Tips for choosing the right building surveyor

Once you have appointed a conveyancer and they have started their part of the purchasing process. Your next step will involve appointing a building surveyor to ensure the condition of the property matches your expectations and hopefully highlight any issues that may cost you money.

If you have not been through the buying process before. Choosing the right building surveyor can seem a daunting task. Below we have set out a few tips that should help you pick the right surveyor for you.

Your building surveyor needs

There are different types of surveys out there, and understanding your needs will help you narrow the search process. If you have a more cautious nature and want to know as much detail as possible about your new home. Or if you are buying an older property which will have various different construction elements. A level 3 (full) building survey is probably the one for you. If you are buying a more modern property, one that has been typically built in the last 40 years, a less extensive level 2 (homebuyers) survey is probably suitable.

Knowing what you want to get out of the survey i.e. as much detail as possible or enough detail to highlight any major issues will help you when searching for a survey. A level 3 full building survey is typically more expensive than a level 2 survey. This reflects the additional time spent at the property and the amount of detail included in the report.

Communications & customer care

Achieving the right level of communication during and after the survey is pivotal, particularly if an issue is discovered. When you are speaking with the surveying practice, make sure to ask if you will be able to speak directly with the building surveyor following the inspection and if any issues are highlighted. Some, typically larger, surveying firms tend not to have the best level of communication. The last thing you need is to be stuck on hold or not having your queries answered after the survey has been completed.

Locations

At House Nous we are huge fans of buying locally and supporting local business. When it comes to picking the right surveyor, appointing someone with local knowledge and experience is a must. Having a surveyor who has been located in the area for a while, with their understanding of how the particular area may have changed, what properties were constructed when and what local factors should be considered, can make a huge difference.

Building surveyor qualifications, experience & workload

Before proceeding with a survey, you should always check that the company you choose is RICS registered. Ans also that their surveyors have the necessary qualifications and experience. This should go someway in reducing the risk of a bad experience.

Workload is another area you should seek to confirm. Some larger companies require their surveyors to undertake 2-3 surveys a day and expect them to write the reports at the same time. This should be a big warning to you as these companies work on low fees, low quality and high turnover. Ideally, you want to find a smaller local based firm that allow their surveyors to spend the necessary time at each property, with the report completed following the inspection.

Pricing

We always recommend you obtain at least 2-3 quotes from similar companies before deciding your preferred option. When obtaining quotes, if the price seems very low compared to others you have obtained, it is probably a warning sign. It may indicate some of the issues we mentioned in the above section.

Don’t forget to ask about payment. Some companies will require the money upfront before the survey is booked in, and some ask for payment after which could be a big benefit depending on your circumstances.

Reviews

Although not all reviews are genuine. And at times even the best surveying companies may have the occasional off day. Looking at the companies average rating/reviews should help you during your decision making. To help assess the performance of a company, look at how many reviews they have and how many are positive, and check to see if they have responded to the bad reviews (this will show they care about their clients).

Conclusion

Did you know that having a survey prior to exchanging contractions could save you money. And it may also save you from a property nightmare!

Finding and choosing a surveyor for your property purchase can seem a challenge. But by using our tips on this page, and by looking at our other articles about surveys. You can reduce the risk involved and hopefully ensure you find the best company for your needs.