how much is a survey when buying a house

How Much Does a Property Survey Cost for a House?

Whether you’re interested in purchasing a residential property in Ireland or have already negotiated with a seller, you may be wondering “how much is a survey when buying a house?” The short answer is “it depends”  – on floor area of the house or apartment, size of the site, distance from the surveyors base, age of the construction etc… but in all cases, a house survey provides peace of mind and assurance that the home’s actual condition has been professionally evaluated by a qualified Building Surveyor or Engineer. 

In some cases, a house survey can end up potentially saving you thousands or even tens of thousands of euros should there be significant defects with the house, often lurking unknown to the homeowners or hidden during open house visits and in negotiations with the seller. 

HomeCheck provides a full range of property surveys for prospective homebuyers across Ireland. HomeCheck engineers and surveyors are registered members of Engineers Ireland, SCSI, and CABE. Find out how much a survey is when buying a house below.

How Much Is a Survey When Buying A House? 

Buying a house is, for many, a major financial investment. It, therefore, makes good financial sense to ensure that your investment is valued properly and that you aren’t left paying out of pocket for repairs or damage. That’s one of the main reasons why pre-purchase surveys are essential for buyers. 

If you’d like to know how much is a survey when buying a house, price estimates for HomeCheck house surveys can be found below. For a more thorough price estimate, we welcome you to get in touch with us for a free quotation. 

Property Survey

Property surveys by HomeCheck offer great value for prospective homebuyers and sellers alike. These surveys include a thorough inspection by a qualified building surveyor according to a rigorous checklist of elements inside and outside of the property in order to assess its actual condition. 

Buyers will be able to determine if there are any significant or desirable repairs that are required before finalising the purchase of the home, whereas sellers can provide prospective buyers with an accurate and justifiable price that truly reflects the home’s value. 

Residential House or Bungalow (Pre-Owned): €400-€550 ex VAT 

Residential Apartment / Duplex: €380-€420 ex VAT  

House Survey 

For home buyers and property sellers in Ireland, understanding the actual condition of a property is essential.  It is not prudent to rely on a mortgage valuation since they often don’t even involve a physical inspection of the property, and where there is an inspection, it is not carried out by a Building Surveyor or Engineer, but most likely a local selling agent. House surveys are much more thorough and detailed and can identify any problems before buying/selling a home in Ireland. 

House surveys are simply another term for structural surveys, property surveys, and pre-purchase surveys. 

Residential House or Bungalow (Pre-Owned): €400-€550 ex VAT 

Residential Apartment / Duplex: €380-€420 ex VAT  

Structural Survey 

Whether you’ve found a property listed for sale or are in the process of selling a house, a thorough inspection is necessary to ensure that the structure is in reasonably good condition and that you aren’t going to face any unexpected and unpleasant surprises after finalising the transaction. 

Structural surveys (another term used for house surveys, pre-purchase surveys, and property surveys) provide an in-depth inspection of a property by a qualified surveyor or engineer as well as an engineer’s report containing an itemised list of the property and its condition. 

Residential House or Bungalow (Pre-Owned): €400-€550 ex VAT 

Residential Apartment / Duplex: €380-€420 ex VAT  

 

Pre-Purchase Survey 

Looking to buy a home in Ireland? HomeCheck’s pre-purchase surveys give you the full confidence and assurance that the seller’s asking price is fair for your hard-earned money. These surveys provide prospective homebuyers with a full, thorough assessment of the property’s actual conditions, including any items that are in need of repairs or signs of damage. 

Pre-purchase surveys are essentially the same as structural surveys and house surveys; these terms are often used interchangeably. 

Residential House or Bungalow (Pre-Owned): €400-€550 ex VAT 

Residential Apartment / Duplex: €380-€420 ex VAT  

Snag List 

New build residential homes and apartments aren’t always finished in an adequate condition, potentially costing you thousands of euros after moving into your brand new home to rectify the poor workmanship. That’s why HomeCheck offers detailed snag list surveys that identify the substandard features of your new build so they can be addressed before you move in. 

Before purchasing a brand new home in Ireland, always ensure that it meets all building regulations and standards and that the property’s value fairly reflects its actual condition with a detailed snag list by a qualified engineer or surveyor. 

Snag List: €280-€350 ex VAT 

Property Condition Survey 

Property owners in Ireland have a lot to look after. From routine maintenance and repairs to additions and extensions to the property, the cost of keeping your property well-maintained can come with plenty of unexpected costs. That’s why a property condition survey is essential for property owners in Ireland. 

These surveys outline the actual conditions of a property that you currently own. In only a few hours, a qualified engineer or building surveyor can assess the property, item by item, so that you are aware of any elements that require repairs. Fixing plumbing or repairing/replacing a roof, for example, can be far less expensive if done sooner rather than later. 

Property Condition Survey: €300-€480 ex VAT 

What Does a House Survey Entail?  

