Survey

 
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When buying a home, you need a solicitor to confirm the property is legally ok to buy, a mortgage lender to value it, and a RICS surveyor to tell you of any defects at the property.

A RICS surveyor confirms any visible defects with the internal or external parts of the property that could reduce the current market value. It’s not the same as a mortgage valuation, and any negative findings can be used to negotiate your original offer with the seller.

There are two types of RICS survey:


Not sure which survey to get? Give us a call on 0333 344 3234 or read this article Homebuyer Report or Building Survey

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Book a survey when you instruct your solicitor, but no later than when you order your Property Searches. You can normally book a slot for the same week, get a call on the day about any major defects and then the report is issued 5 working days later.

Download an Example Level 2 and Level 3 Home Survey


Example of a Level 2 Home Survey




RICS Home Survey Level 2



Example of a Level 3 Home Survey




RICS Home Survey Level 3


Andrew's Top Tip for when you get a house survey

When viewing the property, look for signs of damp, mould around the windows, cracks in the rendering or walls, stains on flooring or walls, and animal waste. All of these could be signs that you have a problem with the property, and a surveyor can give you their expert opinion on this when completing his inspection.

Once you get your survey report back, make sure to send it to your solicitor, as it contains information that they'll need to obtain further clarification on from the seller.

...and finally, never send your full survey report to the estate agent or seller. This could weaken your position in any negotiations with the seller. You should limit any release of information to the specific defect you are looking to negotiate the sale price on.


Andrew Boast FMAAT MIC is co-founder of SAM Conveyancing.

Conveyancing Process: Home Buyer Survey or Building Survey when buying a home

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