THINGS TO LOOK FOR & QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE COMMITTING TO A SURVEY

Buying a house is difficult, especially if you’re a first-time buyer or have not moved for some time.

Getting the best professional advice is so important and researching the information on this website is a big step in the right direction.

Whether or not you use Foresite Surveyors, here are 5 pointers to consider before choosing a surveyor:

1. Make sure you can speak to the actual surveyor who will be undertaking the survey for you. Ask about their qualifications and experience.
2. Ask for specific reviews that relate to the individual surveyor who’ll be acting for you. Many companies’ online reviews will relate to a surveyor in a different part of the country.
3. Ask for example reports of work carried out by the surveyor who’ll be acting for you. These will necessarily have some content missing or redacted (for data privacy reasons); however, it should give you a good indication of the type of detail you can expect.
4. Check how the surveyor plans to communicate with you. It’s vital you have your questions answered about the report you receive. Do you have their direct number or email address, or will you have to go through a call centre? A short delay is understandable (surveyors are out and about for much of the time and will need your report in front of them to address your queries), but you should expect a call or email back within 1–2 working days.
5. Confirm the timescales. Surveyors can sometimes be booked several weeks ahead, and appointments often need to fit around the occupiers (who may work from home, have pets etc.). Establish which week the survey will be carried out, if access can be arranged, and then when you can expect to receive the report.