Not sure we're going to go ahead with purchase

kunekune

The survey - which arrived a week AFTER the mortgage offer - has highlighted some unexpected problems, despite the valuation being ok. Our offer was on the basis the house didn't need any work done. Most of the issues are minor but some could end up being really expensive (such as a strong likelihood of problems with wall cavity ties in the future). We'll discuss it tonight, but I have a bad feeling. It may be that we can chase the price down, but I don't particularly want to be dealing with moving paths, repairs to roofs and walls and further expensive surveys to make sure the problems aren't too serious. So it isn't just about money.

A bit disappointed really.

loki13

We just pulled out of a purchase after the survey arrived (after the mortgage offer and a phone call to the surveyor nagging). The new roof, damp and timber survey, and multiple other small problems just added up to too much when combined with a public sewer running underneath the middle of the house and no build over permission for the rear extension.

On the up side I have now fallen in love with another house, having expanded our search area, and think I'll be offering on it after a veiwing next Saturday.

geoffky

People are for falling in love with..houses are for paying the least amount you possibly can..:cool:

loki13

Nope, sorry, but a family home in a lovely location is for falling in love with - and more stable than any person I know! And I know exactly how much I love it - I have a price in mind that I would not go over (even though I may cry like a baby if I don't get the house for that)

kunekune

Where did I mention love? Yes, it's to be a home not an investment, but there are others that would do just as well. It's about hassle and time - if we pull out, the time to find another one, all the mental effort that goes into working out whether it's ok. If we try to get extra investigations or renegotiate the price, it's about the time and hassle THAT involves, and then possibly the time and hassle of organising repairs. Time is what I'm shortest of on a weekly basis.

jenny74

kunekune wrote: »

Where did I mention love?

YOU didn't Loki13 did.

chickmug

Bear in mind, that on receipt a survey, most buyers panic and think they are doing the wrong thing. Survey documents are long winded and full of various caveats.

My advice was always take breath, re-read the survey and work out the real detail from the endless pages of irrelevances. Consult with a local builder if possible and ask then to read it as the cost of all the work can be far less than your initial perception. Then try and negogiate on the price again.

Unless a house is brand new there will always be issues on the survey.

kunekune

Indeed, chickmug! I have done some research and have come up with a plan. Most of the issues are minor, and just par for the course for a house in its 60s. It seems that every report mentions the possibility of having to replace cavity wall ties in the future - certainly the same will occur with any other house around here. Three or four things need further investigation:

1. We need to check who has responsibility for the retaining wall between 'our' house and next door, as it's possibly going to need some repairs at some point.
2. The lack of ventilation in the boiler cupboard is a serious matter, and we will ask the vendors to get that fixed themselves (they know where they bought their kitchen, after all, and it might involve replacing a cupboard).
3. We will have a look at the 'spongy' bit of the floor in the living room ourselves: if we can feel it, we'll ask for permission to have it checked before exchange of contracts. [This could be tricky though: it means taking up some floor boards and the vendor was so careful of her floor that we had to take our shoes off when we visited.]
4. We will also ask ask the vendors to attend to two other problems: the placement of the downpipe from the conservatory and the 'build up of matter' in the drainage channels of the inspection chamber.

The reason we're doing this rather than asking them to reduce the price, is that they are short on actual cash (it's a divorce) and also the ex-wife is home all day so it's easy for her to have someone in.

ess0two

Wall ties are easy,is there any movement in the wall,given its age the comment is probably an a rse covering by the surveyor.
Replacement ties can fitted externally by a builder.
The spongy floor is probably a rotten floor joist,easy enough just replace it if totally knackered or cut and replace rotten section.

You could probably negotiate these off the price.

VKay

Hi we've pulled out of our purchase today- the EA was not very nice about it and made me feel awful!

We had good intentions but having researched the style of house they are renowned for being problematic and we got seriously cold feet. our solicitor was tryining to chase an engineer's cert form the 80s when the house was rebuilt to solve some concrete issues, but the vendor's solicitor has done nothing to come up with cert. to keep the sale going and seemed to think we would pay to find the cert. It all added up to make us nervous. We'll have to start again minus a few hundred quid for searches and an electrical survey we had done far too early in the excitement of it all. Damn....

geoffky

how can you feel awful.. its your bloody hard earned money we are talking about not theirs. tell them this....cheeky !!!!!!s