If it’s your first time buying a property or it’s been a while since you last moved home, you might be feeling confused about whether or not you need a home survey and what type you need. Here is a simple guide to help you understand the process better.
What is a home survey?
A survey is a thorough inspection of a property. A surveyor will examine the property and advise you of any problems such as subsidence. He or she will also inform you of major repairs the property requires and provide a detailed commentary on various aspects of the property, such as the type of glazing it has.
What type of survey do I need?
There are several types of survey, and each covers different things and goes into a different level of detail. The Money Advice Service has a helpful breakdown of the different types, as well as a rough guide to costs – https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/a-guide-to-homebuyer-surveys-and-costs#types-of-homebuyer-survey. As the site explains, the cheapest surveys are fairly basic and tend to cost around £250.
Whatever type of survey you decide to get, you should always use a reputable professional. Firms such as https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/Homebuyers-Survey/Home-Buyers-Survey-Essex have been offering home buyers survey Essex for many years. If you have no idea where to start, ask friends, families and colleagues who they used for surveys when buying their homes and try to find someone who’s been recommended to you.
Do I need a survey?
You may think your mortgage provider carries out a survey but this isn’t strictly true. Most mortgage providers carry out only a cursory inspection of the property, simply to ensure it’s worth the money they’re lending you to buy it. This is not the same as a home survey from a professional surveyor.
It is recommended you have a property survey in the following cases:
– you are concerned about the structure of the property in any way
– the property is very old or in a state of disrepair
– you have doubts about the condition of the property
– you’re buying an unusual property, e.g., a house with a thatched roof
Of course, anyone can have a property survey and it’s usually a good idea, but the above cases are examples of when you definitely should arrange one.
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