What sort of things show up on a property survey?

Question

I'm selling my house, think it is structurally sound but know I may have a bit of a damp problem in one of the back rooms. I have painted over the offending brown patch on the ceiling but my girlfriend thinks that may not fool a surveyor, and they may have more sophisticated equipment for checking damp. Also, we have things like a gap in the laminate flooring which is covered by a rug!! How detailed are these surveys? Anyone got any examples of phrases they use, or what they check for? Cheers.

Answer 1

It is the land searches that show up if you are located near sewers or over pipes/cables etc. Surveys can look at defects and problems, but it depends what type of survey the prospective buyer goes for:

Property Surveys
It is estimated that on average only 20% of all homebuyers commission a professional survey. This is somewhat surprising considering that buying a property is probably the biggest purchase in most people's lives. One explanation for this low take up, is that many homebuyers believe the mortgage lender's survey is sufficient.

In fact, the lender's survey is simply a mortgage valuation, a property inspection to establish the amount and terms of the loan. This survey will not tell you if the property is worth the price you're paying for it, nor point out any structural defects. To obtain this vitally important information you'll need to get a professional opinion by commissioning a chartered surveyor before you sign any contracts.

There are two main types of survey - the 'Homebuyer's Report' and the 'Building Survey'.

Homebuyer's Report
This type of survey is designed to keep costs to a minimum and is likely to be the best choice if the property you are buying is conventional in type and construction, is apparently in reasonable condition and built within the last 30 years. The survey focuses on defects and problems that are urgent and likely to have an effect on value. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the main objectives of the Homebuyer's report are to:

Make a reasoned and informed judgement on whether or not to proceed with the purchase
Assess whether or not the property is a reasonable purchase at the agreed price
Be clear what decisions and actions should be taken before contracts are exchanged


Building Survey
This type of survey is suitable for all residential properties and provides a full picture of the property's construction and condition. Because the level of detail is higher than the Homebuyer's Report, a Building Survey is more expensive. This type of survey is required when a property is of an unusual construction or has had extensive alterations, if it's old, in need of serious structural repair or if you're planning a major conversion or renovation.

The final report will include detailed technical information on the construction of the property, materials used and a listing of all major and minor defects. The report does not provide a valuation, however this can be arranged as an agreed extra.

The cost of this survey is from £400 upwards and will usually take one to two days to complete. You can expect the final report within three working weeks of the original survey.

PS. They have a damp detection device, which has a wand thingy on, which they press against various parts of the interior of your house, to tell if it has a damp problem or not, so painting over it won't help!!

Answer 2

I don't have the examples any more, but we've bought 2 houses with the "normal" survey done by a surveyor identified by the mortgage lender. One was very detailed and picked up dangers of damp as well as the big power cables in the direct area, the other was very general and unhelpful.

I think that with the majority of surveyors you should be able to get away with it. But as you said, these problems are not structural, so if they are picked up your buyers might ask you to drop the price, but it shouldn't be a reason for the sellers to drop out.

Answer 3

I'm not an expert but I know it depends on how detailed a survey a prospective buyer will purchase.

We bought our house in September and only paid for £250 survey. Thanks to being stingy, we now have a house that is absolutely riddled with damp. So I think you should get away with it.

But your gap in your laminate, although maybe wont be picked up on a survey, I think you will find that you will be required to make good any repairs that need doing.

Answer 4

Are you mixing the term "property survey" with the term "house inspection?"
A property survey is done to determine the location of property lines and the location of buildings. It will be a part of the deed transfer.
An engineering inspection or house inspection are done at the request of a buyer, to determine if there are any problems with the building. An inspection is only as thorough as the inspector.
You should check the real estate laws in your area. It is illegal in most areas to cover up defects, to lie about problems, to fail to make a full disclosure about known conditions or problems.

Answer 5

Negotiate! you have an benefit. If the neighbor needs to settle with the present proprietor,you may renegotiate the cost. If the neighbor needs to barter with you you may desire to be waiting to get some form of economic contract from them. in spite of everything the cost of the valuables is lessened via the encroachment and the in basic terms the superb option answer will in all probability contain the neighbor procuring somewhat some the lot. this could a minimum of bring about a tax relief on the valuables you prefer to purchase.

Answer 6

Don't confuse "survey" with "inspection" Ignorance will get you the wrong thing and a bill you don't need. See the answer above.

Answer 7

damp, and yes they do have gadgets for it, but its a very common thing so dont panic