What's the point in a Homebuyers Survey?

clg86

I've already started a thread relating to this so I'm sorry if you get bored of me but I just want a bit of advice if possible?

We had a homebuyers survey done before we moved in and nothing in the report mentioned anything about urgent work needing to be done. However...

The day we moved in (and the day the vendors moved out), we ran the hot water tap and the water came out brown. We got a plummer in and to cut a very long story short, we have to have a whole new heating system/pipes/combi boiler put in. This was something we were going to budget for in the future anyway because having a Back Bolier behind the fire was apperantly old fashioned, we just didn't expect to have to find the money for it so soon.

I rang the company who did the survey and the girl on the phone was lovely, she passed my number onto the guy that did the survey and when he rang me, I explained that I wasn't complaining but I wanted to know why this water wasn't noted in the report. He just said he doesn't remember the water being brown when he checked it.

To be honest, I can't imagine him remembering anything about it as it was done in May, but he basically said there's nothing he can do now, but what is the point in me paying for a survey that didn't pick the simplist things up???

Is there anything I can do or am I trying to go into a battle that can't be won?

Cannon_Fodder

Maybe it wasn't faulty in May ?

They might be pigs, but they'd do well to survive 3 months without decent water...

clg86

Cannon_Fodder wrote: »

Maybe it wasn't faulty in May ?

They might be pigs, but they'd do well to survive 3 months without decent water...

This is what I originally thought, but we rang the vendor and asked him if he ever had trouble with the water being this colour and he said yes every now and again. But with the amount of sludge that was in the bottom of the water tank and coming out of the taps, I can't see it forming over just 3 months. The pplummer suggested it had been there a loooooong time.

beeswax_3

Did you run the tank dry? It is possible that there was a build up of sludge in the bottom of the cold water tank - we had this in our house before we changed to a combi boiler.

If you used up all of the hot water in one go the hot tank (cylinder in airing cupboard) empties and then is refilled by the cold water tank very quickly and could draw through some of the sludge.

Do you have any cold water taps that are running with clear water - a downstairs one? With old heating systems you should only ever drink water that comes straight from the mains - usually the cold water tap in the kitchen. You shouldn't drink water from cold water taps that come directly from the tank in your loft, these are usually the upstairs cold water taps.

Not sure if this helps in any way, but just letting you know our experience

clg86

beeswax wrote: »

Did you run the tank dry? It is possible that there was a build up of sludge in the bottom of the cold water tank - we had this in our house before we changed to a combi boiler.

If you used up all of the hot water in one go the hot tank (cylinder in airing cupboard) empties and then is refilled by the cold water tank very quickly and could draw through some of the sludge.

Do you have any cold water taps that are running with clear water - a downstairs one? With old heating systems you should only ever drink water that comes straight from the mains - usually the cold water tap in the kitchen. You shouldn't drink water from cold water taps that come directly from the tank in your loft, these are usually the upstairs cold water taps.

Not sure if this helps in any way, but just letting you know our experience

Thanks! The cold water taps do run clear. There is only one water tank (in the airing cupboard in the bathroom) and the cold one is sat on top of the hot one, and there is no overflow tank, it just goes straight back into the tank?!?!? I'm confused :think:

But my question is, should the survey have picked up on this as the hot water has been like this for years it would seem, or have they managed to cover their backs?:(

beeswax_3

I really can't say for certain, but imo what has happened is the hot tank ran dry/low and the cold water from the tank above filled it up very quickly bringing through some sludge as it got all stirred up. This is why the previous owner may be saying it only happened sometimes, because once it settles down again the water will be clear. I imagine you are using a lot of hot water at the moment to get the house clean! So the sludge is not getting a chance to settle again in the bottom of the tank.

If what I'm summising is correct then you surveyor would have been very unlikely to have picked it up. He probably ran the tap and the water was clear - had he emptied the tank it might have proved otherwise, but I don't expect any surveyor would ever do that.

