When did you commission your survey?

[Midlifephoenix]

I'm under offer and have offered on my next house. When sending the money to my lawyer for searches, she asked if I wanted to wait for the survey report before applying for them. I hadn't thought of that - do people wait for the survey first? I never have and usually get the survey done and request searches pretty soon after the offer is accepted (no mortgage involved). I see no point in waiting especially as there are backlogs.
My buyers are also not getting a mortgage, but it's been almost four weeks since I accepted their offer, and I know their lawyer has requested searches and the buyers have been back this week to measure up for some special equipment (disabled child), but no mention of getting a survey done. I've asked the agent, but don't want to push it as maybe they are not planning on getting one? 160 year old detached house though so I'd be surprised.
I'm sure some stuff will arise from the survey, I've never bought a period property that didn't have some issues, but I'm just surprised, as supposedly they want to complete sooner rather than later (and me by June deadline on my ongoing purchase) that one hasn't been booked. How long did you wait before booking a survey?

We're buying our first house (although second round through this bit as first purchase fell through). We did both as soon as possible after offer. Inevitably issues arise from the survey and also possible from the searches and we want to complete by end of June (stamp duty) so didn't want to hold things up. That said, we did lose £900 by doing the searches and survey last time but then vendors changing their mind and taking the house off the market so it's not without risk doing it quickly.

I would instruct the searches as they can take weeks and weeks to come back at the moment, depending on where in the country you are. Unless, of course, you think the survey is going to show serious structural defects which will cause you to pull out of the purchase

Thank you. I have instructed the searches and survey on my own purchase - my question is my buyers instructing a surveyor, as it seems they haven't yet and wondering if anyone else delays doing this (can't think why)?.

We waited until our mortgage had been approved before booking our survey. Once that had been sorted it was full steam ahead with everything else.

OK, no mortgage involved. Just hope this doesn't delay things, though agent seems to think they are wanting to complete even sooner than I'd ideally like to. I wish this process was more definitively scheduled like in the US!

I've heard some who either themselves or have a family member/friend who can do the work either do most of it themselves during viewings or are happy to take the risk of doing it later if they don't intend to negotiate and no lender to appease? That's the only thing I can think of with no mortgage involved.

We did searches right away and organized surveys as soon as we heard back from the bank last month. Even if they are waiting on searches, our survey were booked, appointments done, and results back within a couple of weeks so it may not add in much time.

We've been told that it looks like our searches will be done in the next week or so having started in December, though there were some paperwork delays on the sellers' side as it's a probate sale - my council is notoriously slow with searches. Hopefully things will be moving quickly soon for both of us!

I would be getting the EA to ascertain whether or not they intend to book a survey, and if so maybe they could get on with it!

IME the searches can take longer to come back (esp atm) but the survey is the one that causes potential issues.