Q:Dear All,
I am hoping to buy a house soon (offer has been accepted) and I was talking about the next steps with various people, including some friends who I have always held in very high esteem. One asked if I was getting an actual survey done, rather than just the mortgage company's valuation. I was very surprised as it had never occurred to me to not get one done. They said they have never had a survey, nor had members of their family (who own multiple properties each).
I did had a survey on my first house, which wasn't in a great are & which was quite dismissive of the local facilities, quite failing to mention the massive shopping centre less than 3 miles away. Can't remember what else it said, maybe a fan for the bathroom, and the neighbour's tree should be chopped down..
So, what di
A:having just had a homebuyers survey done, I can honestly say I would not have one again.
the surveyor missed loads of things (no lintel over one window and bulging render outside). Don't think that you can get sue them if they miss something, cos it's really hard, and you only have grounds to sue if the value they quoted would have been drastically altered if they had spotted it.
Our lintel is a case in point, we complained and they sent another surveyor around. They admitted that they had missed the fact there was no lintel (it was clear to see from the outside) but as it would not have affected the valuation they made, they said there were no grounds for them to pay to get it fixed. They have offered a payment of ￡100, but they take no responsibility.
If I was moving again I would probably get a builder, damp-proof specialist and an electrician in instead of shelling out for a useless survey.
A:Home buyers reports (the middle option) tend to have so many caveats in them and advise you get experts in to check x, y & z, that I'm not convinced that they are worth the paper they are written on. Better to save the money and spend it on repairing the faults you find.
If I had my time again I would only go for valuations or full structural surveys, depending on the age and style of the property in question.
A:[quote=guy;6129352]Dear All,
I am hoping to buy a house soon (offer has been accepted) and I was talking about the next steps with various people, including some friends who I have always held in very high esteem. One asked if I was getting an actual survey done, rather than just the mortgage company's valuation. I was very surprised as it had never occurred to me to not get one done. They said they have never had a survey, nor had members of their family (who own multiple properties each).
I did had a survey on my first house, which wasn't in a great are & which was quite dismissive of the local facilities, quite failing to mention the massive shopping centre less than 3 miles away. Can't remember what else it said, maybe a fan for the bathroom, and the neighbour's tree should be chopped down..
Im with your friends. I have bought a few houses and never had a full survey done. Unless you see anything that looks dodgy its not likey to have any major faults. Obviously it might have things you cant see, woodworm, dry rot, damp, subsidence……oh damn next time Im gettin one 
A:Thanks guy. Now I've got to decide between a Homebuyer's survey and Buildings survey, but I guess I'll show them the particulars and ask a few questions and see what they recommend.
A:With a mortgage valuation, the surveyor is advising the lender and has no professional obligation to point out anything to you, at all.
Indeed. All the lender cares about is whether the property is worth what they are lending you.
A:Different surveys explained by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, here (http://www.rics.org/Property/Residentialproperty/Acquisitionanddisposalofresidentialproperty/understanding_surveys.htm)
A survey tells you what you are getting. Sure, some seem to point out every obvious fault, but the main point is that the surveyor ought to find any that are not so obvious and might either need immediate attention or cost a substantial amount of money to correct. The surveyor might even find a problem that the vendor's is not aware of!
Also, with a survey, the surveyor is advising YOU – you are the client.
With a mortgage valuation, the surveyor is advising the lender and has no professional obligation to point out anything to you, at all.
A:Hmm. Now I wasn't particularly planning to buy a house at the mo, so am not overly prepared. But I had it in my head that a valuation costs approx ￡250 and a survey approx ￡750? I will of course 'shop around'. Are there different levels or types of surveys?
A:Would always get a survey: ￡300 very well spent. I agree with you.
A:A survey buys you peace of mind that there isn't anything seriously wrong that you didn't spot…. and the right to sue the surveyor if there's something seriously wrong HE didn't spot.
I paid about ￡300 for mine and as a result negotiated a reduction of ￡1500 so it was well worth it.
A:I meant to say: what did/would you guys do?
but I can't work out how to Edit – it always tells me I don't have permission