Engineer for new home

sunisup

Just wondering as im purchasing a new house. On average how much does an engineer cost and can anyone recommend one In cork, got a quote of 650 inc snag list but thought this a bit pricey? All help appreciated

killers1

sunisup wrote: »

Just wondering as im purchasing a new house. On average how much does an engineer cost and can anyone recommend one In cork, got a quote of 650 inc snag list but thought this a bit pricey? All help appreciated

I'd say that's more than double the going rate to be honest....

housetypeb

I paid 400 for a survey on a house in Cork City center a few weeks ago.
When you say Cork do you mean the city or the county?

engineermike

That does seem a bit pricy in my mind.
Hard to say with out further detail on the property.

Average 3 bed semi in Cork is 3 - 350 (ish) for pre purchase structural survey.
Snag list for same is 150.
They should be seperated into 2 reports as one is for your bank / insurance / and peace of mind. The snag list is for the builder to rectify.
There is some cross over particularly when structural issues are thrown up in the survey.
Some discount would be applicable also if having 2 types of inspection carried out.
Mike f

johnmolon

killers1 wrote: »

I'd say that's more than double the going rate to be honest....

I am an engineer and for a house purchase survey / snag list I charge €200 for a standard house. your quote seems high.

engineermike

johnmolon wrote: »

I am an engineer and for a house purchase survey / snag list I charge €200 for a standard house. your quote seems high.

Hi -
We tend to monitor prices across the profession to ensure we are competitive.
a standard house - on your doorstep is feasible for around 250, but then taking into account any travel, age of structure, modifications etc. - you have to also price that in.
I also think customers find comfort in the specialist consultancy we can bring to to the assessment of a property - timber frame, period & listed buildings etc.
Taking account of diesel & PI costs - and running costs for your business - €200 euro doesn't leave much room to maneuver.
I just checked on a sample job last week - 5 bed house in North co. Dublin to be snagged - carried out by us for €150 (inc.)
I ran it by one of our main competitors in the city - they came in at €430 (inc).
Its hard to tell what price you should be at, I like a fair price for a high standard of work & professionalism.
Rgds
mike F

hiho1967

What is it that enginerrs do for you when buying a house. Ill be buying a house soon when i sell teh one in inherited but im wondering can i do the work myself. What kind of checks do they do for the buyer.

therightangle

hiho1967 wrote: »

What is it that enginerrs do for you when buying a house. Ill be buying a house soon when i sell teh one in inherited but im wondering can i do the work myself. What kind of checks do they do for the buyer.

I have seen several engineer's/surveyors reports, and I pulled this out of the most comprehensive one, which came in at 375:

Survey:

The survey primarily includes observations and recommendations on:
- structural movement
- damp (the 3 main types)
- timber defects and flooding risk
- Building Regulations compliance on site in comparison to current standards.

Where applicable and accessible, the survey also includes observations and recommendations on:
- location and controls for water supply
- roof structure, flashings, gutters, downpipes
- water tank and pipe condition and insulation
- electrical installation
- energy efficiency and improvements/upgrades
- fire escape and child-lock windows
- radon extraction sumps
- heating controls, timers and running costs
- boiler rated efficiency
- ventilation, mould and smoke escape
- smoke and fire alarms
- attic conversions present
- location and type of septic tank & percolation area
- compliance with EPA wastewater guidelines (septic tanks & percolation areas)
- inspection of garage and sheds
- compliance with disability access regulations
- fire door/floor level for an attached garage, etc.
- condition of walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, doors, windows
Turn on the heating system, if power, water and fuel are supplied

Snag:
Extra 150:
Separate Snag List for builder - items of a cosmetic nature, as well as conformity checks with the latest Building Regulations pertaining to the dwelling.

No sketches/layouts of the house were included on this one, but were on another. Total about 16 pages (no photos) including disclaimers, title page, etc.

hiho1967

therightangle wrote: »

I have seen several engineer's/surveyors reports, and I pulled this out of the most comprehensive one, which came in at 375:

Survey:

The survey primarily includes observations and recommendations on:
- structural movement how can you tell if the structure has moved
- damp (the 3 main types) What are the 3 types
- timber defects and flooding risk Timber defects ?
- Building Regulations compliance on site in comparison to current standards. is this a visual inspection or do they go around with levels and tape measures



Where applicable and accessible, the survey also includes observations and recommendations on:
- location and controls for water supply
- roof structure, flashings, gutters, downpipes Do they get into the roof and measure every measurement and check for levels
- water tank and pipe condition and insulation what if its difficult to get to, will the celing have to be opened
- electrical installation How do this get checked, each plug, light switch etc..
- energy efficiency and improvements/upgrades ber cert ?
- fire escape and child-lock windows
- radon extraction sumps How can these be checked. For gas escaping or a visual inspection
- heating controls, timers and running costs
- boiler rated efficiency
- ventilation, mould and smoke escape
- smoke and fire alarms
- attic conversions present
- location and type of septic tank & percolation area
- compliance with EPA wastewater guidelines (septic tanks & percolation areas)
- inspection of garage and sheds
- compliance with disability access regulations
- fire door/floor level for an attached garage, etc.
- condition of walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, doors, windows
Turn on the heating system, if power, water and fuel are supplied

Snag:
Extra 150:
Separate Snag List for builder - items of a cosmetic nature, as well as conformity checks with the latest Building Regulations pertaining to the dwelling.

