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Buying a House - Need Survey - Confused

  • 07-11-2011 11:42am
    #1
    CBYR1983
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 336 ✭✭


    Buying a house in the North-East Kildare area.

    Need to get a structural survey done. House is about 12 years old.

    Confused:( - I'm not in the industry/trade and I don't know if I need an engineer or a chartered surveyor. Do either do this type of survey?

    I want the place looked over thoroughly, and if there are problems I want recommendations made as to the works required. The place is not falling apart, it's in good order, thought there seems to be some minor enough issues re the roof.

    Can someone please explain what I need here? It is not required by the lender, but for my own piece of mind and decision re purchase and, inevitably, price.

    Also, if anyone has any recommendations, please PM me.

    Thanks - you know yourselves, biggest purchase I'll probably ever make so I don't want to be taking on problems! All guidance appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    CBYR1983 wrote: »
    Buying a house in the North-East Kildare area.

    Need to get a structural survey done. House is about 12 years old.

    Confused:( - I'm not in the industry/trade and I don't know if I need an engineer or a chartered surveyor. Do either do this type of survey?

    I want the place looked over thoroughly, and if there are problems I want recommendations made as to the works required. The place is not falling apart, it's in good order, thought there seems to be some minor enough issues re the roof.

    Can someone please explain what I need here?
    go with a surveyor as they will be able to give a steer on the cost of fixing the roof. an engineers report is generally a visual structural survey so if there were obvious cracks etc id be getting them in.
    also ask for the BER, building & planning compliance certificates. give these to the surveyor and ask for their opinion - for example - of the cost to bring the BER up to new build standards - this can be a great tool for bargaining on price with the seller

    best of luck


  • #3
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,550 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    As BryanF said a building surveyor is probably your best bet. However an architectural technician or engineer who are actively involved in surveys would also fit the bill.


  • #4
    Carlow52
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,389 ✭✭✭Carlow52


    Just be aware that any structural survey will be of the non invasive type, in other words it will be visual only and the opinons in the survey will be based on the visual inspection.

    The reason I point this out is that many people expect a lot more and dont understand that it is just visual.

    For example: it may not be possible to tell if the walls are cavity block versus cavity wall.
    It may not be possible to tell if any cavity is insulated.

    It wont give any comfort on what insulation was used under concrete floors or drylined walls.

    Ditto with the state of the wiring and plumbing and radiators etc etc


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