Beware e.surv Chartered Surveyors
If you are thinking of using e.surv Chartered Surveyors (e.surv) READ THIS BLOG and then make up your own mind but if you have any sense you will AVOID at all costs - in my opinion anyway!
I am writing this blog to make other people aware of this supposed "Best Company -One to Watch 2011". Even the quote from their website is ironic!
Everyone knows when you purchase a house it is a very stressful time; with all the paperwork, the mortgage company and usually the solicitors dragging, kicking and screaming doing all the legal work! In this very unusual account of events it has been e.surv Chartered Surveyors that have been dragging their feet since Tuesday 21st June 2011 - over a month ago!
An application for a mortgage was made via the Independent Financial Advisors (Laurel Court Associates, Porthcawl - IFA) back in May 2011. Due to being Self-Employed more paperwork than usual was needed and this had been anticipated, having to provide accounts and the accountant verify the figures etc. It is almost 2 months later and still in the nearly the same position and this is not because of the Mortgage Broker or the Solicitor (David Sanders & Co, Swansea) or the fact that the accountant had to gather and prepare all the accounts for the last 3 years to be sent to the mortgage company (Coventry Building Society - CBS). No, it is to do with e.surv Character Surveyors and CBS taking 3 working days to update every bit of information, and then chasing you in between the time frame set for repeat information and when actual information is needed not contacting you at all!!!
Both have been absolutely shocking and have taken OVER 1 month and still don’t have the valuation or a mortgage offer!
Granted when the initial offer was put in to the vendor via Estate Agents (Dawsons Property, Llanelli - which have also been great), the work that needed doing to the house was apparent; not only cosmetic was needed however it was not major work to be carried out, maybe a few thousand pounds of building work plus cosmetic work.
e.surv visited the property first thing Monday 20th June 2011, impressed by how they were only instructed by CBS Friday 17th June 2011 but...then Tuesday 21st June 2011 they sent the report back to the mortgage company who forwarded this by email to the IFA; firstly they e.surv/CBS only provided a summary report not a full report asked for the following reports:
- Dry Rot & Timber Report
- Electrician's Report
- Gas Report
- Heating Report
- Plumbing Report
All of which had to be paid for and were NOT included in e.surv or CBS costs, anyway time was spent finding tradesman - everyone's favourite job!
- Dry Rot & Timber Report done by A&R Damp Proofing & Timber Treatment £30
- Electricians Report done by RE-Build £55
- Gas, Heating & Plumbing done by S.D.W Plumbing & Heating £95 - Including Gas Safety Certificate!
All of which were very reasonable and thorough on inspection of the property and are highly recommended.
The inspection and reports were all completed and sent to the IFA on 4th July 2011 taking exactly 2 weeks to get - which is not bad timing. These were sent to the IFA who forwarded them on to CBS the same afternoon.
Upon speaking to the IFA, CBS advised that the reports would be sent to e.surv within 3 working days, then e.surv also had a time frame set by CBS of 3 working days for the amended valuation to be sent back to CBS, oh and then when CBS finally received the valuation back from the chartered surveyors they had yet another 3 working days to look at the amended valuation and may make a mortgage offer based on the valuation...
Upon speaking to the IFA, CBS advised that the reports would be sent to e.surv within 3 working days, then e.surv also had a time frame set by CBS of 3 working days for the amended valuation to be sent back to CBS, oh and then when CBS finally received the valuation back from the chartered surveyors they had yet another 3 working days to look at the amended valuation and may make a mortgage offer based on the valuation...
The date had been confirmed of the new valuation with the IFA as the 10th - being the earliest, but latest the 11th July - we are now the 28th July 2011 and we are still waiting for the amended valuation from e.surv!
(The latest update as of 3:30pm on 28th July 2011 is that e.surv are sending the amended valuation back to CBS either today or first thing tomorrow 29th July 2011)!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT A JOKE!
CBS did say that they sent over the reports provided and had done so within the time frame, however 4 days later still receiving no news from CBS, IFA contacted CBS to chase the outcome of the amended valuation. IFA was advised that e.surv could not received any attachments via email – what the hell... The WORLD uses email now, and it had taken them 4 working days to advise of this, so on the suggestion of going back to olden times IFA suggested using a fax – what a brainwave!
Eventually e.surv received the reports via fax so yet again CBS told IFA that it would be 3 working days for e.surv to do the amended valuation based on the reports they had so keenly asked for – and CBS stating that based on the initial findings of e.surv's report they were putting a £5000 retention figure on the mortgage and that the figure may increase or decrease depending on the new valuation by e.surv, when the reports came back the work that needs doing is far, far less!
Sorry rambling a little due to fury!
