Surveyors wording in Home Report
Discussion
Had a house surveyed we are selling as part of an estate.
Home Report issued and no issue with valuation of property
The house has old walls around the boundary that are in decent condition, have stood for 60 plus years and no obvious major concerns.
The report states “these can often be expensive” referring to the up keep or if something required repair.
In addition there is a long paragraph at the end “reinstatement of walls would result in extremely high figure far exceeding their contribution to the market value of the property”
I get that these walls are old and can be problematic but I thought that surveyors were supposed to provide an objective opinion and shouldn’t be stating something unknown being expensive.
Probably wrong and wording is acceptable
Home Report issued and no issue with valuation of property
The house has old walls around the boundary that are in decent condition, have stood for 60 plus years and no obvious major concerns.
The report states “these can often be expensive” referring to the up keep or if something required repair.
In addition there is a long paragraph at the end “reinstatement of walls would result in extremely high figure far exceeding their contribution to the market value of the property”
I get that these walls are old and can be problematic but I thought that surveyors were supposed to provide an objective opinion and shouldn’t be stating something unknown being expensive.
Probably wrong and wording is acceptable
Well considering the survey on my Aunt's 1990's bungalow (2 years ago) stated that FLAT ROOFS HAD BEEN VIEWED from the ground and were seen to be OK when there were NO FLAT ROOVES. I would take what they say with a whole heap of salt. What's more galling is that this is one of Scot Govs compulsory surveys as a seller.
NOT worth the £600 odd it cost my Aunt. my time or the intranet that it was written on.
Big surveyor co's just out to rip folks off.
NOT worth the £600 odd it cost my Aunt. my time or the intranet that it was written on.
Big surveyor co's just out to rip folks off.
Recent survey of my parents house said windows sticking caused by subsidence and drains failed. Oiled window hinges and the slide open and shut with a little finger. Drains are into a pumped waste system and the tank was full just before auto pump out. Total and utter fabrication by the surveyor. Parents paid for their own survey to be sure any it came back with a clean bill of health. It's got to the point I fot bother with them any more as they are mostly not fit for purpose. Too much " I cat see get an expert in"
I think that surveyors are doing themselves out of a job over time. As they only ever say 'this may be an issue', 'requires further investigation', or 'get an expert in' I believe that house buyers are becoming more and more jaded with them. You pay money for a survey but get a load of caveats that mean the report is worth nothing.
We decided when we moved last year to have a really good look around the house ourselves and forgo the survey - the house hasn't fallen down (yet)!
We decided when we moved last year to have a really good look around the house ourselves and forgo the survey - the house hasn't fallen down (yet)!
Most aren't worth the paper they are written on and seem to be getting worse. Two of the girls who work in the estate agent I use have recently bought property, neither of them had surveys done, as they read them all day as know what garbage most of them are. They can't even tell you if the electrics or plumbing are decent today but want to predict what might happen in the next 25 years.
As a purchaser I've wandered around the property with the surveyor so he could point out and explain issues and potential issues as he was seeing them. That's a much better way of conveying a proper understanding then just being handed a wad of paper three weeks later. It also lets you judge whether the surveyor is competent.
ATG said:
As a purchaser I've wandered around the property with the surveyor so he could point out and explain issues and potential issues as he was seeing them. That's a much better way of conveying a proper understanding then just being handed a wad of paper three weeks later. It also lets you judge whether the surveyor is competent.
that sounds ideal when i bought my house this was not an option and report was in a word sh*t eg boiler started in working condition-when moved in noticed someone had been trying to get boiler open discussed with surveyor unaware of this??!!When looking at a house with my daughter I ask a Builder friend to come along, he noticed the gable end appeared to have an outward lean on it, this could be easily seen from the outside, as long as you know what to look for, passed on that property.
Another one the seller had a surveyors report from 12 month previous, it stated that the surveyor examined the roof from the garden with binoculars, he didn't look in the loft because he didn't have a ladder with him, I imagine that a telescopic ladder would be essential for his job, the seller had recently had an Aga installed and wanted £5k extra for it, I suggested she could take it away with her, passed on that one as well.
