1stAssociated can provide help and advice with regard to homebuyers reports, full structural surveys, building surveys, valuations, residential building surveys, commercial building surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects reports, damp reports, or any other property matters.
As you can see from this article we use lots of sketches and photos in our reports as the feedback we have from our clients is that the sketches and photos help them understand the reports.
Please free phone 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat with one of our surveyors.
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What really is the difference between a Homebuyers Report and a Building Survey?
This question comes up time and time again and is asked in many different ways. People ask: 
What is the difference between a homebuyers report and a building survey?
What is the difference between a homebuyers report and a full structural survey?
Or as the title says:
What is the difference between a homebuyers report and a structural survey?
All these three different terms building survey, structural survey and full structural survey all mean the top end survey.
The question is how do these differ from the homebuyers report?
If you Google what is the difference between a homebuyers report and a structural survey/building survey/full structural survey you will see all sorts of answers and we feel you would be none the wiser. Even on the money saving expert website, that we think is very reliable, we have seen all sorts of answers. If you look at the website as a whole there are many, many different answers, some from surveyors and some from non-surveyors.
First of all we do need to say that we are writing this article as Building Surveyors. This is not the standard answer you get if you ring up the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors also known as RICS, which again can cause confusion with some people. We have heard people ring up and ask for an RICS survey. We think the best thing is to ring up and explain what age of property you have got and what you intend to do with the building and then the surveyor can best answer the question of what sort of survey do I require? But here specifically relating to a homebuyers report is some further information:-
Homebuyers Report
A homebuyers report is only a basic report although the RICS, otherwise known as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, are forever updating the homebuyers report document to improve it. We cannot fault them for that. With a homebuyers report clients have to make further enquiries or are referred onto make further enquiries regarding property issues. We have heard comments from clients that the homebuyer's reports are very general and that they do not actually state how to solve the problem but refer you onto someone else.
The problems with Homebuyers Reports
Homebuyers' reports from the point of view of economics are very cheap. Homebuyers Reports are produced in almost a tick list format to save the surveyor time. They have to be written when a valuer is carrying out several valuations a day and a homebuyers report. We have heard valuers almost sigh when they know they have got a homebuyers report to do as they are not as profitable as carrying out valuation reports as they are not a quick.
Biggest disappointment with a Homebuyers Report
One of the biggest disappointments people have with homebuyers reports is they refer you onto other specialists and generally don't tend to include the cost of the problems. In fact, we have said generally homebuyer reports don't tend to have costs. We would say that they never have costs with regards to the problems that are found. Homebuyer's reports don't list the very basis of the information you need to understand. Not just what the problem is but how much it could cost you.
For example:
In the homebuyers report if dampness is found the homebuyers report doesn't normally state exactly where and it doesn't normally state how to resolve it other than to refer you to a damp proof specialist.
In our full structural surveys where dampness is found we state the cause and effect of the dampness as well as ways to resolve the dampness and anticipated costs.
For example:
The bucket effect dampness fully explained in a full structural survey
When surveying a Victorian house dampness was found, although Victorian properties require an element of dampness allowing the outer walls to get wet and dissipate the dampness. The property surveyed had external walls painted with a plastic based paint rather than a more appropriate lime wash preventing the property from breathing and dissipating any dampness.
Surveyors that are happy to carry out Homebuyers Reports but not carry out Structural Surveys
Most surveyors are however happy to carry out homebuyers reports on the same property because they know the report is limited and caveated. You need to be looking at what you want when you are buying a property, not what the surveyor wants. We must remind you if you haven't forgotten that buying a house is an expensive purchase. Houses are generally very expensive and we are sure you have read on other websites or been told by the estate agent that they are the most expensive purchase that we make. Remember that the building survey cost is only a very small percentage of what you are spending on the building. Whilst most buildings that we survey don't have major unsolvable problems you don't want to be in the small percentage that does. We would add, and we are sure you have read this elsewhere, that the building survey is a percentage of the amount of money that you are paying for the property and don't forget you will be paying interest on that too. It really is a false economy not to have a building survey.
Meet your surveyor whilst your full structural survey is being carried out
We would emphasise that we would always recommend you meet the building surveyor at the property. It really is important if you are buying a new house and as in most cases of people buying a new house you won't really have viewed the property for that long so it's well worth meeting the surveyor and having another look at the house.
So should I have a Homebuyers Report or a Building Survey?
We would say:-
If the property is old have a full structural survey.
If the property has been amended or altered have a full structural survey.
If you wish to carry out alterations, amendments or redesigning of the property have a full structural survey.
If you wish to meet the surveyor at the property have a full structural survey.
If you wish to know how much problems are likely to cost to solve have a full structural survey.
If you wish to know ways of solving the problems have a full structural survey.
You do need to make sure that the surveyor is experienced in looking at the sort of property that you want them to look at. Also ensure that the surveyor regularly carries out full structural surveys. We would always ask the surveyor to send an example copy of a similar building survey that they have carried out on that type of construction of building you are proposing to purchase. One comment that we think is very prudent on the money saving expert website is it's the quality of the surveyor that you have carrying out the survey that is important so have a look at some of their old surveys and don't be talked into having a cheaper option of a homebuyers report.
EXAMPLE SURVEY |
EXAMPLE SURVEY |
EXAMPLE SURVEY |
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Schedule of Condition Welwyn Garden City Commercial building
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Full structural survey 1950s/60s Ely semi detached house
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Building Report Sittingbourne Grade II Listed house
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