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.
There seem to be different approaches among surveyors. Some surveyors wait until construction is completed and then identify defects. This obviously causes problems if parts need to be dismantled.
Our surveyor (or rather construction supervisor) addressed several potential issues in advance by consulting the site manager beforehand about how things would be done and what materials would be used. He also informed the tradespeople and site manager in advance about particularly critical areas that require special attention. However, this cannot be achieved with just three site visits.
Our surveyor (or rather construction supervisor) addressed several potential issues in advance by consulting the site manager beforehand about how things would be done and what materials would be used. He also informed the tradespeople and site manager in advance about particularly critical areas that require special attention. However, this cannot be achieved with just three site visits.
Even if you have an expert consultant, that doesn’t exempt you from using your own judgement. In the case of the substructure: What is specified in the scope of work or shown in the plans? We had everything clearly documented and were able to provide it to the consultant in advance. The consultant then explained to US what to watch out for (essentially gave us some training). When it came time to build the ground structure, I was on site one morning with a coffee pot and asked the workers how they were going to proceed—just showing interest as a curious homeowner. They kindly explained everything, and I was able to compare it with what we had been “trained” to look for. Everything was fine. We did this with almost every trade involved.
So either your consultant clears everything up BEFORE construction starts, allowing for professional discussions upfront, or your consultant shows YOU what to watch out for. It’s basically a matter of budget.
If your consultant says something different from, for example, your site manager, go with the advice from whoever you paid. If you want more, you have to pay for it. If you fail to recognize this “extra” in time, then you’ll be responsible for any necessary demolition.
So either your consultant clears everything up BEFORE construction starts, allowing for professional discussions upfront, or your consultant shows YOU what to watch out for. It’s basically a matter of budget.
If your consultant says something different from, for example, your site manager, go with the advice from whoever you paid. If you want more, you have to pay for it. If you fail to recognize this “extra” in time, then you’ll be responsible for any necessary demolition.
I’m picking up this thread again. I’m somewhat confused: based on the positive experiences of others during our online research, we requested a contract offer from an expert of the Homeowner Protection Association.
On one hand, I find it excessive that he charges the same amount for driving to my construction site as for qualified work, and for driving, he even overcharges the mileage at €0.85 per kilometer (about $1.37 per mile)... On the other hand, he plans four separate appointments just for the shell construction: two for the waterproof concrete basement, one for drainage, and one for waterproofing against soil moisture?
Each appointment would cost us about €500 (about $545) including travel and reporting. That would be €2000 (about $2178) just for the shell construction. And there are six more appointments to come.
Isn’t it possible to combine some of these appointments?
On one hand, I find it excessive that he charges the same amount for driving to my construction site as for qualified work, and for driving, he even overcharges the mileage at €0.85 per kilometer (about $1.37 per mile)... On the other hand, he plans four separate appointments just for the shell construction: two for the waterproof concrete basement, one for drainage, and one for waterproofing against soil moisture?
Each appointment would cost us about €500 (about $545) including travel and reporting. That would be €2000 (about $2178) just for the shell construction. And there are six more appointments to come.
Isn’t it possible to combine some of these appointments?
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