They're likely to say the same about damp and woodwork too. Roofs as well.
It would be ideal if you could get a full and comprehensive survey done in one hit. Finding specialists to give you an honest opinion isn't easy.
Lead sheathed T+E going into the lights was a bit of an indicator on one house I looked at.
"Surveyor" would never have spotted it because I had to stand on a stool and stick my head through the loft opening :)
After I'd first viewed this place, I made arrangements to come back on my own with a step ladder and plenty time to have a good poke round. Luckily, the owner didn't object. ;-) Found all sorts of things the building society chap missed. Which made me rather annoyed having to pay for it.
Certainly, when we bought this house, the surveyor suggested getting the electrics checked. Yes, there was lead sheathed cable - surface mounted in some rooms.
On the contrary I did get what was aksed for and paid for because surveyor paid the bill though of course that was included in his fee to me. I specified exacly what I wanted the survey to include and got competitive quotes from three different firms. Just because someone asks a question here does not mean they are a competent DIYer. In fact the reverse is likely to be true.
Peter Crosland
You paid for what is called a homebuyer's valuation which is very different from a full survey. It was never intended to be anything else Many people are suckered into thinking that they are getting a survey when in fact all the lender is getting is a valuation that the buyer pays for.
Peter Crosland
It wasn't called that when I bought this place. ;-)
But it is called a homebuyer's valuation? Why not a lender's valuation?
However in my case it wasn't a valuation but a limited inspection as I was required to carry out some works.
FWIW I recently had a building survey/valuation carried out the other week for £300 inc. which I don't think is to bad. I registered on one of those price comparison sites and had chartered (building and valuation) surveyors beating down my inbox.
Each to their own but I think it's worth it - and I used to do Homebuyers' reports for a part-living.
Rob
Of course not, that why I do it:-)
I found these faults within 15 minutes of starting a PIR.
Unfortunately the difference is seldom explained properly to buyers and is often referred to estate agents and lenders as a survey. Personally I think it should be correctly described to every buyer by the lender along with the potential risks involved so they can make an informed choice. Whatever it may have been called it is essentially a valuation for the benefit of the lender so that they can be reasonably sure that there is sufficient equity to secure the loan. Obvious defects are reported on so that the lender can specify any repairs needed as a condition. It is emphatically not a comprehensive survey of the condition of the structure. Because it is done for the benefit of the lender although paid for by the buyer, there is no contract between buyer and whoever carries out the report. This means that the buyer has no recourse if serious defects are later revealed. Fortunately only a minute percentage of properties have serious faults that result in a loss to the buyer. The bottom line is if you are prepared to save a few hundred pounds and take the risk or not.
Peter Crosland
I've never heard of the phrase "homebuyer's valuation". When I last bought a house there were three options:
In article , Chris Holford writes
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Thanks for all the helpful replies.
They more or less confirm my own doubts about surveys; The things I really want to know about are often those things that "could not be inspected without lofting floor covering " etc. etc..
Or "would entail going up a ladder, or getting one's hands dirty"
Whatever the semantics the bottom line is that only a full survey has any real value to the buyer. The simpler ones are almost entirely for the benefit of the lender.
Peter Crosland
If you can get someone who will focus on (and only charge for) structural things, then I'd agree.
But paying someone to produce a 100 page report detailing every slight mark in the paint work is, IMHO, a waste of money
tim
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