Do I Need a House Survey?

When buying a home, you will be asked if you want to have a survey completed on the property. The house survey is basically a health check on the property. During the survey, the condition of your property will be looked at. A surveyor will then let you know of any issues or defects with the property.

There are different types of house surveys. The most basic type of house survey will ensure that the building, roof and boundary walls of your home are in good condition. However, more detailed house surveys will look at the environmental performance of your property, gas and electric safety, drainage, rot and more.

While a house survey is not a legal requirement when buying a home, it is highly recommended. Having a survey completed on the home you are looking to buy could save you a lot of money in the long run. If there are any issues with the structure of your home, these will be uncovered.

If any problems are revealed you can request that the seller fixes them before you move in, or you can renegotiate the price of the house to cover the cost of these repairs. Sometimes, and more so in older homes, there will be major problems that will flag up. If a situation like this occurs, you may choose to pull out of the purchase and find a different home in a better condition.

Even if you are looking to buy a new-build home, a survey will still be worthwhile. You can get a snagging survey for example. This will list any defects or repairs required, as well as ensuring the home is compliant with building regulations.

When you are buying your home with a mortgage, it is likely that your lender will carry out a valuation of the property. In many cases you will need to cover the cost for this. However, our mortgage advisor may be able to find you a lender that will cover the costs for the valuation.

A survey is different to the mortgage lenders valuation. The valuation by the mortgage lender says how much they think the property is worth. Meanwhile, the house survey is confirming the condition of the property that you want to purchase.

We can arrange a house survey on the property you are looking to purchase, just give us a call. We will ensure that the house surveyor is a member of a recognised governing body and offers good value for money.