CBS finally relented and agreed due to ALL the delays that they would look at the valuation the same day, so keen to get on and not have anymore delays contact was kept up via the IFA who were chasing the CBS every day still no valuation, and in much annoyance initially CBS would not give release the details of e.surv - WONDER WHY? After the persistence and complaints from the IFA CBS relented and gave the details of 'e.surv Chartered Surveyors' !
Wait for it...More RED TAPE
Well the IFA were not allowed to speak with the actual surveyor/s just a monkey on the front desk who then they informed the IFA that the actual surveyor...had gone on holiday and would not be back in the office until Monday 25th July 2011 – this being Friday afternoon 22nd July. CBS had previously advised they had also been in contact with e.surv and said that this was to be a PRIORITY as they were not adhering to the time frame set by CBS (if anyone who doesn't know what it means - use Google) but yet when CBS asked if another surveyor could take a look or do the valuation; they said no due to the original report having issues not even considering looking at it!
Yet another weekend waiting and CBS confirmed it is a priority case, so Monday 25th July 2011 in the morning....IFA telephoned and yep you guessed the surveyor from e.surv cannot be contacted until 4pm Monday which meant no valuation Monday!
By this stage fury had set and with the IFA too and complaints were sent to CBS and a complaint was submitted to e.surv via their website www.esurv.co.uk as well as a complaint in writing of much the same effect, this was sent 1st Class Royal Mail and with the outstanding customer service from e.surv – NOT, both of which no reply has been received to date?!
After sending the complaint e.surv have now decided to advise the one report provided for the Gas, Heating & Plumbing doesn't have an estimate of how much it will cost to repair the ADVISORY sheet, even though it was things like annual report for a bloody back boiler that will be ripped out almost on the day we have the keys, along with the Gas Safety Certificate to say that the boiler has passed, if the other surveyor had even looked at the file this may well have been picked up then.
Nearly the end, promise.
Having now to ring S.D. W again to see if they could provide an estimate straight away - which was a long shot; they couldn't without inspecting the property again and the fact they were on site in another job, so ringing around a company called Fraser White Plumbing, Pontypool were able to email over an estimate within 10 minutes FOC - the estimate came to approx. £100 for the work that may need doing. The report was emailed Tuesday 26th July 2011 to CBS who passed on the estimate to e.surv the same day, Wednesday 27th CBS are still waiting for the new valuation!
Just as an extra kick in the teeth the survey cost is £350 via CBS and yet when you go on e.surv website www.esurv.co.uk they are offering it for "as little as £199"! Why the hell should anyone pay these jokers anything let alone £150 more.
An official complaint with CBS by the IFA and a letter of complaint has now been drafted to CBS advising that they should strike e.surv off their records and never to use them for a valuation again.
The solicitors and estate agents have been ready for 2 weeks to exchange contracts with the vendors - thankfully risking the fee of the solicitor and asking them to go ahead with the searches or this would be ANOTHER 2 weeks waiting for them to come back!
Food for thought, If your thinking of using e-surv then if your willing to wait 2 months...
All the information above is both factual and an opinion.
By this stage fury had set and with the IFA too and complaints were sent to CBS and a complaint was submitted to e.surv via their website www.esurv.co.uk as well as a complaint in writing of much the same effect, this was sent 1st Class Royal Mail and with the outstanding customer service from e.surv – NOT, both of which no reply has been received to date?!
After sending the complaint e.surv have now decided to advise the one report provided for the Gas, Heating & Plumbing doesn't have an estimate of how much it will cost to repair the ADVISORY sheet, even though it was things like annual report for a bloody back boiler that will be ripped out almost on the day we have the keys, along with the Gas Safety Certificate to say that the boiler has passed, if the other surveyor had even looked at the file this may well have been picked up then.
Nearly the end, promise.
Having now to ring S.D. W again to see if they could provide an estimate straight away - which was a long shot; they couldn't without inspecting the property again and the fact they were on site in another job, so ringing around a company called Fraser White Plumbing, Pontypool were able to email over an estimate within 10 minutes FOC - the estimate came to approx. £100 for the work that may need doing. The report was emailed Tuesday 26th July 2011 to CBS who passed on the estimate to e.surv the same day, Wednesday 27th CBS are still waiting for the new valuation!
Just as an extra kick in the teeth the survey cost is £350 via CBS and yet when you go on e.surv website www.esurv.co.uk they are offering it for "as little as £199"! Why the hell should anyone pay these jokers anything let alone £150 more.
An official complaint with CBS by the IFA and a letter of complaint has now been drafted to CBS advising that they should strike e.surv off their records and never to use them for a valuation again.
The solicitors and estate agents have been ready for 2 weeks to exchange contracts with the vendors - thankfully risking the fee of the solicitor and asking them to go ahead with the searches or this would be ANOTHER 2 weeks waiting for them to come back!
Food for thought, If your thinking of using e-surv then if your willing to wait 2 months...
All the information above is both factual and an opinion.
