Want to look in the attic - Are we strange for wanting to do this...??

nightsky224

We are looking to buy a 2/3 bedroom house in Hertfordshire. We are FTB and have been looking since Oct on and off.
We always ask to look in the attic when viewing a property (If we have looked round the rest of the house and are interested)

Some estate agents don't bat an eyelid but others say they don't have to permission from the vendors or really arn't keen on us doing so.
Today an EA said they are not insured for us to go up there......

I understand that most attics are full of rubbish but I want to be able to see how big it is up there, look for obvious damage/damp etc, I don't think its unreasonable..... is it?

I wanted to know
a) if you are buying a hopuse/have bought do you look in the attic
b) If you are selling the house would you be happy for potential buyers to look in the roof?

seafarers_wife

Wouldn't occur to me to look, but wouldnt have any issue with people looking themselves.

pineapple

I have never thought of looking in the attic but it's a good idea and I wish I had done it with the last purchase.
But you have to realise we live in an 'elf and safety' culture when many window cleaners will not even go up ladders .
I'm guessing the concern is not just that you might damage yourself and claim but you might inadvertently put a foot through the ceiling (it has been done).
Maybe get a 'professional' in to do it.

BJV

Absolutely yes in both cases.
I would have no problem in anyone looking in the attic. ( Lots of bags of old clothes and teddies ( i think!).
I also think it is a very good idea to look before you buy, totally agree with the size , damp issue, you may want to expand up and you need to know what you are buying and the potential of the space.
Good look with the house hunting.

Ninnut85

I wouldn't purchse a house without looking in the loft.

You can see possible structure issues, damp, water tank (if it has one), water pipes, electric cables, insulation.

All things i'd want to know about before going ahread with the pruchase

GAH

Any house that I have been to and liked, I have always asked to look in the attic to see how big it is.

And when I have sold in the past, I have been happy to allow anyone to look up in my attic.

In fact, (having previously worked in estate agency many years as well), I am surprised at the amount of people that really aren't bothered to look in an attic. Guess some people just downt care.

poppysarah

Sticking your head through a hatch isn't a problem - going up and walking about might be if you put your foot through.

I think it might even have been Phil Spencer who said keep a step ladder in your car so if they don't have a ladder you can stick your head through the hatch.
Obviously if it's one right over the top of the stairs you wouldn't be safe without an appropriate ladder.

sonastin

My fiance looked in the attic of a couple of the houses we were interested in. I agree that if there are any problems up there, you want to be able to see them.

The estate agent needs reminding that insurance doesn't alter liability. Tell him that you will be liable for any damage caused by looking in the attic so it doesn't matter that he isn't insured.

I reckon any seller would rather a buyer saw in the attic than didn't put an offer in on the basis that they couldn't see the whole property.

Davesnave

Also, if you might have plans for the attic, even some way off, it could be important to know the construction.

I've looked into attics from the hatch a couple of times on first visits, bid the owners goodbye and not troubled them again on the basis of what I saw. Yes, they seemed to think I was a bit 'forward' for a first date , but it saved us both a wasted second visit.

You might even see something else highly relevant, like the bats and their prodigious poo piles that I spied in one old place. "They're protected, you know," said their proud custodian. I won't say what I thought about the prospect of shovelling up bat faeces every 6 months or so! :eek:

googler

If you bring your own ladder (in case the current resident doesn't have one) and confine yourself to what the surveyors call a 'head and shoulders' inspection, then that's fine.

If the attic is partially or fully floored, by all means enter it to walk around, but if it isn't, stay on the ladder.

You may be willing to pay for any damage you cause, but if I were the homeowner who's currently trying to sell their home, I'd be seriously miffed if I had to call in builders, plasterers, joiners, decorators et al because you put your foot through the floor/ceiling, even if you paid for them.

What price can you put on the inconvenience? Better to avoid going down that road. Head and Shoulders inspection only, if you please.

DVardysShadow

nightsky224 wrote: »

Today an EA said they are not insured for us to go up there......

I understand that most attics are full of rubbish but I want to be able to see how big it is up there, look for obvious damage/damp etc, I don't think its unreasonable..... is it?

Sounds like the EA is more full of rubbish than the loft on an average Victorian semi.

I would take a look in on a second viewing as a matter of course.