Another one the seller had a surveyors report from 12 month previous, it stated that the surveyor examined the roof from the garden with binoculars, he didn't look in the loft because he didn't have a ladder with him, I imagine that a telescopic ladder would be essential for his job, the seller had recently had an Aga installed and wanted £5k extra for it, I suggested she could take it away with her, passed on that one as well.
p1doc said:
ATG said:
As a purchaser I've wandered around the property with the surveyor so he could point out and explain issues and potential issues as he was seeing them. That's a much better way of conveying a proper understanding then just being handed a wad of paper three weeks later. It also lets you judge whether the surveyor is competent.
that sounds ideal when i bought my house this was not an option and report was in a word sh*t eg boiler started in working condition-when moved in noticed someone had been trying to get boiler open discussed with surveyor unaware of this??!!In my view, the thing that gets missed too often is the follow up call with the surveyor after the report has been issued - this gives and opportunity for clients to ask questions and for the key risks to be discussed and understood.
This follow up call is mentioned within the RICS Home Survey Standard, but surveyors often don’t seem keen to flag it and many buyers aren’t aware it’s something they can ask for.
Cow Corner said:
Some surveyors do offer this, but my view is that its not always healthy to have a distraction while carrying out a survey - I used to have a very specific method/routine for doing surveys and I m sure others are similar. Also, it s healthy for surveyors to reflect and review notes/photographs before we report.
In my view, the thing that gets missed too often is the follow up call with the surveyor after the report has been issued - this gives and opportunity for clients to ask questions and for the key risks to be discussed and understood.
This follow up call is mentioned within the RICS Home Survey Standard, but surveyors often don t seem keen to flag it and many buyers aren t aware it s something they can ask for.
Interesting, he did say if there was anything to get in touch but wasn't clear it is in a standard and should be offered. I will be calling him later today to discuss the report. In my view, the thing that gets missed too often is the follow up call with the surveyor after the report has been issued - this gives and opportunity for clients to ask questions and for the key risks to be discussed and understood.
This follow up call is mentioned within the RICS Home Survey Standard, but surveyors often don t seem keen to flag it and many buyers aren t aware it s something they can ask for.
My gripe is he has made some assumptions on external wall costs that could in my opinion be worded more fairly. Had a builder look over today and he commented they are straighter than many new walls, no movement no loose stones or weak areas.
Of course things can fail but the walls have stood for 60 years, to state that repairs could be expensive when they could also be not expensive is not an objective opinion as he has no evidence that any repair will be expensive.
In Scotland so seller has to issue home report, such wording may put off potential purchasers based on a surveyor stating something is going to be expensive when it also may not be. - just implies it is waiting to fall down which is not the case, anyone viewing will see this but does give some ammunition on proper value from their side.
We had a survey done on our house for the mortgage company valuation that stated that the house had subsidence and would cost in excess of £50,000 to rectify. It was actually cracked render due to corroded wall ties, which cost us a few thousand to have removed, replaced and re-rendered.
Anyone with any clue about building could see it wasn't subsidence, mainly because there were no cracks in the brickwork that make up the bottom 2ft of the walls and was only evident on the weather-facing wall.
That mis-diagnosis meant the bank retained £50k off the mortgage until it had been sorted, which cost me a load of wasted money in short term borrowing to fund the purchase and repairs until they released the money.
I wouldn't trust a surveyor as far as i could throw them
Anyone with any clue about building could see it wasn't subsidence, mainly because there were no cracks in the brickwork that make up the bottom 2ft of the walls and was only evident on the weather-facing wall.
That mis-diagnosis meant the bank retained £50k off the mortgage until it had been sorted, which cost me a load of wasted money in short term borrowing to fund the purchase and repairs until they released the money.
I wouldn't trust a surveyor as far as i could throw them
boyse7en said:
We had a survey done on our house for the mortgage company valuation that stated that the house had subsidence and would cost in excess of £50,000 to rectify. It was actually cracked render due to corroded wall ties, which cost us a few thousand to have removed, replaced and re-rendered.
Anyone with any clue about building could see it wasn't subsidence, mainly because there were no cracks in the brickwork that make up the bottom 2ft of the walls and was only evident on the weather-facing wall.
That mis-diagnosis meant the bank retained £50k off the mortgage until it had been sorted, which cost me a load of wasted money in short term borrowing to fund the purchase and repairs until they released the money.
