Engineers/Surveyors Report when buying house

Hi

I need advice.
I am buying a house for cash -no bank involved. Its to live in - not an investment.


I have decided not to get a surveyors/engineers report this time. The house in 7 years old, no pyrite, one owner before, in large development of houses that all sell very quickly, very well finished and developed estate, BER C1.

I am happy with everything. This is the 4th house I have bought in my life. The last 2 were in the country with septic tanks, wells etc etc. They had loads of problems that the surveyor never picked up when I was buying. Nothing was flagged in their reports that I paid hundreds of euro/pounds for. Luckily I was still able to fix the problems and sell both houses in time. They weren't worth the paper they were written on and this was on old detached houses in the country. So I feel confident buying a newish 3 bed semi in a development and dont intend to get a survey. I have no bank to satisy.

My solicitor said she will advise me to get one but thats to cover herself - not because I need one.

anyone got any views on this?

Gumbo

Deleted User wrote: »

anyone got any views on this?

Hire a Surveyor or an Engineer.

Penn

Caveat Empor - Buyer Beware

If your previous surveyors missed something they should have spotted, that's their fault. But it doesn't mean you still shouldn't hire one. Given how much a house costs, the additional few hundred (probably less than half a percent of the cost of the house) could be vital in the long run in case they do spot something.

mickdw

Generally a report might be covering areas such as planning checks, boundary checks, condition and structure including Building regulation check
I guess If no extensions are present and its in an estate of identical houses, that would go some way to satisfying you that all is well re planning but you could get caught out by assuming stuff. I seen a hell of alot of boundary issues in modern estates so that is certainly worth checking.
Re the house itself, are they any exclusions on the compliance cert? Some of the certs from boom era were comical and certainly worthless.
I saw one the other day that excluded condition 1 of planning which basically is the condition the states the development must carried out as per the drawings and documents submitted without any clarification as to what the issues were just a blanket exclusion of that condition and imo a worthless cert.
Are you happy to take on any possible issues?
How do you know this how has not failed to sell already due to problems ?

the house was only on the market 2 days and there was a queue of people looking to buy it. Huge shortage of good 3 bed semis for sale in the Drogheda area and this is a good one. I live 2 streets away from it - renting - and the rent is huge. This house is being sold cos the owner lost his job and is going back to the UK and he wants a quick sale. I had cash luckily from a house sale last year. There would be at least 5 other buyers for this house if I hadnt already secured it. Contracts are ready to be signed tomorrow.

thanks for advice

martinn123

Deleted User wrote: »

Hi

I need advice.
I am buying a house for cash -no bank involved. Its to live in - not an investment.


I have decided not to get a surveyors/engineers report this time. The house in 7 years old, no pyrite, one owner before, in large development of houses that all sell very quickly, very well finished and developed estate, BER C1.

I am happy with everything. This is the 4th house I have bought in my life. The last 2 were in the country with septic tanks, wells etc etc. They had loads of problems that the surveyor never picked up when I was buying. Nothing was flagged in their reports that I paid hundreds of euro/pounds for. Luckily I was still able to fix the problems and sell both houses in time. They weren't worth the paper they were written on and this was on old detached houses in the country. So I feel confident buying a newish 3 bed semi in a development and dont intend to get a survey. I have no bank to satisy.

My solicitor said she will advise me to get one but thats to cover herself - not because I need one.

anyone got any views on this?

When I read your post, I assumed you were actually looking for advice on this one.

So you had problems following on from previous Reports, tell us, did you go back to whoever issued those Reports when issues arose, how did you get on.

based on that you are now going to invest a large sum in a property with no assessment of the house, bad idea.

There would be at least 5 other buyers for this house if I hadnt already secured it. Contracts are ready to be signed tomorrow.

And you can be assured each of those 5 buyers will get a survey done.

Well done on securing the house, nothing in the Contract you are about to sign, will be negated by you getting a Survey done, your Solicitor is also not recommending this,

My solicitor said she will advise me to get one but thats to cover herself - not because I need one.

She does'nt need to cover herself.........you do.

martinn123

martinn123 wrote: »

When I read your post, I assumed you were actually looking for advice on this one.

So you had problems following on from previous Reports, tell us, did you go back to whoever issued those Reports when issues arose, how did you get on.

based on that you are now going to invest a large sum in a property with no assessment of the house, bad idea.


And you can be assured each of those 5 buyers will get a survey done.

Well done on securing the house, nothing in the Contract you are about to sign, will be negated by you getting a Survey done, your Solicitor is also not recommending this,


She does'nt need to cover herself.........you do.

yea I absolutely know that - its me who need to cover myself. I just meant she is doing her job advising me to get a survey done. I have no complaint there and I trust her.

Believe me after buying 4 houses to date in my life and renting countless others I understand the problems that can crop up. But I also know there is an awful lot of expensive red tape involved in the process. When I bought my last house in 2005 (the height) I paid 45K in Stamp Duty - - money down the drain but there was no option and that was the demand of houses then and the rate of Stamp Duty. You just get tired of the endless amount of money involved in this whole process. VAT on top of all legal fees, surveys - double taxation etc etc.


I hope I will never have to buy a house again - this is the last time - I will leave this next house in a wooden box!

.....oh and by the way Martin I never went back to the engineers who did the original surveys. I just hadn't the energy at that stage..... the problems only showed themselves years later i.e. no percolation area for septic tank so constant blockages and overflows even though it was a puraflow system.

In the previous house to that the pipes from house to septic tank were sub standard and too small - so more blockages and overflows. The well water which was my only supply was full of bacteria and coliforms and needed a very expensive filter system put on to it to make the water drinkable. . Also asbestos lining in chimneys that had to be replaced - never picked up in surveys. Surveys only protect you to an extent - thats my experience.

