Nationwide Building Society

We went with Countrywide Surveyors because they are Nationwide's valuers. We opted for the homebuyers report which was a complete waste of money. The report was full of contradictions and they clearly don't know the difference between single and double glazed windows and doors. Didn't tell us anything useful which we hadn't already picked up by looking round ourselves.

We complained asking how they made these mistakes but received a letter today with excuses galore on it and no refund.

I wouldn't bother getting a survey done by this company - you may as well throw your money down the drain. Our survey was done by someone in the Milton Keynes office although it sounds like whole company is useless judging by the other reviews.

AVOID!

We're not a customer of Nationwide but like other reviewers have had an absolutely appalling experience with Countrywide Surveyors. They failed to identify that our gable end wall was damp - so damp in fact that water trapped within the wall was released when a screwdriver was stuck into it! They also claimed that 'the plaster appears to be in satisfactory condition' when it wasn't even attached to the walls - we had to have nearly all of the house replastered before we could move in. We complained and ended up getting our solicitors involved - they still are. To date Countrywide's response has been arrogant in the extreme - they sent an Assistant Regional Director to have a look at the property who turned up in a suit and shiney shoes and didn't carry out any form of inspection at all.

Do not use this company!

i also had a bad experience with countrywide surveyor, which resulted in us paying thousands of pounds more than we expected before we could even move into the property. Was anyone able to seek legal advise about this??

I would not use Countrywide surveyors again. The survey I had done included the following: 'The electric shower appears satisfactory...' The shower was a mixer shower not an electric shower! 'The plastic water storage tank, which can be found in the loft space, is completely covered in insulation and we are unable to comment on it's condition.' There was no insulation on the tank at all! They went on 'A plastic feed and expansion tank in the loft space serves the central heating system.' The tank was in fact redundant. 'There are no inspection chambers within the curtilage of the property..' I ...  Read the complete review

I have paid 4 surveyors to survey 3 properties of which I have bought 2 (I once got gazzumped - ouch!). I was not very impressed, but in particular Countrywide surveyors, who Nationwide BS INSIST that you use for their mortgage products, were appalling. What I found is the following :- 1. They are expensive 2. Anything slightly risky and they recommend that you have a specialist look at it (e.g. damp, wood beetle attack) 3. They are slow 4. They tell you almost nothing (one comment was that there may be discolouring of the paintwork where the vendor had pictures on the wall - thanks guys, great value that!) 5. They tend to ...  Read the complete review