I wouldn't trust a surveyor as far as i could throw them
I'm not defending the surveyor, but remember who a mortgage valuation survey is there to protect (a clue - it's not you).Anyone with any clue about building could see it wasn't subsidence, mainly because there were no cracks in the brickwork that make up the bottom 2ft of the walls and was only evident on the weather-facing wall.
That mis-diagnosis meant the bank retained £50k off the mortgage until it had been sorted, which cost me a load of wasted money in short term borrowing to fund the purchase and repairs until they released the money.
I wouldn't trust a surveyor as far as i could throw them
I've never done valuation surveys, but I find it surprising that in this case, the mortgage co didn't request further investigations and just relied on the opinion of a surveyor who probably did 5 or 5 mortgage valuations that day. If it was that obvious, did you not challenge the finding? (genuinely professionally curious).
Cow Corner said:
p1doc said:
ATG said:
As a purchaser I've wandered around the property with the surveyor so he could point out and explain issues and potential issues as he was seeing them. That's a much better way of conveying a proper understanding then just being handed a wad of paper three weeks later. It also lets you judge whether the surveyor is competent.
that sounds ideal when i bought my house this was not an option and report was in a word sh*t eg boiler started in working condition-when moved in noticed someone had been trying to get boiler open discussed with surveyor unaware of this??!!In my view, the thing that gets missed too often is the follow up call with the surveyor after the report has been issued - this gives and opportunity for clients to ask questions and for the key risks to be discussed and understood.
This follow up call is mentioned within the RICS Home Survey Standard, but surveyors often don t seem keen to flag it and many buyers aren t aware it s something they can ask for.
Cow Corner said:
boyse7en said:
We had a survey done on our house for the mortgage company valuation that stated that the house had subsidence and would cost in excess of £50,000 to rectify. It was actually cracked render due to corroded wall ties, which cost us a few thousand to have removed, replaced and re-rendered.
Anyone with any clue about building could see it wasn't subsidence, mainly because there were no cracks in the brickwork that make up the bottom 2ft of the walls and was only evident on the weather-facing wall.
That mis-diagnosis meant the bank retained £50k off the mortgage until it had been sorted, which cost me a load of wasted money in short term borrowing to fund the purchase and repairs until they released the money.
I wouldn't trust a surveyor as far as i could throw them
I'm not defending the surveyor, but remember who a mortgage valuation survey is there to protect (a clue - it's not you).Anyone with any clue about building could see it wasn't subsidence, mainly because there were no cracks in the brickwork that make up the bottom 2ft of the walls and was only evident on the weather-facing wall.
That mis-diagnosis meant the bank retained £50k off the mortgage until it had been sorted, which cost me a load of wasted money in short term borrowing to fund the purchase and repairs until they released the money.
I wouldn't trust a surveyor as far as i could throw them
I've never done valuation surveys, but I find it surprising that in this case, the mortgage co didn't request further investigations and just relied on the opinion of a surveyor who probably did 5 or 5 mortgage valuations that day. If it was that obvious, did you not challenge the finding? (genuinely professionally curious).
My house is covered on two sides by a 10 foot wall that formed part of an old School boundary its over 100 years old no mention of it was made on our valuation and it is a wee bit of a concern for needing some work at some point as its got part sandstone in it and a beck at the foot of it.
Valuers are a bit of a law unto themselves and you'll never get them to correct or change anything they do. We've had all sorts of battles with them over the years.
Valuers are a bit of a law unto themselves and you'll never get them to correct or change anything they do. We've had all sorts of battles with them over the years.
Cow Corner said:
In my view, the thing that gets missed too often is the follow up call with the surveyor after the report has been issued - this gives and opportunity for clients to ask questions and for the key risks to be discussed and understood.
This 100%. I’m about to complete on a purchase and the survey raised a whole load of vague issues, which were concerning. I emailed the surveyor, asking for clarity on a number of points and he offered to call. He was fantastic on the phone; very clear, specific and reassuring, though the report was completely imprecise and ominous.The report asserted that the garage needed to be ‘demolished’, implying that it was structurally unsound. When I spoke to the surveyor he said that he had no concerns about its structure but that there was asbestos in the roof, which would need to be rectified at some point. By this stage I’d negotiated £26k off the price in good faith on the back of the survey. I think the survey was worth the money…
Surveys can be very useful as a buyer - provided they don’t completely put you off - but are no doubt far more challenging when you’re selling.
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