Survey ok but vendor wants damp specialist to come in - advice needed!

perrinos

Right we have had the survey done on our house last week (the one we are selling) Apparently it was ok and value of the property is what the people are paying for it. They had homebuyers report and it recommended that they consult a specialist about some higher readings in the living room. They arranged someone to come this friday to have a look. I have suspected we have a bit of rising damp since before christmas although to be honest it doesn't look too bad. I suspect the damp course is bridged (as outside level higher than inside). I am making myself sick with worry though as we cannot afford to drop a lot of money as it would make moving pointless for us, and I am also worried that its going to make them pull out. How much do you think we are looking at? Will we have to drop the whole amount? Just any advice really appreciated as I can feel my hair going grey (er) as I type. Thanks all

pawpurrs

Do you mean buyer? You are the vendor?
Its quite normal for there to be high damp readings if its an older style property and unfortunetly these damp specalists will nearly allways find damp, as thats how they make any money.
All you can do is wait and see what the buyers want, it may be that they just want to know how much it may cost, or they may come back with a reduced offer based on the findings.
If its a large amount that they want off, you can ask for another company to come and quote, you can see if they are willing to meet halfway on the costings.

terryw

Surveyor's reports are written in very mournful language as they need to protect their own backs in case anything goes wrong. That is the nature of the beast.

Wait and see what the DPC people suggest before you start worrying.

terryw

maninthestreet

It's the buyer who has commissioned the survey isn't it, not you the vendor???

m_13

Can you reduce the outside level? If it's a flower bed or garden then this is usually the most sensible thing to do. It should dry out quickly in this lovely mild weather and the readings drop. If it's been asphalted or block paved then you've more of a problem.

perrinos

Yeah it was the buyer who commissioned the survey not me! Well the outside is actually someone elses garden area, its grass and then pebbles, so I'm not sure if we could reduce the levels, might be worth atry I'll ask the hubby if he fancies a bit of digging tonight, could that really help though?

pingu2209

If it was me buying, in this market, I would haggle for the sellers to pay for the work to make good.

Paley71

Exactly the same thing happened to us when we sold recently, we were really worried because we knew there was a problem in the front bedroom.
The surveyor didn't even go up there, he only checked downstairs and said that although the DPC was still working some of the plaster was damp as it had probably been replastered to soon after the DPC.
He said it would cost £600 for the buyers to fix so we gave the buyers this as cashback with the sale.
I think we got off lightly.

Ed_Zep

From what I've gleaned in the time I've had my house is that damp is to be expected with an old property and even at that, there is usually a straightforward explanation.

Two walls in my house were bad. One turned out to be a leaking pipe (old lead water piping, which I had replaced) and the other wall I think is due to cracked external rendering. Rain getting in and no way to get out.

Whoever is quoting for the damp proofing should be a member of the BWPDA.

https://www.bwpda.co.uk