If you are planning to buy a new house, you really need to have a property survey carried out by a qualified surveyor. In this article we will look at the different type of surveys, the typical surveys costs and the benefits of house survey. You will also find out how to cut down your house survey costs.
Your home is the most expensive purchase you will ever make. As a home owner, you will greatly benefit from the surveyor’s advice on the condition of your house, whether you plan to rent it, live in it or sell it. One in 5 property buyers rely on mortgage valuation reports. At the end of the day, they get hit with repair bills as soon as they move in. Getting a surveyor will help you avoid the cost of making repairs. So, how much does a home surveyor cost? Surveyors fees depend on several factors as discussed below:
in this article
Types of property survey
Choosing a house survey based on the property condition and not Surveyors fees will help you cut on house surveyors fees. The money you spend on a decent survey will save you a fortune in the future.
RICS conditional report
This Conditional Report is the cheapest as well as the most basic, and will cost a home owner about £250. It’s most suitable for conventional houses in good conditions and new buildings. No valuation or advice is given in this survey.
RICS HomeBuyer Report
This is a survey suitable for conventional homes in reliable conditions. Here, property Surveyors fees starts at £400 on average.
This type of property survey helps a home owner find out if there are structural problems like damp or subsidence. This house survey will also assist a home owner discover any other hidden issues both inside and outside. However, this report does not look beyond floorboards or behind walls.
Some homebuyer’s survey reports include a home valuation, so you are able to revise your initial offer in case your house surveyor reveals a lower price compared to that of a mortgage lender’s valuation.
If there is no valuation included in the surveyor’s report, you may use the report’s recommendation for repair to negotiate the price. For instance, if it is going to cost £5,000 to carry out the entire work on the house’ damp walls, it is reasonable to offer £5,000 less than the seller’s asking price.
Home conditional survey
This type of house survey provides a similar level of high in-depth inspection as the building survey. Home Condition Survey uses a simpler and clear presentation style & 1, 2, 3 system of rating to ensure that you are able to identify some of the most serious issues easily. Here, party wall surveyor costs are about £400 to £500 pounds.
Building or full structural survey
This type of survey is the most comprehensive and is the best for all residential properties. It is particularly good for properties that may require repairs or older homes. In Full structure or building survey, quantity surveyor fees is roughly £500 – £1500 & gives details advice on repairs. It is very extensive and worth the extra cash. However, it does not always include a valuation. Although full structure or building survey cannot look behind walls or under floor beds, it should have the surveyor’s opinion on potential for the hidden defects in this area.
Your surveyor should also give information on the potential repair options. You may save money by comparing details of the repairs needed against a lender’s valuation.
New-build snagging survey
This is an independent inspection that aims to unearth any issues with the property. Costs start from £300 depending on the size f the property. A developer is expected to fix faults highlighted just before you move in.
Mortgage valuation survey
The main aim of a mortgage valuation is to satisfy the lender that the desired property is worth the price you are paying- or better still at least the amount your lender is lending- before having your mortgage approved. The mortgage valuation survey fees are based on the property purchase price.
This is the only purpose of a valuation. It will not highlight structural problems or repairs that should be fixed. Generally, you will have to pay for this lender’s survey. The cost depends on factors such as size and value of the property, and will cost between £250 to £1,500. Some lender will however offer mortgages with free valuation.
If your desired property is valued below your offer price, you can go back to the estate agent or the seller and offer a lower price basing on the lender’s valuation.
How to cut the costs of your property survey
If you want to save money you should avoid having a Mortgage Valuation Report as the house survey cost will be fixed by your mortgage lender, because the report is mainly done for him and not for you.
On the other hand, if you want to have a Homebuyers Survey or a full Structural Survey, you will have to hire yourself a firm of Chartered Surveyors and agree with the on the final price. This will allow you to get the best possible price as you can request and compare several online quotes from any firms or surveyors. Furthermore, most professionals are willing to discount their standard house survey costs – it is always worth bargaining and trying to reduce their fees.
Conclusion
A Property survey will help a home owner find out more information about the property, and in case there are problems, provide powerful reasons to ask the seller to fix the problems first before he moves in or negotiate the buying price down. If you are still wondering “how much are surveyors’ fees?” the answer depends on several factors as discussed above.
image credit: www.evenesis.com