Surveyors!!!!

markpick

Hi.. Can anybody help me with the survey thats just been done on my property.. The buyers mortgage has been put on hold as the survey has come back with it needs reroofing as there is holes in the felt... I have had an reputable local roofer out to inspect the roof and he says theres not a problem with it.. Is there any point me getting him to write a report on letterheaded paper to the mortgage company stating the roof is in good condition and doesn't require the reroof?? they have put a 5k retention on the mortgage so downvalued my house by 5k which doesnt't allow me to have enough cash for the house i am meant to be buying..

Any help would be much appreciated.

marcg

Well there are either holes in the felt or there aren't. If there are then you really need to have them repaired (not easy - this means taking off tiles, removing battens, fitting new felt and then putting everything back).

Otherwise, I agree with the downvaluation - £5k to sort a roof is about right.

Unless you can argue the original price matched the condition of the house - holes in felt and all?

markpick

The thing is 've been up into the loft space myself and theres no holes in the felt at all so hows he picked up on it?

kinglewis

Definately worth getting local companies to write the report and if you can get another 2 roofing companies to do the same you would have reasonable evidence for the mortgage company to remove the retention. You would probably need to ask the agent to pass the info on to your buyer, who can then communicate directly to the surveyor as he can then ulimately get the retention removed. If he disagrees with the roofers theres not much more you can do.

Do bear in mind also that your buyers will be using this as a negotiating tool and will have to be totally convinced by your findings before they will try to convince their surveyor (who is ultimately protecting the buyer, not you) to allow them to pay the higher price. That is why I would get 3 roofing companies in to try to prove it beyond doubt.

Good chance the buyers are just trying to knock you down. Make sure you have seen the report yourself.

Hope that helps.

markpick

The thing is we've been straight with the buyers and as were only from a small local community theyve been round to inspect the loft.. the guys a builder and he cant find anything wrong with it..

kinglewis

That's good, well I'd get reports done on the condition of the roof. Surveyors are people after all and can be convinced that they got it wrong.

Got to be worth a go now you have got to this stage??

I sold my house a few months ago went through something similar but with damp. Had to drop the price in the end! (it did have damp though)

I was gutted when I nearly lost the sale!

Milliewilly

markpick wrote: »

The thing is 've been up into the loft space myself and theres no holes in the felt at all so hows he picked up on it?

My buyers pulled out on homebuyer survey -
cracked window panes - err no.
active Woodworm - err no
Ridge tiles need replacing on entire roof (Surveyor looked with binoculars) err no they don't.

Plus may other things that you could argue are a matter of opinion but windows are either cracked or they aren't and woodworm is either active or it isnt.
He didn't put a retainer on the buyers mortgage though.

Welcome to the world of surveyors playing God - and you try telling one he's wrong!

markpick

so you thing theres any point getting reports to try and prove they are wrong or would this just be a waste of time?

Milliewilly

Firstly you need a copy of the survey to make sure what is says. I have taken Surveyors to task before and they don't like it. If I read your post correctly you buyer is a builder anyway so he can satisfy himself to the state of the roof or will certainly know someone who will?

The problem of getting funding released will only be done with hard evidence i'm afraid so you will need reports from reputable roofing companies and if I was you another surveyors report on the roof.

The surveyor will probably not communicate with you as its the buyer who's paid for the report so everything will have to go through your buyer. If they really want the house then they should co-operate.

David_Aldred

Hi Markpick,
I have known surveyors even get their survey reports mixed up between one house and another that they did on the same day and issue the wrong report to each client so nothing surprises me that way. Photographs tend to speak a thousand words so I woudl tend to photograph throughout and go back to the surveyor with your evidence. When looking in a roof void for faults with the covering do it from a safe vantage point with the light off during daytime and look for light coming through the roof covering. The surveyor should then respond with their evidence and if they cannot produce or refute yours such they are as you might say in the poo...If they do produce the evidence to counter your argument then obtain your quotes for patch repair and see how they compare with the surveyors provisional budget cost. Hope this helps, kindest regards, David Aldred independent damp and timber surveyor

ess0two

markpick wrote: »

Hi.. Can anybody help me with the survey thats just been done on my property.. The buyers mortgage has been put on hold as the survey has come back with it needs reroofing as there is holes in the felt... I have had an reputable local roofer out to inspect the roof and he says theres not a problem with it.. Is there any point me getting him to write a report on letterheaded paper to the mortgage company stating the roof is in good condition and doesn't require the reroof?? they have put a 5k retention on the mortgage so downvalued my house by 5k which doesnt't allow me to have enough cash for the house i am meant to be buying..

Any help would be much appreciated.

Sounds suspect?aint got no felt in my house just slates nailed onto battens.