Have we just been unlucky?

slowfish6873

Hi

The second potential buyer of our house has just pulled out and we're beginning to wonder whether we have just been extremely unlucky with buyers or if there is something worryling wrong with the state of our house!

We put our house (terrace, about 100 years old) on the market for £157,950 back in Oct 2006 after we finally found our dream house to buy. Within a couple of weeks and about a dozen viewings we had an offer of £157k which we gladly accepted. The buyers tried to negotiate by dropping the price by £2k (windows needed replacing, chimney flashings - not much else) However, with their fax about negotiation, they faxed through the relevant pages of the survey to the EA. This was passed onto us, stating nothing significant or urgent and that the property was valued at £157k. So we said "no" to their ask for a drop in price - minor maintenance considerations in our opinion. They eventually pulled out in mid-Dec but we don't think it was due to this. With hindsight we probably shouldn't have let them take so long over it - turned out they didn't have searches and no contact with solicitor.

So, back on the market it went in early Jan (at the same price again) and after another dozen or so viewings we had two more offers. Excellent. We accepted an offer of £156,250 after some negotiation. This was less than 2 weeks ago. FTB's again and they had a survey done within a week. We've just heard from the EA that they have pulled out - because of damp, windows and other things on the survey which we are sure will be just minor maintenance considerations again. Weird that damp didn't show up on the previous survey carried out in October - anyway, it's only (we think) a small area in an upstairs bedroom.

So, back it goes on the market again - at October 2006 prices!! - and we finally hope to find a buyer for the third time who will go all the way. Luckily the sellers of the house we have found are holding on for us to sell.

Have we just been really unlucky with buyers or is it the case that there are a lot of very nervy FTB's who pull out quickly when a survey reads like the house is falling down. As far as we're aware both surveys have valued the house at what the offers were at.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
slowfish6873

benood

Hi Slowfish, from what you are saying it sounds to me like you've just been unlucky - perhaps your latest buyers got the collywobbles after the unexpected interest rate hike this month.

I would just ask the agent to emphasise that the house has character (damp, dodgy windows etc ) when hes talking to potential buyers.

Good luck and keep the faith - it'll sell in good time.

slowfish6873

Hi

Thanks for your support benood - sometimes we just feel like we're the only ones going through this nightmare!!

Anyway, an update - the second couple who just pulled out were nice enough to chat to us on the phone and then email across the "urgent" matters that were highlighted on their survey. It comes across as quite a serious damp problem so no wonder they were scared off. We've just had a damp and timber specialist come to have a look and he didn't seem to think it was too much of a problem - gave us a couple of quick tips that should help sort it before the next buyer has their survey done.

I just don't understand how two surveys that were carried out within a couple of months of each month could differ so much.

This has dragged on so much now I think I might join the "race to be in by Spring" board - or maybe set up a new thread - "the race to be in by Summer"!!

zipwen1

i was told by a builder that surveyors have their good and bad days and will sometimes go ott it depends on the mortgage company too some require certain checks some dont the surveyor who did our house put down damp because of a tiny bit of mold in the bathroom round the top of the window are house has had a new damp course. im no surveyor but i can tell the difference between damp and a bit of mold that is there because of poor ventilation. lol

BettiePage

Don't you think it's a coincidence that both surveys highlighted problems with the windows?

slowfish6873

Hi

Neither surveys showed up the window problem as urgent - just ongoing maintenance considerations. We think one of them shows signs of wet rot but nothing a bit of filler and TLC won't fix. I just can't get to do it while the weather is bad - or can I?

ownerofthemoneypit

Hi there,

For what it's worth I just think you've been unlucky, the survey on my property came back clean twice, and I have now put my proerty back n market after it tranpired second buyer couldn't get money together.

Also damp scares off most people, but sometimes it can be easily fixed particularly if its penetrating, it sounds although you're heading in the right direction by sorting out the problem before the next viewings, check out the guttering, adjoining walls etc.

Sorry to be no help, but for who knows, the next people to see may love it character and all - good luck!