Acompanying surveyor during the survey.

[Fandyman]

Hi,

I've asked a surveyor if it is ok to accompany him during the survey and he welcomed that and said he has no problem.

However, upon him contacting the agency, the agent said I will not be able to accompany which I find strange.

Additionally the surveyor requested few details for the purpose of Level 2 RICS home buyers survey and valuation (which comes as part of it).

The agent was very surprised this data was requested asking what kind of survey this is and why is the surveyor asking for EPC, Brochure and Comps. He also said he never had to provide this information and answer so many questions for a surveyor ever before.

Additionally to the above the surveyor requested answers to the following questions:

• How long have they lived there.


• When was the property built.


• What work have they had done, extensions, ie boiler replacement etc (and when).


• Have they ever had treatment for Japanese knot weed or any issues with subsidence.


• Is there a working burglar alarm.


• Ever been flooded

I did not think this would be unusual to ask the agent and subsequently the vendor.

What are your thoughts about me not being able to accompany the surveyor?
Is this so unusual to ask?
Is it also so unusual for surveyor to ask the other questions above?

Any kind of thoughts much appreciated.

Usual questions and unusual to want to accompany the surveyor. Let them do their job!

I don’t think the surveyor’s questions are too unusual (although a few of them could be found out by the surveyor doing a bit of research, so it’s a bit lazy) but in my opinion and experience, it is very unusual for a purchaser to accompany a surveyor when they are doing a survey.

If I were the seller, I’m afraid I would find it very odd and very intrusive (as the seller will be there too).

I have bought/sold a fair few properties (all out home, not rental nor commercial) and have never accompanied the surveyor. Basically it never occurred to me. However, reading your post, I cannot see why not. Especially if they pick something up, you could ask about it there and then. I actually think now that I may ask to accompany surveyor on our next purchase (if surveyor is ok with it).

the questions being asked would need to be asked during the process anyway. Maybe not all via the surveyor, some by your solicitor and the sellers form. It is information that would need to be disclosed eventually anyway so I’d be curious to know why this information would not simply be forthcoming and ask why they do not want to share this information.

so its not your house being surveyed? We have had surveys on all the houses we have bought and never been there (been doing other things) I would say its up to the seller to say whether you may accompany the surveyor and not the EA's decision. The brochure and environment assessment graphic are usually online, not sure why the EA is being difficult. I have no idea what comps are? The questions sound reasonable and what I would expect to answer as a seller...I belive they are in the conveyancing search docs? If you are not committed or deeply in love with the house, i'd be saying in so many words to the EA that they need to be more helpful to sellers. Have you met ther vendor? Can you talk directly to them about the unhelpfulness of the EA?

The seller may not be there. They weren't there at any of the surveys we had done. One house was empty and in the other cases they went out and let the EA handle it.

PressedintoAction
I don’t think the surveyor’s questions are too unusual (although a few of them could be found out by the surveyor doing a bit of research, so it’s a bit lazy)

It would be lazy if the surveyor did not check but if the seller provides data they have to provide truthful data.

If they claim that X and the surveyor sees Y it can indicate that there could be problems which have been hidden by the seller to sell the property.

Round here I’d say they are usual questions and that it’s usual to accompany the surveyor/meet them in the last 20 mins of their visit. Sometimes you can also turn it into a second viewing.

OP seems perfectly in the right!

Whilst it is unusual to accompany the surveyor my partner did so when we purchased a few years ago. The house needed significant amounts of work and we needed to be in a good position to discuss what was needed with builders.

We had to pay an additional amount (£200 IIRC) to the surveyor for the inconvenience. The EA threw a bit of a strop and said we absolutely were not allowed to do this but came round after I’d freaked out and blurted out that we’d need to pull out of the sake in that case!

It’s a huge purchase OP - you need to be as comfortable as possible with the sale.

Thanks for your replies.

Spoke to the estate agent again today and his main reason for me not attending is that the surveyor may be related to me in some way (e.g. uncles or cousin) hence I should not be part of that.

The other reason is the office will not let him leave for 1-1.5 hrs to be at the time of survey/valuation.

I won't be insisting as I trust the surveyor so I am fine with that.

The surveyor is in no way related to me but even if he was does it even matter?

Thanks again for all your answers.

Quick question - is 30 mins for a 3 bedroom house with approx 130m2 enough for a level 2 survey? I just got a confirmation of the survey and it looks like a 30 min slot.