Structural survey

stantheman8

I'm a first time buyer in the process of buying a second hand house (owner is the builder but has been let for some time now).

I am looking for an engineer to perform a structural survey but would also like them to check for electrical workings, heating, water pressure and that kind of thing.

First of all do people know if these would be changes that a vendor would be willing to make if pointed out? - I'm guessing that now is the best time to ask as otherwise I inherit any existing problems.

Does anyone know of an engineer that would perform both these services and if so - any idea what I should expect to pay?

Thanks

D3PO

stantheman8 wrote: »

I'm a first time buyer in the process of buying a second hand house (owner is the builder but has been let for some time now).

I am looking for an engineer to perform a structural survey but would also like them to check for electrical workings, heating, water pressure and that kind of thing.

First of all do people know if these would be changes that a vendor would be willing to make if pointed out? -

Its unlikely because its a second hand house, but at least you will know if there are issues that would lead you to pull out of buying.

Victor

stantheman8 wrote: »

First of all do people know if these would be changes that a vendor would be willing to make if pointed out? - I'm guessing that now is the best time to ask as otherwise I inherit any existing problems.

What changes?

Or do you mean "charges"? No, vendors don't usually pay for the buyer's professional advice.

ZYX

stantheman8 wrote: »

I'm a first time buyer in the process of buying a second hand house (owner is the builder but has been let for some time now).

I am looking for an engineer to perform a structural survey but would also like them to check for electrical workings, heating, water pressure and that kind of thing.

First of all do people know if these would be changes that a vendor would be willing to make if pointed out? - I'm guessing that now is the best time to ask as otherwise I inherit any existing problems.

Does anyone know of an engineer that would perform both these services and if so - any idea what I should expect to pay?

Thanks

Many people "specialise" in doing structural surveys (although if recently built it may not need one). If problems are discovered it can be used to renegotiate the price.
The cost of survey is borne by you whether you buy house in the end or not.

stantheman8

Victor wrote: »

What changes?

Or do you mean "charges"? No, vendors don't usually pay for the buyer's professional advice.

I mean changes such as something that needs to be fixed - like insufficient water pressure or malfunctioning heating system or some defective wiring that needs to be re-done.
These are all potentially things that after signing would cost me a lot of money to repair, but if caught now should be the responsibility of the vendor to fix.

Victor

Ah!

These aren't changes, they're corrections.

jeepers101

Thats the whole point of getting a survey done! You have agreed a price on the assumption there is nothing major wrong with the house. I got one done last week, got ten different quotes ranging between 350 and 600 euro. Cheapest was www.surveyor.ie.

stantheman8

Thanks for the useful input.

I did speak to one engineer who can provide all the services I was asking for, however, when he heard that the house was only 3 years old, he suggested that I didn't need one (at the risk of doing himself out of some business which I thought was admirable). Added factor to consider here is that the adjoining house (it's a semi-D) was sold only a month or 2 ago so I could check if they have had a structural survey done.

So now I'm thinking I could avoid having a structural survey done and go through all the other stuff myself (i.e. turn on the heating and check all the radiators; check all the lights and plugs are working; etc).

Anyone see any major risk in going this route?
It's not that I don't want to pay for the service but as many of you know it's already a financially strenuous time!

Moonbeam

You need a services survey,they are from about 400 euro .
Your structural engineer can prob recommend someone.

Moonbeam

You need a structural survey seriously well worth the 200 or so euro.
My house is 4 years old and there are issues with some neighbours houses,they have spend thousands on legal fees and repairs.
Do not risk it.
I would not worry about a services survey though.

handzy

I got mine for 150 but as he was doing the 1 next door the same day he charged 250 for both. Pm me if you want his name. I must add that im waiting on report as they were only done on tuesday so cant give an opinion about the actual survey.

stantheman8

Thanks again for all the useful feedback guys.

Decision is to get the structural survey done which also includes heating, plumbing and electrical.

It's not cheap (€450) but the peace of mind will be worth it!

If anyone wants to know how it went PM in a week or so and I can give you the guys details.

Thanks again
Stan