Homebuyers survey. Did you have one?

erikbloodaxe · 2023-09-12T11:53:21+00:00

I've just arranged a survey on a house I'm buying and apparently only 20% of homebuyers bother. I don't mean a mortgage related valuation report but an independent survey you organise yourself. 20% seems ridiculously low. Did you have one or not bother?

LibertyLily · 12/09/2023 12:59

No. Last time was in 1997 and we've purchased four (old - ranging from Victorian back to Tudor) houses since.

We were mortgage-free for each of those purchases too so no lender valuation either.

We are experienced DIY renovators so feel - reasonably - confident that we know what to look for, especially since we've seen the massive errors made by so called experts surveying properties we've been selling.

PurpleBananaSmoothie · 12/09/2023 12:59

We had one when we bought our current house but it wasn’t worth the paper it was written on. We had so many problems that the survey didn’t pick up. We’re trying to move at the moment and so we debated whether to have a survey on this new house because our last experience was so rubbish. We did go for one in the end, which didn’t highlight anything. I think we went for one as we’re both quite risk adverse so it was worth the £500 just in case something comes up when we move in. I know in reality you can’t really go back to surveyors and say you missed all of this but at least we feel we’ve taken all reasonable steps to ensure we’re not massively fucked.

Stephisaur · 12/09/2023 13:26

We had a level 3 (the most thorough) and we're very glad we did.

It flagged quite a few issues due to the age of the house (1960s, hardly touched since the 1990s) but most of these were on our to do list to sort anyway, so we didn't make a fuss (eg windows need replacing, garage door doesn't work etc). The only unexpected ones were that the drain between our property and next door (within our boundary) needs a bit of tlc to ensure it doesn't deteriorate and the chimney stack needs repairing. Oh, and there were wasp nests in the loft which we asked to be removed prior to exchange.

It was good to have the peace of mind that the house might be in a state, but it's not likely to crash down around us 😂

MathsIsFab · 12/09/2023 13:30

Yes 10000% each time we bought a house

First time they found a big issue with the roof and we negotiated a further reduction

last time they found a major fault with electricity wiring which was the first issue we fixed when we went in

PinkRoses1245 · 12/09/2023 13:33

Yes, had level 2 survey on our previous flat and current house. I don't know anyone who didn't have a survey done, so I'm very surprised about the 20% 'statistic'.

Toddlerteaplease · 12/09/2023 13:34

Yes. Even though I'd rented the house for 10 years.

CutesyUserName · 12/09/2023 13:40

LibertyLily · 12/09/2023 12:59

No. Last time was in 1997 and we've purchased four (old - ranging from Victorian back to Tudor) houses since.

We were mortgage-free for each of those purchases too so no lender valuation either.

We are experienced DIY renovators so feel - reasonably - confident that we know what to look for, especially since we've seen the massive errors made by so called experts surveying properties we've been selling.

I could have written this, exactly the same story even down to the age of the houses (we're currently living in our Tudor house, about to complete on a Victorian house).

We are confident that we can spot most issues on viewings (do really good viewings, take lots of video to look more closely later).

Our buyers had a very expensive survey done on our 500 year old house, spent over £1000. The surveyor was here for 1 hour and 20 minutes, 40 of which he spent sitting in his car 'writing his report'. He missed so much stuff off the survey, important stuff that I actually pointed out to him that our buyers and we can only laugh about it. Our buyer is going to get the survey money refunded.

Diyextension · 12/09/2023 13:49

No never had a survey.

dottypencilcase · 12/09/2023 13:52

We got a bells and whistles survey the first time around but we're gazumped and that money went down the pan. We didn't have one for the second property we ended up buying.

Wibble128 · 12/09/2023 13:59

My daughter paid a lot of money for hers. Failed to pick up many defcts that have come to light after stripping out the property, particulary dodgy wiring and waste pipes.

housethatbuiltme · 12/09/2023 15:12

Absolutely would.

We are planning lots of renovations anyway but I want to check theres no underpinning issues, the roofs not fucked theres no damp (pretty sure there isnt but would be nice to know) and more indepth about electrics/gas etc...

