Survey Results - What to do now?

porkiepine

Hi

My fiance and I recently had an offer accepted on an old terrace (1900). Our mortgage has been offered and we have had a Homebuyers survey carried out.

The survey has come back with the following problems:

1. Damp - it says that we should instruct a contractor to find out the extent of the damage and install a damp proof course, air bricks and check the timbers;

2. There is horizontal cracking to the walls and the wall ties need to be replaced;

3. There are a few slate tiles missing from the roof but the cement underneath is deteriorating and will need to be replaced. The chimney stacks both need repointing.

4. The stone lintel in one of the bedrooms needs to be replaced.

Does anyone know whether any of these things will cause major problems? Or how much repairs will cost?

I am arranging to get estimates etc from local contractors but would like some impartial advice first!

Thank you :think:

Sonofa

Not a massive cost in the great scheme of things and pretty standard stuff for a house of that age.

Get your experts reports and costs and then, if you feel the price you offered didn't take account of such repairs, look to negotiate the price with the vendors. Likely they will be expecting this anyway.

Our current place is similar, 1900 end terrace. Previous owner lived here all his life and had died in his nineties, his parents house before him!

As you can probably imagine, some updating was needed, old bakerlite switches and 200 watt bulbs everywhere. We had to do brick ties, damp course, rewire, replumb, dig out floors and such.

A lot you can do yourselves to save on the costs if you are able, but negotiate price based on the professional's quotes regardless.

Airwolf1

They aren't cheap things to sort out, but not majorly expensive either. If you like the house, make a reduced offer, but I'd wait to see what the quotes amount to before doing this, as it may put you off.

Does the roof need redoing completely then - or will it in the near future? Bear this in mind.

Sonofa

porkiepine wrote: »

3. There are a few slate tiles missing from the roof but the cement underneath is deteriorating and will need to be replaced. The chimney stacks both need repointing.

I would get the roof checked closely though. What you have described suggest the roof is either very old or original. Cement pointing on the inside and no underfelt. A few slates loose may be indicative of nail fatigue meaning that whilst they all may be in place now, you may lose half the roof in a storm or have many happy years up a ladder with your lead straps resecuring the next one that came loose.

porkiepine

OK thank you all for your advice. I have a few contractors coming round this weekend.

Thanks again.