Surveyor expectations

C

CharlieC

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Recently moved house, before signing had a survey done.
Got back a 20 page report which was pretty standard and non-commital along the lines of

The roof is in a reasonable condition.
The interior walls are in a reasonable condition

Went ahead anyway as I was happy there were no major defects. But it is more that I am discovering these things myself now

I have now noticed some minor but maybe expensive things to fix
Rainwater gushes from a hole in the guttering during a downpour
Honest Plumber says that Oil Boiler is on last legs and is the worst he has seen.
(Survey noted Boiler was due a service)
Damp Patch on Kitchen Ceiling
Toilet Cistern leaks
One electric switch when on trips the main switch

Would these have been reasonable things to spot? The survey was 350
 
For €350 , no! Very few surveyors (if any) will spot or identify the type of complaints you report. A leaking gutter can only be observed if its raining, a faulty switch is not a structural defect. The purpose of the structural survey is to identify (within reason) any major structural defects which would affect the stability, integrity and ultimately the value of the house. It would be unreasonable to expect a surveyor who at most might inspect a house for 1 hr or more to uncover every single defect. Similarly a surveyor has no other special powers of perception than you or I, he cannot see work that is covered up, inaccessible or not otherwise subject to inspection. If your dwelling is basically structurally sound, weatherproof and shows no signs of serious flaws then I think your surveyor has fulfilled his obligations, IMHO.
 
Ok thanks for the feedback. I need to clarify if the 'damp' spot is old or has been fixed in the past. It wasn't mentioned in the report.

The report notes that the weather on the day was raining and showers but it said Gutter was in a reasonable condition.
 
Charlie I'm afraid 'the survey' is of a quite cursory nature along the lines of confirming the size, type age and general structural condition of the house. Even the 'next up' survey - a Homebuyers Report which costs about three times as much - doesn't include inspecting floorboards if they are covered by tiles or fitted carpet though I think it does cover inspection of loft-timbers for worm activity. From experience I know that if the surveyor does not have access to an area or aspect of the property they cannot be held accountable for any problems subsequently found (e.g. if carpets are tacked down, if garden gate is locked etc.) Irrespective of the survey (which is a requirement of the mortgage lender) when purchasing you have to use your own observation and judgement.
 
Just to add to that, I inspected a second hand house for a relative a few months ago. Every room had floating timber floors bar one bedroom and the kitchen. I pulled back the one carpet in the house, in the bedroom, and found and something which aroused my suspicions. Floor levelling compound had been applied to the entire floor, quite thickly and was evident on the skirtings, quite new. In the kitchen, which was tiled, cracking could be seen around the floor perimeter. I advised said relative to walk away and subsequently found out ( from a neighbour I knew) that the property had problems with sinking floors and had been on the market for a long time. Very difficult to spot if floating floors are everywhere.
 
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