I'm debating what level to get... Im thinking level 3 (top one) but someone I know who works at an EA said because level 3 are held accountable if they miss anything they will tell you EVERYTHING needs redoing to cover themselves.

Its a basic house buying expenditure, why take the risk... I also don't have a mortgage so no other survey.

Twiglets1 · 12/09/2023 16:12

We didn’t on our current house because we wanted to Exchange ASAP so didn’t do anything to potentially delay that.

The buyers of our last property didn’t get one either when they bought it. Though I am surprised the figure is as low as 20% as I thought most people got them.

PetiteNasturtium · 12/09/2023 16:18

We did the last 2 times we bought or attempted to buy a house. The one we live in had an issue with the drains, a drainage company was bought in and gave an estimate which the sellers knocked off the asking price. We pulled out of the last sale when we were going to move when it revealed serious issues including major cracks inside cupboards and possible subsidence and that the extension was an issue. The house we decided not to buy has since had major works done to it including a whole new roof.

BlueMongoose · 12/09/2023 16:27

Definitely would. Always. And with an older house, a level 3.
It's a massive investment to buy a home, personally think not getting one is pretty mad. And we're experienced with property and DIY, with some skills at professional level between us.
You have to get it straight in your head that some things a surveyor will not be able to see, or not be able to see without doing things like drilling into walls which vendors won't allow, so you have to use your common sense and understand the caveats.
This time, with an old doer-upper, we had a level 3 equivalent pre-buying and a second survey after moving in when we could allow the surveyor to drill into walls and poke about more. Both surveys were worth every penny we spent. As was the one many years ago which caused us not to buy a real money pit- the surveyor that time did an off-the-record briefing which was very illuminating about the seller trying to con the surveyor and issues like 'I don't think it's rising damp in the cellar, I think it's rising sewage'.

BlueMongoose · 12/09/2023 16:30

housethatbuiltme · 12/09/2023 15:12

Absolutely would.

We are planning lots of renovations anyway but I want to check theres no underpinning issues, the roofs not fucked theres no damp (pretty sure there isnt but would be nice to know) and more indepth about electrics/gas etc...

I'm debating what level to get... Im thinking level 3 (top one) but someone I know who works at an EA said because level 3 are held accountable if they miss anything they will tell you EVERYTHING needs redoing to cover themselves.

Its a basic house buying expenditure, why take the risk... I also don't have a mortgage so no other survey.

Level 3s can be a bit backside-covering but provided you don't panic when you read it, they're informative and as thorough as you can get bar a structural engineering survey- which would be overkill unless there are obvious issues, and only cover structural aspects anyway.

Original poster

erikbloodaxe · 12/09/2023 16:47

The house I'm buying 'looks' sound and I think a level 2 is ample. I'm downsizing and really just want to know the roof and guttering is sound, there's no damp and there's no sign of damage from the trees in the garden.

I'm mortgage free too and I'm not investing my money into something that hasn't been checked out. My offer was accepted yesterday and I want to know it's ok asap. If it's not I'll withdraw my offer, no need to waste anyone's time by waiting.

OP posts:

Diyextension · 12/09/2023 16:48

BlueMongoose · 12/09/2023 16:27

Definitely would. Always. And with an older house, a level 3.
It's a massive investment to buy a home, personally think not getting one is pretty mad. And we're experienced with property and DIY, with some skills at professional level between us.
You have to get it straight in your head that some things a surveyor will not be able to see, or not be able to see without doing things like drilling into walls which vendors won't allow, so you have to use your common sense and understand the caveats.
This time, with an old doer-upper, we had a level 3 equivalent pre-buying and a second survey after moving in when we could allow the surveyor to drill into walls and poke about more. Both surveys were worth every penny we spent. As was the one many years ago which caused us not to buy a real money pit- the surveyor that time did an off-the-record briefing which was very illuminating about the seller trying to con the surveyor and issues like 'I don't think it's rising damp in the cellar, I think it's rising sewage'.