A house survey is like an NCT test for a property. The Engineers and Surveyors start on the outside of the property and check the condition of the external features, then go inside to the attic and through the house room by room.  They will assess for structural movement, dampness and check the condition of sewers, ventilation, plumbing, electrics, etc. If the land registry map is available, they will also check the accuracy of property boundaries. 

Other Services HomeCheck Provide 

HomeCheck is a leading provider of detailed, thorough property survey services in Galway and surrounding counties. In addition to snag lists and property surveys, our skilled and experienced building surveyors and engineers also provide ancillary services for property owners or individuals looking to buy or sell property in Ireland. 

Certificate of Compliance with Planning Permission 

If you’re planning to sell a property in Ireland or to perform alterations or build extensions on a property you currently own, you will require a certificate of compliance or Opinion on Planning Compliance from a licensed and qualified engineer. 

Properties across Ireland have various planning permissions and regulations that dictate matters such as land use, historical importance and appearance, and more. Certificates of compliance and opinions of compliance clearly show that the property is in compliance with building regulations and planning permissions.

Land Registry Maps 

Most new properties are formally registered with the Land Registry, but older properties may not be registered. Certificates of identity and land registry maps are essential documents for property sellers that wish to sell properties that have not been registered with the Land Registry as well as for property owners that desire an extension or subdivision of property. 

For home buyers, boundary checks are useful for ensuring that the property boundaries accurately correspond with those shown by the seller. HomeCheck provides a complete certificate of identity and boundary check services, including the creation of compliant land registry maps. 

Engineering Report 

Anyone looking to purchase or sell a property in Ireland should strongly consider obtaining a property survey and a full, detailed engineering report containing all elements of the property’s interior and exterior and their condition. 

These reports are issued to clients that retain a house survey after the inspection has taken place. Note that these reports provide immense value, but they are not the same as a valuation report from a bank or financial lender. The latter affects your mortgage, but it does not consider the actual condition of the property in detail as an engineering report does.   

A valuation survey is based on assumptions regarding the condition of a property – your HomeCheck engineering report will ensure that those assumptions are based on solid ground. 

HomeCheck 

Find yourself wondering “how much is a survey when buying a house?” Look no further than HomeCheck for excellent value and cosy peace of mind in all manner of property surveys. 

It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time buying a home or if you’ve been flipping properties for years – detailed, thorough house surveys from licensed building surveyors are essential to ensure that you’re getting fair value for your desired residential property. 

Get in touch with us at HomeCheck today and request a free quotation for a house survey in Galway and surrounding counties including Dublin. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do you need a survey when buying a house or apartment? 

It is not mandatory to retain a house survey before purchasing a house in Ireland, although it is strongly recommended and is increasingly becoming a requirement for mortgage lenders.  Given the expense incurred in buying a house, it is necessary to be informed about the condition of the property, and a survey is the best way of achieving this. 

Are HomeCheck Surveys accepted by mortgage providers? 

More and more,  Irish lending institutions such as Banks and Building Societies are insisting on their clients providing an acceptable property survey prior to mortgage drawdown. A HomeCheck pre-purchase survey is acceptable to all Irish lending institutions. 

How long does a house survey take? 

A house survey conducted by professionally licensed engineers and building surveyors in Ireland normally takes about 2 hours to complete. Depending on the size and complexity of the property, the house survey might be somewhat shorter or longer. 

Can I negotiate a house price down after a survey? 

After obtaining an engineer’s report from a house survey, it may be possible to renegotiate the price with the seller. If you have major doubts or worries about a property, you may wish to request that the seller bear the cost of the survey before committing to a sale. 

When should I get a house survey done? 

You should strongly consider obtaining a house survey if you are buying any residential property in Ireland. The survey should be requested after negotiating on the sale of the property but before finalising the sale. That means, once you have gone ‘Sale Agreed’ and paid a booking deposit, you should immediately proceed with a pre-purchase survey. 

For homeowners, there are a number of situations when it is a good time to get a survey.  Firstly, if you are looking at selling and want to identify any issues that might hold up a sale and result in a cost reduction in the agreed selling price, or losing a buyer entirely.  The other situations include when you are considering renovations or extensions, and finally, when there is something that is not quite right.  Whether it is a damp patch that won’t go away, or a crack that is giving cause for concern, a property survey can provide reassurance and advice on steps required to rectify the issue. 

Who arranges a house survey? 

Anyone can arrange a property survey.  A surveyor or engineer in Ireland can be retained by either the buyer or the current owner of a property, however, in Ireland, the burden is on the buyer to ensure that the property is in good condition with respect to the price they are paying, so house surveys provide excellent value and peace of mind.     

What should I do if a house survey suggests repairs and remedial work is required for the property? 

In the event of significant adverse findings, the buyer might wish to renegotiate the sale price with the seller, to have the seller pay the costs of the survey, or to back out of the sale altogether at their own discretion.