Surveyors

[Heathwood]

Morning folks,

Any advice on choosing a surveyor for a property purchase? Are they all similarly competent or should I be looking for certain things / asking certain questions? Apologies if this is a bit of a daft, generic question but I’ve not bought a property for decades.

[andy43]

Depends. If you’re getting a mortgage you’ll have a 2nd gear / desktop survey done anyway.
If it’s fairly newish I’d maybe just get a builder to check it over - foundations, loft etc - plus maybe a gas safe engineer and electrician for the services if they look a bit dodgy/homemade.
If you’re nuts enough to be buying a 15th century mud and thatch Manor House yes get a full survey.
I still haven’t found the combi boiler and bath noted on our last survey.
The fking huge green water cylinder located within inches of the well lit loft opening did seem to suggest a combi boiler would not be present…

[Snow and Rocks]

If you know anyone practically minded like an experienced builder or even joiner then it's probably worth asking if they'd come and have a look round with you.

I'm just an experienced amateur bodger and I spotted loads of stuff on our old cottage that needed sorted that was completely overlooked by the surveyor.

[Heathwood]

Thanks so far. For context, it’s circa 1930’s, £800k, no mortgage. No issues of note on viewing.