Home Buyer Survey on 3 year old house - Would u bother?

[Samara26]

I am buying a 3 year old property and not sure whether to spend 1k on a home buyer survey or just get a more basic one plus the electric EICR survey, which I'll definitely get

Does anyone have any advice, as seems like personal preference.

House was built by the developer, who also owns the house on some land he bought up - also built house next door - so it's not a huge estate or anything - not sure I that makes a difference?

Personally No I wouldn’t bother with a house so new I would get the cheapest survey I could

They're not worth the paper they're written on. The surveyor is not a trained in gas/electrics/roofing or anything. It just their opinion. Completely useless in my opinion, if you want to know specific things request an electrical report/gas inspection report/get a roofer round.

With a new build you are structurally covered for 10 years as well.

I wouldn’t bother and will just do the survey required by the mortgage.

I just bought a twenty year old house and didn’t bother. My house was also about twenty years old and the person buying didn’t get a survey done either.

ask them when they last got the boiler serviced.

Just asking cause a colleague at work bought a newish house previously owned by a builder and there were all sorts of problems with wiring and modifications the previous 'builder' owner had made that easily cost him 10-15k.

I'm just wondering what type of building regulations and how thorough they are, when u get a new house signed off?

I saw my mums home buyers survey and it was really thorough. Too thorough almost as u find out about all the things that are less than perfect about the house, but I'd rather know

I'd almost be more inclined to get one on a 3 yr old house than on a 100 year old house (assuming no obvious concerns). Build quality is much inferior now compared to older properties so I would want to check.

The risks are very low in a 3 year old house. But it is entirely up to you.

i assume you are a first time buyer?

Yes I am....

It can all seem very daunting - a home owners report will flag very minor things that may need to be replaced in ten or twenty years time. I have used them on older houses where I have concerns about asbestos.

but really the likelihood of having a major issue with a three year old home is very low. But it’s your money, and if it gives you the confidence to move ahead then it isn’t wasted I suppose.

I wouldn’t in your shoes - and I am quite risk averse😊

Whatever it costs will be money saved down the line. I have been conned before and property was unsaleable.A very expensive mistake and no compensation ...thread carefully.
..

Can u tell us the circumstances of how u were conned, as this is quite a new property and I believe they have to undergo checks before they can be registered?

This sounds like quite a rare and extreme circumstance.

was it a very new home and why was it unsaleable?

it’s not actually true to say whatever it costs will be money saved: that is only true if there is a significant flaw in the home that the survey flags.

why do you think that is a certainty with a three year old house?

Just to clarify, is this more of a self build, or a commercial development with builders warranty? If there is a 10 year warranty I'd probably not bother. More of a self build with no warranty I maybe would.

An electric certificate shouldn't be nessesary, if it had one on completion of build, as it would still be valid - unless you think the vendor has bodged things since then.

Also at the £1000 you quoted sounds more like the price for a structural survey, not a home buyers report, the former being far more in depth.

If there is a warranty, at least get your solicitor to check it out. They are often worth nothing. I think I'd go for having the homebuyers survey myself, but not go as far as the equivalent of the old 'full structural' unless it's a non-standard build.

We're buying a 7 year old house and not bothering with it