Homebuyers report

jaffs

Okay got my homebuyers report back, mixed results, some problems with roof and other than that its mainly damp.

The house is a repossession and so has been empty for about 5-6 months, and with the rubbish weather i did expect this anyway but he seems to be pointing to quite a bit of damp.

Are the surveyers going to be over cautious with a homebuyers survey or should i be concerned?

jimmy230

I think surveyors are typically quite cautious in their reports; they do not want to run the risk of you suing them if they understate the problem. The thing with damp is identifying the cause - if it's due to guttering which needs to be replaced, then the cost is usually quite low - replace the guttering and you solve the problem. Similarly if it's caused by missing or inadequate damp course, then that is also relatively easy to solve. Damp is only a problem where the cause cannot be determined, or the cost of fixing it (e.g. replacing the roof) is extremely high.

G_M

Are the surveyers going to be over cautious with a homebuyers survey or should i be concerned?

Impossible to say without more info. Exactly what does the survey say? Where is the damp? What is the cause. How was the damp identified? etc etc

jaffs

Dampness on Ground floor, mainly inside cupboard that i think used to house the boiler, tank etc before combi boiler out in.

Identified by electronic moisture meter, dampness and rot to floorboards and skirting in cupboard. possible dry rot.

Dampness evident in roof void, but also noted damaged tiles and guttering - link?

Cracked render round ground floor window, dampness on walls inside window.

double glazed windows show signs of deterioration, misted.

Collapsed ceiling under leaking shower.


Obviously we knew about the leaking shower, collapsed ceiling and misted double glazing.

Surveyor also stated there was evidence property affected by a significant for of wood rot including possible dry rot :eek:

G_M

jaffs wrote: »

Dampness on Ground floor, mainly inside cupboard that i think used to house the boiler, tank etc before combi boiler out in.

Identified by electronic moisture meter, dampness and rot to floorboards and skirting in cupboard. possible dry rot.

Dampness evident in roof void, but also noted damaged tiles and guttering - link?

Cracked render round ground floor window, dampness on walls inside window.

double glazed windows show signs of deterioration, misted.

Collapsed ceiling under leaking shower.


Obviously we knew about the leaking shower, collapsed ceiling and misted double glazing.

Surveyor also stated there was evidence property affected by a significant for of wood rot including possible dry rot :eek:

That's a significantly different story to your original post!

Are the surveyers going to be over cautious with a homebuyers survey or should i be concerned?

Yes they usually are, but in this case, ....yes, you should be.

SonjaLiK

I would stay clear of that unless you have somewhere else to live for at least a few months after purchasing that property and at least £10K or £15K available over your estimated budget cos once you start fixing the windows, the roof, guttering, rendering, replacing ceilings and floorboards, treating all wood in the house etc., the money will just dissappear.

signed: an ex wanna be repo buyer

jaffs

Well to be fair i have already had quotes and budgeted for replacing double glazing, and somebody to look at the collapsed ceiling and they reckon its not a big job.

However the damp/ rot issue is worrying.

Oh and i do have somewhere to live while doing it up....

SonjaLiK

In the end it's all a question of money and time.
If you decide to go for it, make sure you have plenty of each.

For instance, replacing a ceiling doesn't have to be a major thing but if the joists need changed as well, the job immediately becomes a lot more expensive and a lot longer.

The damp could only be condensation due to house being empty, however, the damp floorboards could indicate that it's rising damp as well.

The rot would worry me the most, to be honest. Just imagine the cost, hassle and time needed if you have to rip out all the wood.

Unfortunately, most of these things you can only know for certain ones you have actually bought the house cos with repos - you buy "as is" and lenders don't like you investigating too much before buying. That is one of the reasons they are so cheap - because not many people can afford not just the extra costs that always appear but the extra time it might take to get it all done up.

good luck whatever you choose to do.

jaffs

Well we have actually managed to arrange for someone to go out and look at the damp/ rot etc and give a report, so hopefully that will give us more of an idea.

Like i said time really isn't a problem, i am expecting not to be able to live in it at first anyway.