Question re. Survey for apartment purchase.

Peter Dragon

Asking for a friend (genuinely) - can anyone recommend a company/individual to do a survey on an apartment in Santry?

Feel free to PM me if stating the name publicly violates any boards rules etc.

Thanks!

SupaCat95

Unfortunately not. Your estate agent will be very helpful in providing you with a list of "tame" surveyors. I suggest you use anyone other than persons or companies on that list. The best place to look for a recommendation is your own personal friends or social club for a recommendation.

Peter Dragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123841928#Comment_123841928

Not for me but thanks for your reply. Yes, they were given a list of surveyors by the selling agent but that was an immediate red flag for me as whether they are or not that just seems like a compromised relationship to me.

Thanks again.

Del2005

No surveyor can check what is actually required so it doesn't matter who you use. The only things that they can check are visual issues, most places have structural issues and only the OMC will be able to tell you about them, if they have checked.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123842001#Comment_123842001

If you're going for a mortgage, I'd check with your bank to see if they have a list of approved surveyors they might want you to use.

As for the list from the selling agent, I wouldn't be too put off using one of those either. With apartments in particular, having a surveyor who has surveyed other apartments in that block before can be a huge benefit as they may have seen other things in other apartments there, they may have knowledge of improvement or remedial works that have been carried out since, they might more easily be able to access management company info or contacts from previous. So long as they don't work for the selling agent and they're still registered/chartered, I wouldn't see an issue with it. Ultimately they're putting their insurances and professional indemnity to their survey.

ted1

banks look for valuers not surveyors

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123842399#Comment_123842399

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123842495#Comment_123842495

Depending on the apartment and level of risk (history of the development, contractor etc), they may look for a pre-purchase survey to be done for the property in addition to the valuation. But even if not they may have a list of local surveyors they have worked with or they would recommend. No harm in asking/checking either way, even just to clarify with them if they do require a pre-purchase survey for the property.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123842524#Comment_123842524

What Irish bank looks for a pre purchase survey?

ELM327

When I bought an apartment in 2018 I didn't even bother with a survey. The important part is the state of the OMC and finances, as well as the functionality etc of stuff like heaters as well as shared items like any buzzers/intercom.

None of that requires a survey, and what you need a surveyor for they won't be able to look at anyway, so we didn't bother. Sold the apt in 2022 for a good profit.