I bet those people in Priory Hall got surveys too - but Pyrite wasn't detected? You can still buy a host of problems despite getting a place surveyed and be left without a leg to stand on.

Thank God this house I'm buying has gas heating, mains water and no septic tank - there's a lot to be said for it!!

EmmetF

Deleted User wrote: »

.....oh and by the way Martin I never went back to the engineers who did the original surveys. I just hadn't the energy at that stage..... the problems only showed themselves years later i.e. no percolation area for septic tank so constant blockages and overflows even though it was a puraflow system.

In the previous house to that the pipes from house to septic tank were sub standard and too small - so more blockages and overflows. The well water which was my only supply was full of bacteria and coliforms and needed a very expensive filter system put on to it to make the water drinkable. . Also asbestos lining in chimneys that had to be replaced - never picked up in surveys. Surveys only protect you to an extent - thats my experience.

I bet those people in Priory Hall got surveys too - but Pyrite wasn't detected? You can still buy a host of problems despite getting a place surveyed and be left without a leg to stand on.

Thank God this house I'm buying has gas heating, mains water and no septic tank - there's a lot to be said for it!!

A lot of the issues regarding septic tank, wastewater pipes etc would not be picked up on your standard survey as that work is covered up. Unless it was specifically stated that the septic tank was built to requirements, it shouldn't have been assumed that it was. That being said, the report should have made this clear.

Penn

Deleted User wrote: »

.....oh and by the way Martin I never went back to the engineers who did the original surveys. I just hadn't the energy at that stage..... the problems only showed themselves years later i.e. no percolation area for septic tank so constant blockages and overflows even though it was a puraflow system.

In the previous house to that the pipes from house to septic tank were sub standard and too small - so more blockages and overflows. The well water which was my only supply was full of bacteria and coliforms and needed a very expensive filter system put on to it to make the water drinkable. . Also asbestos lining in chimneys that had to be replaced - never picked up in surveys. Surveys only protect you to an extent - thats my experience.

I bet those people in Priory Hall got surveys too - but Pyrite wasn't detected? You can still buy a host of problems despite getting a place surveyed and be left without a leg to stand on.

Thank God this house I'm buying has gas heating, mains water and no septic tank - there's a lot to be said for it!!

In fairness, building surveys are usually walkthrough only. The surveyor checks everything that they can see, but unless there's a known issue, they wouldn't go digging up the garden to check for a percolation area. What happens if there's nothing wrong with the percolation area but you still choose not to buy it? Then the current owner has just had their garden dug up for no reason.

Same with the quality of water from the well, a surveyor can't possibly check that unless they have reason to suspect there's an issue, in which case they'd advise you to get it tested, not test it themselves. And an asbestos lining in a chimney most likely can't be seen unless the chimney is opened up.

Sorry, but for most building surveys, those issues wouldn't have been picked up. Most surveys are visual walkthrough inspections only. The surveyor comments on everything they can see without opening anything up. They should have made that clear before the survey took place, and as part of their report.

Penn

Penn wrote: »

In fairness, building surveys are usually walkthrough only. The surveyor checks everything that they can see, but unless there's a known issue, they wouldn't go digging up the garden to check for a percolation area. What happens if there's nothing wrong with the percolation area but you still choose not to buy it? Then the current owner has just had their garden dug up for no reason.

Same with the quality of water from the well, a surveyor can't possibly check that unless they have reason to suspect there's an issue, in which case they'd advise you to get it tested, not test it themselves. And an asbestos lining in a chimney most likely can't be seen unless the chimney is opened up.

Sorry, but for most building surveys, those issues wouldn't have been picked up. Most surveys are visual walkthrough inspections only. The surveyor comments on everything they can see without opening anything up. They should have made that clear before the survey took place, and as part of their report.

No guys - I agree with you and I understand that completely. Most surveys are visual and walkthrough. Any issues I had with past houses couldnt have been detected without excavation etc. And they were big expensive messy problems. I certainly never said I expected a garden to be dug up! So in my experience a survey wasn't worth it as these problems were things that couldn't be flagged but only came to light when I was living in the houses - i.e. outside the scope of most surveys.

My solicitor will check title, deeds, etc. I know from already living in a house 2 streets away that these are very well built Shannono homes and all the local auctioneers give them the thumbs up - they dont with other properties I have been looking at over the last year. Excellent BER too.

MicktheMan

Deleted User wrote: »

Hi

I need advice.

Seeing that you know that surveys are, for the most part, walkthroughs and non-invasive in nature, what advice are you looking for?

just wanted feedback/to see what other people thought.
Sorry
I'm not being smart and I'm not out to prove a point.
I'm doing this alone - just really wanted to know if anyone else had skipped a survey.

will make up my mind tonight. thanks.

Gumbo

Deleted User wrote: »

just wanted feedback/to see what other people thought.
Sorry
I'm not being smart and I'm not out to prove a point.
I'm doing this alone - just really wanted to know if anyone else had skipped a survey.

will make up my mind tonight. thanks.

Best of luck whatever way you go. Hope it works out.

kceire

kceire wrote: »

Best of luck whatever way you go. Hope it works out.

thanks

martinn123

Deleted User wrote: »

just wanted feedback/to see what other people thought.
Sorry
I'm not being smart and I'm not out to prove a point.
I'm doing this alone - just really wanted to know if anyone else had skipped a survey.

will make up my mind tonight. thanks.

Best of luck with the house, whatever you decide, but do let us know,

( Go on you know you need a Survey, do it ,)