Survey results - do we show vendor?

purpleems

Hi all

Have just had results of the buildings survey on the house we are looking to purchase and it has come back with a myriad of problems - all amounting to approx £20k's worth of work. The house had been reduced in price, however we had been assured that things like the roof had been replaced already (which it turns out it hasn't, along with other things which were supposedly done but have not been completed).

We have gone back to the vendor with a revised offer, and the estate agents have said that he will want to see a copy of the survey (which is fair enough I suppose really).

However I have a vague alarm bell ringing in the back of my head - I am sure I have read somewhere (on here maybe?) that the results should not be shown to the vendor as it is for the people who comissioned the survey's eyes only. Also as we paid £600 for the survey surely it belongs to us now?

Can anyone help or offer any advice on this situation and whether this is actually the case?

Many thanks

Em

chickmug

As an EA, in this position I fully expect for a copy of the survey to be shown the seller when the buyer is suggesting a reduction.

Debt_Free_Chick

Yes you paid for the survey, yes it's your property. But if you really want the vendor to take your revised offer seriously, then surely showing them the survey simply backs up your offer?

Otherwise, if you don't show them the survey, then you could just be some chancer who's trying it on?

bookduck

just somehow mark the pages, so that if your offer is not acceptable, they will not freely copy and pass off your survey to the new buyers.

*Louise*

Tbh, if there's that much wrong, do you think they will really want to show that report to other buyers?

Make notes in the margins or something, but I think you should really let them see it if you want the price brought down.

chickmug

bookduck wrote: »

just somehow mark the pages, so that if your offer is not acceptable, they will not freely copy and pass off your survey to the new buyers.

If I act for the seller my post above applies but if I were to act for the buyer I would, as you suggest, try and get away with relevant sections of the survey only. Usually though I am acting for the seller and most buyers will supply a full copy but sometimes not - so it is a question of common sense providing we don't think it is a 'try on' at knocking off few quid.

Debt_Free_Chick

bookduck wrote: »

just somehow mark the pages, so that if your offer is not acceptable, they will not freely copy and pass off your survey to the new buyers.

To be honest, any buyer who relies on a survey completed for a complete stranger is asking for trouble. The second buyer has no recourse to the surveyor. As a buyer, if I were offered a survey completed for a different buyer, I might take it but only "out of interest". I'd still be getting my own survey

purpleems

Thanks for all the replies.

The confusion came from me thinking I shouldn't be showing it to the vendor, when really I can see that in order for him to take us as serious buyers (which we are) then we would need to prove we are not out to try our luck.

Will look at showing him the recommendation part rather than the whole 30 pages!

Thanks

Em

bookduck

chickmug wrote: »

If I act for the seller my post above applies but if I were to act for the buyer I would, as you suggest, try and get away with relevant sections of the survey only. Usually though I am acting for the seller and most buyers will supply a full copy but sometimes not - so it is a question of common sense providing we don't think it is a 'try on' at knocking off few quid.

Thought estate agent always act for the seller, since they are the ones paying? I have been in the situation as above where the original purchaser pulled out, and the EA offered me the full report, and then told me I only need a basic one.

I would give the person the detailed relevant pages so they get the complete picture plus the summary.

lostinrates

bookduck wrote: »

Thought estate agent always act for the seller, since they are the ones paying? .

They may be offering a property search/finding service.

Or selling the buyer's property too?

chickmug

bookduck wrote: »

Thought estate agent always act for the seller, since they are the ones paying? I have been in the situation as above where the original purchaser pulled out, and the EA offered me the full report, and then told me I only need a basic one.

I would give the person the detailed relevant pages so they get the complete picture plus the summary.

What I said is "If I acted for the buyer" which does happen as some of my old established clients do use me as souce of advice even when they are buying through another agent. I then hope they will, in return, use me when they sell.