What survey?
Posted on 14th April 2024 at 10:01
When purchasing your property you need to decide what kind of survey you would like to have.
Basic Valuation
If you have a mortgage on the property the mortgage lender will want to do a valuation to ensure the property meets its lending criteria and is also at the value you are buying it for. Sometimes these valuations are free of charge, sometimes the lender will charge but this is normally around £200 - £300. This is a very basic report – it will normally just give the valuation and confirmation the property is fit for mortgaging.
Home Buyers Report
This is a detailed report which outlines information about the property such as subsidence and damp as well as any major defects such as issues with the roof. Whilst it is a comprehensive report, it will not get into granular details of the property such as lifting up the floorboards or inspection behind the walls. This type of survey tends to be the most requested survey with purchasers and can range from around £500 - £1200.
New Build Snagging Survey
As the name suggests this is relevant for new build properties. The survey will give an independent inspection of the property and outline any potential issues the builder or developer needs to rectify before you complete on the purchase. It is certainly a survey worth considering as if you wait until you move in, the remedial works could take a while to complete and disrupt your home whilst being carried out. These surveys start from £400.
Full Structural Survey
This is the most comprehensive and detailed survey. You will have a detailed report of everything about your property. If you are looking to buy an older property, a full structural survey is recommended, especially if you believe it needs work. The report will give you details of any issues spotted and recommendations of what to do. The surveyor will also recommend if you should get a specialist in to look and specific areas, for example an electrician, plumber etc. This is the most expensive survey and normally starts at around £1,000 however, as stated above, if you feel the property needs work doing to it, this gives you a break down of everything you potentially require.
Any survey report can look intimidating however, as experienced advisers we see these reports every day so can talk you through it all to help you make decisions.I wrote these letters on to my desktop perpetual calendar …. 30 years ago today.
Victoria Bennett
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