home buying survey -- which level ? ?

[Lumpy]

After making a very expensive mistake by not having a full structural survey on a relatively new property I would never buy a property without a full structural survey unless it was new build within the 10 year warranty.

[mitch84]

We didn’t have anything for our current property, we don’t have a mortgage, and it’s a row of small Victorian terraces, all the rest are standing... we just got our builder to come in prior to exchange to give his opinion as we were doing a lot of work to it anyway.
We are looking to buy a bigger house off probate in the new year, but we will need a mortgage, we’ll be doing everything to the property as it’s in a right state, so we’ll get our builder in again and he’ll bring a plumber/electrician, so we’ll do the cheapest mortgage valuation.
My hubby worked in mortgages, the level 2 and the mortgage valuation is the same survey basically, by the same people, it’s just that you don’t get the level of detail provided to you with the mortgage valuation. They are ensuring the house is worth what you are paying for it though.