FTB - Questions?

danlojo

We have had the offer accepted now and the survey is done so hopefully it should be plain sailing now!

Question: We had 2 viewings with the vendor and obviously didn't open every cupboard/door etc (maybe we should have )

If when we move in some cupboard doors fall off/the shower doesn't work or something else has gone wrong, do we have any come back on the vendor?? I appreciate the answers will probably be "once you've signed on the dotted line....tough but I may aswell ask.

I did ask the vendor outright on the viewings if their was any problems with any of the fittings and he said not.

I have also asked the EA to find out when the alarm and boiler were last serviced and she is in the process of finding out. Could I request a boiler check be done before move in?

BabyBoots

Don't let these points niggle you. Three viewings is not excessive when buying something as expensive as a house. You've not exchanged yet so make an appointment for a final viewing to measure up and check everything is in good working order. There is no come back on the vendor for wonky cupboard doors or poor water flow to the shower. Potentially there's comeback to the surveyor for structural items, but surveyors do not check everything you'd want to know.

Take a couple of friends/family with you and you can get loads done in half an hour. Ask for keys for doors windows etc to be provided and to see the alarm and heating working (perhaps the appointment could be arranged with the vendor if the agent does not have the keys/codes).

Try this as a checklist (some of the points might be covered by survey/solicitors already). Hopefully it covers the security points you'll need to get your buildings insurance ready for exchange, information you need to plan your furnishings, the ability to price up anything that needs fixing and peace of mind you've given everything a once over and seen it working.

EA, vendor, solicitor and surveyor will not tell you all these things - check them yourself. If you request a boiler check it will be at your own cost - do ask for any certificates of servicing or guarantees.

Internally

Does the loo flush well?
Does the shower have good pressure?
Do the taps work?
Open all the cupboard doors
How much room is there for:
a dining table/fridgefreezer/sofa/whatever you're interested in fitting in
Does the oven work?
Do the taps work/not drip?
Check behind paintings on walls/rugs on floors/bookcases - are they positioned to cover up flaws?
Check internal doors close smoothly, if they stick it may indicate movement in the structure
Check windows open and close well
Look for loaction of TV & phone point
Check flooring is in good condition
Where are the power points? draw them on your room plan
Are the walls in good condition?
What are the light fittings?
What loft insulation is there?
Check central heating - turn it on at the start of your visit - do all radiators warm up completely?

Security
What type is the front door lock -e.g. 5 bar mortise? - note for your insurance
Is there a viewhole/chain?
What is the back/patio door lock?
How does the garage lock?
Do all the windows lock with keys?
Does the alarm work? Is there a maintenance agreement on it?
Construction
Which walls are solid/stud? What are they made of?
Are the floors solid/ boarded/chipboard?
What year was the house built?

Outside
Which way does the garden face? (take a compass)
How big is the garden?
How big are the patios?
Where does the side access come out?
Which fences are mine?
Do the walls look in good condition?
Can you see the damp proof course?
What are the window ledges and fascias made of?
Does the guttering/drainagelook ok?
Is the drive, parking access to the garage shared?
Is there a chimney/flue?
Where are the boundaries marked, do they tally with the plans on the deeds?

danlojo

The Homebuyer report has just dropped on the doormat from Mr Postman.

Everything is looking good but it does state that the boiler needs looking at as the vendor states it was serviced in November but has no paperwork? It states there has been a minor problem with it which has been fixed. Can we speak with EA for the vendor to have the boiler serviced?

On average what is a round about cost of a boiler service? LPG?

The only things that have come up as urgent are the checking of chimney flues, gas , heating checks with the boiler, which I assume must be a normal occurrence?

The checking of the list you have provided would make me feel much better if it were the EA showing us around and not the vendor. Maybe I need to breath in and forget that I might miff the vendor off and get on with it or my own peace of mind.

Thanks for your reply!

Doozergirl

It might just be me but I think the list above is excessive. Not because things don't matter but because a lot of things have little bearing on how,or indeed whether you buy.

Whether the door has aviewer bears little relation to the buying process. If it doesn't and you want one, buy one. It isn't going to affect negotiations or indeed your decision to buy.

So I'd think sensibly about which things on the list are necessary to look at. If before survey, fab have a look at the roof and each of the windows, if it's raining check the guttering isn't leaking; general maintenance issues to do with the fabric that indicate if the house is well maintained and worth what they'reasking.

But arial points? Unless you're buying a house that shouldn't need touching (I put 7 in the house house we renovated) you might have to accept that it's a'nice to have' but moving them to suit you or indeed putting new ones is just part of moving home rather than forming decisions on whether to buy.

Alarm yes; boiler definitely; checking floors are sturdy and bouncing on them a bit, yes; board construction? I think we're starting to take it a bit far and it's time to pay a professional for a full survey.

Your vendor should be able to organise a gas safety cert for you, if not you can arrange your own. They aren't expensive and it's well worth the money.

danlojo

I have the full survey now!

It picks up on the boiler etc

I'm not too bothered about cupboard doors etc but the main bolier, water flow do bother me.

I will speak with EA and have a check done prior to exchange just to make sure that there isnt any problems with it. Can I do this if the vendor refuses to have it done for me?

Maybe its just FTB nerves;)

Doozergirl

Of course you can. If you want to buy the house you are entitled to check as much as you want to, including the entire list above if you wish. You can't make them pay for it though so some things may have to be at your expense.

If the vendor doesn't co-operate then you can only assume they have something to hide. You either adjust your offer to account for the things you can't check or you move on.

thewinkshow

get a good survey - going round checking plug sockets are so many centimeters from the floor e.c.t is a bit much in the real world.