he really wants is to sell the house for as much money as possible! This could save you thousands down the line.

WBWIFE · 22/08/2019 09:03

Well in that case personally I'd still do searches as for home insurance you need flood risk I thought? I was asked it for mine anyway

Mildura · 22/08/2019 09:07

I believe searches are compulsory

Not if you're a cash buyer they're not.

Definitely advisable though, even if you don't need a mortgage.

Mildura · 22/08/2019 09:09

the first surveyor we approached wanted £900 + VAT

That doesn't sound too bad for a buildings survey. Likely to be best part of 2 days work for a qualified professional.

Embracelife · 22/08/2019 09:11

The fact you are so convinced he is honest screams get the survey.
You dont know him and even if he is your brother you really dont know.
It s Victorian and could have all kinds hidden issues.

JHaniver · 25/08/2019 09:12

We offered on an absolutely beautiful and immaculate house, owned by a lovely older couple. Turns out it was directly over a mineshaft. They claimed they hadn’t known anything about it as they were cash buyers, but they later sent us a copy of the mining report they had when they purchased (I don’t know why - I think the wording had just changed in the interim and the older one sounded a bit less awful although the facts were the same).

I would get the searches and survey.

Clare45BST · 25/08/2019 09:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wowfudge · 25/08/2019 09:48

The seller saw you coming if you think it's a good idea to buy without a survey or searches. Especially as you have already said it's so close to an area at risk of flooding. Did he mention that as a cash buyer you wouldn't have to have a survey or searches by any chance?

You cannot rely on a previous survey or searches as things change. Surveys are not usually transferable so can't be relied on.

Honestly you'd be bonkers not to have both. This is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make. The cost of a survey and searches will be a small compared to the purchase price you're paying.

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