House surveyor: Your Questions Answered

Buying a home is likely the most significant investment you'll ever make, but beneath the fresh paint and staging, every property has a story to tell. Navigating the journey from "Sale Agreed" to "Keys in Hand" can be a whirlwind of paperwork and nerves, leaving many buyers wondering how to protect their investment truly. That is where a professional house survey comes in. At Denis Creedon Consulting Engineers, we believe that clarity is the foundation of a confident purchase. In this guide, we've gathered the most frequently asked questions to help you understand precisely how a surveyor protects your future home, ensuring you move forward with your eyes wide open and your interests secured.

What does a surveyor do when buying a house? 

When you hire a surveyor like Denis Creedon Consulting Engineers during the house-buying process, their primary role is to act as your technical eyes and ears. At the "Sale Agreed" stage, a surveyor conducts a comprehensive, non-invasive physical inspection of the property to identify any hidden defects or structural issues that could become "money pits" later. This includes a detailed examination of the "bones" of the building—such as the foundations, roof structure, and load-bearing walls—as well as external elements like drainage, site boundaries, and outbuildings. Beyond just spotting cracks or dampness, the surveyor also checks for compliance with building regulations and planning permissions. The goal is to provide you with a professional, easy-to-understand report (often delivered within 2–3 days) that gives you the peace of mind to proceed with the purchase or the evidence needed to negotiate a better price based on required repairs.

Do you need a surveyor when buying a house?

While there is no legal requirement to hire a surveyor, it is widely considered the most critical investment you'll make during the buying process. Think of it as an insurance policy against the unknown. In Ireland, the principle of "Caveat Emptor" (Buyer Beware) applies; once you sign those contracts, any structural issues or boundary disputes become your financial responsibility, not the seller's.

Beyond personal peace of mind, there are two practical reasons why you almost always need a surveyor:

• Lender Requirements: If you are taking out a mortgage, your bank will insist on a Valuation Report. However, a valuation is not a survey; it's a brief check to ensure the house is worth the loan amount. To protect your own interests, you need a detailed Building Survey to catch issues a valuer might miss, such as subsidence or pyrite.

• Negotiation Power: If a surveyor discovers a significant issue—such as a roof needing replacement or rising damp—you can use the estimated repair costs to renegotiate the purchase price. In many cases, the survey pays for itself by potentially saving you thousands at closing.

How much are surveyor fees for buying a house?

When budgeting for your home purchase, it is essential to remember that surveyor fees are not a "one size fits all" expense. The cost of a professional inspection is influenced by several variables, including the age of the property, its size (square footage), and the complexity of its design—for instance, a modern three-bed semi-detached house requires a different level of assessment than a period Georgian home or a sprawling rural estate.

At Denis Creedon Consulting Engineers, we pride ourselves on offering highly competitive pricing that reflects the quality and depth of our structural reports. We understand that every property and every buyer's needs are unique. Rather than applying a flat rate, we prefer to offer bespoke pricing tailored to your project.

Still have questions? Please contact our offices today.