ᐅ Independent Building Inspector – Necessary or Are There Alternatives?
Created on: 4 Oct 2018 13:34
E
EdStark
Hello – what has been your experience with your building surveyors (building inspectors)? Were they worth the – often high – cost?
For my planned new build with a regional construction company that hires subcontractors and also provides its own site management (I am aware that this company may not always be acting in my interest).
I have now received an offer from TÜV: 3,300 for 4 site visits plus inspection reports. That’s 825 per visit to the construction site. I find that quite steep, especially since you can’t be sure if you are getting truly competent professionals.
What do you think? What alternatives are there? No independent building inspectors and just hope everything goes well? Hiring a freelance engineer online and hope they are reliable?
I understand that finding defects early during construction by experts can save a lot of money. Using independent surveyors may reduce risks somewhat. But even then, you can’t be completely certain.
Regards from Lower Saxony.
For my planned new build with a regional construction company that hires subcontractors and also provides its own site management (I am aware that this company may not always be acting in my interest).
I have now received an offer from TÜV: 3,300 for 4 site visits plus inspection reports. That’s 825 per visit to the construction site. I find that quite steep, especially since you can’t be sure if you are getting truly competent professionals.
What do you think? What alternatives are there? No independent building inspectors and just hope everything goes well? Hiring a freelance engineer online and hope they are reliable?
I understand that finding defects early during construction by experts can save a lot of money. Using independent surveyors may reduce risks somewhat. But even then, you can’t be completely certain.
Regards from Lower Saxony.
It all depends on the quality of the construction manager. I fired mine after the shell was completed because he was simply incompetent.
It's better to handle all the issues yourself, which will lead to a better result in the end. That was the case for us, and we saved over 10 permits (building permits / planning permissions).
It's better to handle all the issues yourself, which will lead to a better result in the end. That was the case for us, and we saved over 10 permits (building permits / planning permissions).
We hired a court-certified expert witness from a nearby town, which cost about 3,500 euros. He visited the construction site approximately 10 times. It was worth it.
Experienced craftsmen say you can tell whether an expert is involved just by entering the construction site.
I consider it a quality-enhancing measure.
Experienced craftsmen say you can tell whether an expert is involved just by entering the construction site.
I consider it a quality-enhancing measure.
We hired an expert through the Building Owners Protection Association. It cost almost 300 euros per visit. We called them in whenever we felt it was necessary. For example, when the shell of the building was completed and the roof structure was in place, when the heating and pipes were installed, once more during the electrical work, and then at another point in between. Each time, we received reports with photos.
It was important to us that someone checked the work during the key stages of construction. We didn’t need an expert for the tiling. If mistakes are made there, it’s frustrating but doesn’t ruin the entire build.
It was important to us that someone checked the work during the key stages of construction. We didn’t need an expert for the tiling. If mistakes are made there, it’s frustrating but doesn’t ruin the entire build.
haydee schrieb:
We hired a court-certified expert. He came from the neighboring town and cost about 3,500 euros. He visited the construction site around 10 times. It was worth it.It was similar for us.
Our expert was even present during the contract negotiations and managed to renegotiate some services. I didn’t have to deal with interim inspections or uncovered defects, as everything was handled behind the scenes.
Since our construction start was delayed, this period coincided with a time when I had limited availability for the project due to occasional parental leave and heavy work commitments.
By the way, it also makes more of an impact when you copy the expert into your emails as a CC.
Musketier schrieb:
It was similar for us.
Our expert was even present during the contract negotiations and managed to renegotiate some services. I didn’t have to deal with any interim inspections or uncovered defects myself, as everything was handled behind the scenes.
Since our construction start was delayed, this overlapped with a period when I only had limited time for the project due to occasional parental leave and heavy work commitments.
By the way, it also tends to have more impact when you include the expert as a CC in emails. And what did that cost you?
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