As long as you only drink from the cold tap downstairs (which should be direct from the mains) you are unlikely to be drinking anything nasty. As your cold water tank sits on top of your cylinder it is also unlikely to be full of nasties, if it was sitting in your loft then little critters could get in and drown! (Just don't think about it:))

But beware, so much sludge was drawn down into our hot water cylinder that the hot water pipes for our central heating got blocked and the pump seized because it was running dry! Not a problem in the summer but something to be warey of.

clg86

We haven't used any hot water since we've been there beacuse even though we left it running for ages, it never came clean. We've been boiling the kettle to wash the pots and the shower is electric so luckily we can wash

We lifted the ballcock out of the water in the tank and ran the hot taps to let all the water drain through and then let it fill up again, and repeated this 4 times (through instructions of the plummer, I had no idea to do this ) but as the water was still running mucky, the plummer came to see it.

I think i'm just clutching at straws because I have no spare money to be paying for the work that needs doing, but, I suppose the stress of buying a house doesn't stop straight away, maybe in a few months I can start enjoying my new home:beer:

Eric1

clg86 wrote: »

To be honest, I can't imagine him remembering anything about it as it was done in May, but he basically said there's nothing he can do now, but what is the point in me paying for a survey that didn't pick the simplist things up???

Is there anything I can do or am I trying to go into a battle that can't be won?

Don't know, but proving it was wrong may cost a fortune.
Was it an upgraded valuation or independent one?
My HB survey was useless too. Should have read this thread before.

queenA

Hi all,

I actually had a similar query with regards to the Homebuyers survey (HBS) and its uses. Let me explain: last year we had an offer accepted on a house- we paid for a HBS to be done alongside the valuation survey which was arranged by the bank. With the HBS we got a fairly detailed overview as to the condition of the house but we were advised to have a full damp, timber, wall tie and electrical report afterwards which left us wondering what was the point of the HBS if we needed more reports to be done?! We didnt end up buying the house....

A year on, we have found another house and our offer has been accepted- I am now wondering if a 'tailor-made' survey would be better- ie. let the bank do a 'valuation survey' and we will have done independent surveys which cover:
- gas
- electrical
- damp/timber/wall tie/ dry rot / guttering
- structural overview

Has anyone else tried this approach? I would be grateful for any thoughts about this and how to find people who are reputable. I just think the HBS was a waste of money and whether this 'tailor-made' approach would be better in the long run? I am also contemplating paying a builder to come round the house with me as I see this has been mentioned in several posts before. Look forward to hearing from you!

clg86

Eric1 wrote: »

Don't know, but proving it was wrong may cost a fortune.
Was it an upgraded valuation or independent one?
My HB survey was useless too. Should have read this thread before.

Independent. We got a free valuation survey with the mortgage lenders but thought we'd better get a more detailed one...

I think i'm more annoyed because from the beginning of the moving process we had pressure put on us to "hurry up" having surveys done and deciding whether we wanted the house or not, so all the things we probably would have checked ie. electrics, water, gas, we assumed would be ok because of what the survey said, then right at the end our completion date got held up for 2 weeks, so we could have got these checks done anyway!

I think they just wanted to get the house sold, and now I know why! At least I know what to look for next time I buy a house

clg86

queenA wrote: »

Hi all,

I actually had a similar query with regards to the Homebuyers survey (HBS) and its uses. Let me explain: last year we had an offer accepted on a house- we paid for a HBS to be done alongside the valuation survey which was arranged by the bank. With the HBS we got a fairly detailed overview as to the condition of the house but we were advised to have a full damp, timber, wall tie and electrical report afterwards which left us wondering what was the point of the HBS if we needed more reports to be done?! We didnt end up buying the house....

A year on, we have found another house and our offer has been accepted- I am now wondering if a 'tailor-made' survey would be better- ie. let the bank do a 'valuation survey' and we will have done independent surveys which cover:
- gas
- electrical
- damp/timber/wall tie/ dry rot / guttering
- structural overview

Has anyone else tried this approach? I would be grateful for any thoughts about this and how to find people who are reputable. I just think the HBS was a waste of money and whether this 'tailor-made' approach would be better in the long run? I am also contemplating paying a builder to come round the house with me as I see this has been mentioned in several posts before. Look forward to hearing from you!

In my fairly new experience, I would do all of these things individually. Let the bank do their bit as the solicitors will need proof of a survey somewhere along the line, but you will need to get these things checked anyway it would seem. I know I will do next time...