A friend had a Homebuyer Survey which failed to pick up some pretty dire
shortcomings. The surveyor concerned (a member of the Institution of Chartered
Surveyors) offered some compensation, but only on the basis of complete
confidentiality. To me, that stinks, and the amount offered was in any case
inadequate.

I have experience of excellent surveys that went way beyond the call of duty,
but it appears that some properties are subjected to the most cursory of
inspections under the name of Homebuyer Survey, costing hundreds of pounds.

Anyone have a story to tell?

"Paper2002AD" wrote in message
...
A friend had a Homebuyer Survey which failed to pick up some pretty dire
shortcomings. The surveyor concerned (a member of the Institution of
Chartered
Surveyors) offered some compensation, but only on the basis of complete
confidentiality. To me, that stinks, and the amount offered was in any
case
inadequate.

I have experience of excellent surveys that went way beyond the call of
duty,
but it appears that some properties are subjected to the most cursory of
inspections under the name of Homebuyer Survey, costing hundreds of
pounds.

Anyone have a story to tell?

This type of survey is little more than a check-list for newer properties.
If done by a crap surveyor, then results can be even worse.

Your friends problem is more likely to be related to the surveyor than the
type of survey. In which case complaints should be made to his firm or the
RICS - may come to nothing but may possibly stop other future clients
getting a similar survey from that surveyor.

A client should have clear understanding of what will and wont be done for
the price being paid - and the implications of the differing survey types -
this should be stated in the confirmation of instruction.

The notion of 'RICS member = competent surveyor' is something that the
homebuyer should blot out of their mind.

dg

"Paper2002AD" wrote in message
...
A friend had a Homebuyer Survey which failed to pick up some pretty dire
shortcomings. The surveyor concerned (a member of the Institution of
Chartered
Surveyors) offered some compensation, but only on the basis of complete
confidentiality. To me, that stinks, and the amount offered was in any
case
inadequate.

I have experience of excellent surveys that went way beyond the call of
duty,
but it appears that some properties are subjected to the most cursory of
inspections under the name of Homebuyer Survey, costing hundreds of
pounds.

Anyone have a story to tell?

Have they accepted the compensation?

Does it adequately compensate them for any loss
they have suffered or costs which have been incurred
by the poor survey? It sounds like not.

Also, are the defects which became apparent later ones
which would never have been found by a non-destructive
survey? (i.e. not removing wallpaper etc.)

If the answers are all no then they could consider
legal action. If they have already accepted the
compensation then there's very little they could do.

The important thing about the Homebuyer survey
is that it is usually "non-destructive", so anything which
couldn't have been seen without disturbing the fabric
of the property is not covered. Usually there is a
statement to this effect for any affected matters
e.g. "the state of the plaster on the internal walls could
not be verified because of the wallpaper; so we
suspect they may be in poor condition..." etc.

In general, I think you need to find a surveyor you
can trust, which will involve getting personal
recommendations rather than just using the one
your mortgage lender assigns.

Al

"Paper2002AD" wrote in message
...
A friend had a Homebuyer Survey which failed to pick up some pretty
dire shortcomings. The surveyor concerned (a member of the
Institution of Chartered
Surveyors) offered some compensation, but only on the basis of
complete confidentiality. To me, that stinks, and the amount
offered was in any case
inadequate.

I have experience of excellent surveys that went way beyond the call
of duty,
but it appears that some properties are subjected to the most
cursory of inspections under the name of Homebuyer Survey, costing
hundreds of pounds.

Anyone have a story to tell?

It's not necessarily a waste of money as long as the purchaser is aware that
there may be major problems missed. Any problems it does turn up can be used
to haggle over the purchase price. But beware (I learnt this the hard way) -
if you do find major problems that you think the surveyor should have found,
get an independent surveyor in - even if you have to pay a bit. Don't let
the original surveyor's firm appear to agree with you while they
"investigate", then turn round and refuse any compensation after you've made
everything good and removed all traces of the problem...

KotF

(Paper2002AD) wrote in message ...
A friend had a Homebuyer Survey which failed to pick up some pretty dire
shortcomings. The surveyor concerned (a member of the Institution of Chartered
Surveyors) offered some compensation, but only on the basis of complete
confidentiality. To me, that stinks, and the amount offered was in any case
inadequate.

I have experience of excellent surveys that went way beyond the call of duty,
but it appears that some properties are subjected to the most cursory of
inspections under the name of Homebuyer Survey, costing hundreds of pounds.

Anyone have a story to tell?

Search the ng archives and youll find talk of HB surveys talking about
the gas installations in houses not on gas mains, not noticing 1930s
lead wiring, etc etc etc.

NT

"N. Thornton" wrote in message
om...
(Paper2002AD) wrote in message
...
A friend had a Homebuyer Survey which failed to pick up some pretty dire
shortcomings. The surveyor concerned (a member of the Institution of
Chartered
Surveyors) offered some compensation, but only on the basis of complete
confidentiality. To me, that stinks, and the amount offered was in any
case
inadequate.

I have experience of excellent surveys that went way beyond the call of
duty,
but it appears that some properties are subjected to the most cursory of
inspections under the name of Homebuyer Survey, costing hundreds of
pounds.

Anyone have a story to tell?

Search the ng archives and youll find talk of HB surveys talking about
the gas installations in houses not on gas mains, not noticing 1930s
lead wiring, etc etc etc.

NT

Or like my parents surveyor who said the chimney was in need of pointing.
But failed to notice that here was no chimney.

In message ,
"John Woodhall" wrote:


"N. Thornton" wrote in message
om...

Search the ng archives and youll find talk of HB surveys talking about
the gas installations in houses not on gas mains, not noticing 1930s
lead wiring, etc etc etc.

NT

Or like my parents surveyor who said the chimney was in need of pointing.
But failed to notice that here was no chimney.



The best advice I've heard on this matter was from this very ng (IIRC)
- find a trustworthy *local* builder and get him to take a look. The
major problem of course is finding the builder unless you happen already
to know one. While his "survey" won't be as legally binding as that of a
registered surveyor, if there is no reason (e.g. mortgage company) for
you to get a surveyor, the builder, who knows the area, may be your best
bet. You'll get the best idea of what's going on if you can arrange to
be at the property while the survey (whoever does it) is being carried
out.

The other problem with surveyors is a direct result of their legal
status - they tend to hedge their bets wherever possible saying things
like "the wiring looks ok to me, but I'm not an electrician so I'd
advise you to have the wiring checked." By the time you've had a sparky
in to check the wiring, a plumber in to check the gas, a damp expert in
to check the walls, a pest control expert to check the woodworm skins
and a builder to check the tie-ing in of the extension it hardly seems
worthwhile having had the surveyor in the first place.

Hwyl!

M.

--
Martin Angove: http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/
Two free issues: http://www.livtech.co.uk/ Living With Technology
.... MONEY TALKS ... but all mine ever says is GOODBYE!

By the time you've had a sparky
in to check the wiring, a plumber in to check the gas, a damp expert in
to check the walls, a pest control expert to check the woodworm skins
and a builder to check the tie-ing in of the extension it hardly seems
worthwhile having had the surveyor in the first place.

Hwyl!

Diolch yn fawr for that one!