No sketches/layouts of the house were included on this one, but were on another. Total about 16 pages (no photos) including disclaimers, title page, etc.

I had to google radon sump because i couldnt remember what it was. Sorry if all above sounds silly because i dont really know much about surveying a house. Just curious to know for when i sell my own house. Correct me if im wrong but i always thought they went round measuring each door opening, checking every door for levels,plumb. Get into the roof and check every measurement of spacing, check all rafters,joists are all plumb and level. Check all celing heights and looks for cracks around the house.

ABajaninCork

therightangle wrote: »

I have seen several engineer's/surveyors reports, and I pulled this out of the most comprehensive one, which came in at 375:

Survey:

The survey primarily includes observations and recommendations on:
- structural movement
- damp (the 3 main types)
- timber defects and flooding risk
- Building Regulations compliance on site in comparison to current standards.

Where applicable and accessible, the survey also includes observations and recommendations on:
- location and controls for water supply
- roof structure, flashings, gutters, downpipes
- water tank and pipe condition and insulation
- electrical installation
- energy efficiency and improvements/upgrades
- fire escape and child-lock windows
- radon extraction sumps
- heating controls, timers and running costs
- boiler rated efficiency
- ventilation, mould and smoke escape
- smoke and fire alarms
- attic conversions present
- location and type of septic tank & percolation area
- compliance with EPA wastewater guidelines (septic tanks & percolation areas)
- inspection of garage and sheds
- compliance with disability access regulations
- fire door/floor level for an attached garage, etc.
- condition of walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, doors, windows
Turn on the heating system, if power, water and fuel are supplied

Snag:
Extra 150:
Separate Snag List for builder - items of a cosmetic nature, as well as conformity checks with the latest Building Regulations pertaining to the dwelling.

No sketches/layouts of the house were included on this one, but were on another. Total about 16 pages (no photos) including disclaimers, title page, etc.

Would pests (woodworm, silverfish, mice/rats, etc.) be included in the check?
Depending on area and age of house, would a pyrite check be necessary or do you have to request this separately?
What about asbestos?
Does it cover pipework outside the property? Probably putting this wrong, but would you be able to check the pipes are installed deep enough to prevent freezing?

Just curious...

hiho1967

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Would pests (woodworm, silverfish, mice/rats, etc.) be included in the check?
Depending on area and age of house, would a pyrite check be necessary or do you have to request this separately?
What about asbestos?

Just curious...

whats pyrite

ABajaninCork

Definition here. Apparently a major problem with some new builds...

EDIT. Thread about pyrite problems here as well which is interesting.

engineermike

hi,
for the survey your paid 375, and 150 for the snag ?

next series of questions ;

How man bedrooms in the house .
location of the property in Ireland .
approximate age of the original structure .
any 'aftermarket modifications to the original stucture' ( attic covert, or extension ) .
is there any 'discovery documentation' to review ( what they said they built and what we see was built) .

don't buy a property on halloween or the 13th friday of the month

therightangle

It was a 4/5 bed house about 10+ years old
Report spotted that Conservatory added on after was not properly supported/designed and may be over planning exemption size
Septic tank full of water when opened
No percolation area visible
No pyrite in South of Ireland as far as I know
Timber defects are described as woodworm, wood-boring beetles in roof timbers
Never heard of silverfish??

engineermike wrote: »

hi,
for the survey your paid 375, and 150 for the snag ?

next series of questions ;

How man bedrooms in the house .
location of the property in Ireland .
approximate age of the original structure .
any 'aftermarket modifications to the original stucture' ( attic covert, or extension ) .
is there any 'discovery documentation' to review ( what they said they built and what we see was built) .

don't buy a property on halloween or the 13th friday of the month

rickydune

Any experience with these guys Thorntons Chartered Surveyors was referred by a mate and looking to canvas opinion on wether they did a good through job. Thanks.

henryporter

Lol - it's reading threads like these that make me so glad I packed in the architecture business a couple of years back and took up software engineering instead.

I used to charge 450 for a survey which took 2-3 hours of on site time depending on size, age etc. After that the report had to be done, background checking on planning permission, building regs etc. Again that would be 4-5 hours on average. Most times I would also have had to check land registry maps. So an average time of 7-8 hours = 60-50 € per hour less tax, rent, light, heat, PI insurance, travel, equipment, etc was ending up as charity work going out inspecting poorly constructed houses and being expected to carry the can if anything went wrong, and believe me things can go wrong - I was called in one time to look at a house that an engineer had inspected for a fee of €750! The house had no planning permission, an inadequate visibility splay at the entrance, an inadequate waste water treatment system, rising damp and a multitude of other problems. The case against the engineer was settled out of court last year for a figure exceeding the cost pid for the house by 80%.

Good luck getting the cheap survey done but remember caveat emptor extends to the services you employ in achieving it.:D

super_sweeney

bumb!

there thread seems great just wondering is all contained within still applicable?

thanks

hairyslug

Just had a look at our invoice, we paid 370 for ours, he spent about 2 hours on site.
He told us there and then what he felt and followed up with a report