Before you decide to go ahead and commit yourself legally, you can minimise the risks by asking a Chartered Surveyor to answer these questions for you:
- What would be a reasonable price for the Property?
- Are there drawbacks I don’t know about?
- If so, what do I need to do about them?
Commissioning your own survey is the simple, economic way, to avoid unpleasant – and perhaps costly – surprises after moving in. In some cases, the Surveyor’s report may enable you to renegotiate the price.
Even if you are seeking a mortgage – and may be paying for a Mortgage Valuation Report – it is still advisable and prudent to arrange a survey by your own Surveyor. The Consumers’ Association Which? magazine and the Council of Mortgage Lenders both give this advice. The reason is simple: the Mortgage Valuation Report is prepared for the lender – not for you, the borrower. It answers only the lender’s questions about the appropriate security for your loan. You cannot rely on it to answer the questions which concern your personal interests.