Never in all my life have i heard of anyone having a survey and wanting to drill into the walls !!!!!!! What were you hoping to find ? Oil ?

once had a surveyor come to my house carrying a spirt level , and told him straight “ and don’t think your putting that on any of the painted wall “. He left it in the kitchen 😀

TobiasForgesContactLense · 12/09/2023 16:51

We did but have only ever bought old properties with a mortgage that we expected to do a little work to but not major renovations.

I am quite surprised by how low the figure is although I know they are expensive but house buying is a massive investment.

pilates · 12/09/2023 16:53

No, but my husband is in the building industry. We did get a roof specialist to check out the roof though.

Puccini1900 · 12/09/2023 16:58

No. We knew that we would be stripping back to brick, replacing wiring, redoing the chimney etc. - this was all clearly apparent from looking at the house

housethatbuiltme · 12/09/2023 17:24

Diyextension · 12/09/2023 16:48

Never in all my life have i heard of anyone having a survey and wanting to drill into the walls !!!!!!! What were you hoping to find ? Oil ?

once had a surveyor come to my house carrying a spirt level , and told him straight “ and don’t think your putting that on any of the painted wall “. He left it in the kitchen 😀

Show quote history

She didn't say they did.

She said they CAN'T drill into walls and basically don't have x-ray vision so can't magically see if behind your stud wall a long decomposed squirrel corpse is partially nibbled through electrical cable etc... and its not something they would wildly guess at at expect to be there.

I watched a renovation show the other day and the builders had to dig up the entire floor and rip out walls because they couldn't figure out why there where pipe EVERYWHERE. Turned out it was a historic 'induction loop' that piped round the ENTIRE house just looping back on itself. People wouldn't guess randomly that there would be something like that and they (the pros) didn't even know until they ripped out the shower.

Diyextension · 12/09/2023 18:27

Yes she did , the second surveyor drilled into the walls so they could poke around. After they had moved in .

randomusernam · 12/09/2023 19:40

To me when spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on something it's worth the £500 to see if there are any major issues prior to purchase. I know people have said they have had problems it didn't pick up but if it was something major it would be caught.

BlueMongoose · 12/09/2023 21:01

Diyextension · 12/09/2023 16:48

Never in all my life have i heard of anyone having a survey and wanting to drill into the walls !!!!!!! What were you hoping to find ? Oil ?

once had a surveyor come to my house carrying a spirt level , and told him straight “ and don’t think your putting that on any of the painted wall “. He left it in the kitchen 😀

Show quote history

Then you don't know much about damp in old houses. Taking brick samples is how you find out if you actually do have it- those 'damp meters' with prongs that dodgy damp 'specialists' use to tell you the entire house needs tanking are pointless.
You could, of course, have just asked why instead of trying to be clever. It could have been anything, like finding out if there really was an RSJ or steel where there ought to be, could have been all sorts. Oh, and BTW, if you wouldn't allow my surveyor to even put a level on a painted wall to check your walls were plumb if he felt it was required I'd tell you to stuff your house.

BlueMongoose · 12/09/2023 21:04

housethatbuiltme · 12/09/2023 17:24

She didn't say they did.

She said they CAN'T drill into walls and basically don't have x-ray vision so can't magically see if behind your stud wall a long decomposed squirrel corpse is partially nibbled through electrical cable etc... and its not something they would wildly guess at at expect to be there.

I watched a renovation show the other day and the builders had to dig up the entire floor and rip out walls because they couldn't figure out why there where pipe EVERYWHERE. Turned out it was a historic 'induction loop' that piped round the ENTIRE house just looping back on itself. People wouldn't guess randomly that there would be something like that and they (the pros) didn't even know until they ripped out the shower.

Show quote history

Thank you for putting that poster straight. That was exactly my point- you can't expect pr-sale surveyors to know everything when they can't do things like drilling. And just as you say, we therefore had it done when the house was ours because we needed to know the results. Which, incidentally, saved us well over 13K of work recommended by a damp specialist (not a surveyor) that turned out not to need doing- and would have been very bad for the house.