How do I get a structural survey quote online   

How do I get a structural survey quote online or is it the same thing as a building survey quote?

Asked by:  Eve

     ANSWER

Hi Eve,

The short answer is yes. What used to be called ‘Structural Surveys’ are now called Building Surveys. The reason the RICS changed the name was because surveyors doing (less expensive) Homebuyers surveys also report relevant structural issues.

While we’re at it, if you want a RICS HomeBuyer’s Report quote, it is also widely known as a Homebuyers survey! This is by far the most popular survey and suitable for the vast majority of houses and flats (see description).

However if you’re worried about something specifically structural (such as cracking in walls, or leaning chimney stacks) you might want to get a structural engineer to check this one thing, rather than having a survey of the whole house.

To get a range of quotes online – which you can then compare before you buy – just click on Building Surveys or Homebuyer Surveys  or Structural Inspections and fill in the property’s postcode etc.

Independent sources like Which? magazine, as well as conveyancing solicitors, always advise that as a buyer you get a survey done once your offer has been accepted. Nearly all properties have some concerns that you would otherwise not be aware of. So it’s important to know exactly what you’re buying. A survey will describe the condition of the building in some detail and if there are problems it will give you a powerful reason to go back and negotiate the price down.

Or you could get the seller to fix the problems before you move in – your solicitor can add this as a condition of the purchase in the contract. It should save you a lot of stress, hassle and money that buying blind you would have to spend on repairs and maintenance.