FTB - homebuyers report, quotes etc. please help!?

littlesheepy

I think I'm losing the plot and am hoping somebody can steer me it the right direction. Depending on which friend or relative I ask, I'm being told one thing or another and obviously everybody thinks I've done something wrong or they'd do it different.
I'm a FTB, have had and offer accepted on a house and a mortgage offer accepted.
The homebuyers report has come through today and the main 'red light' areas are - gas fire, boiler and meter that the surveyor hasn't seen certificates for. For this I plan to ask the estate agent tomorrow if they know if there's any? If not, can I ask the vendor to pay for these checks or will it have to be me? Also the fuse box is old, which I'd noticed on viewing, and the report has come back to say they don't have to do anything with it, but it could do with updating. Again for this, should I ask the vendor if they wish to get a quote, or arrange for a quote myself?
I hope somebody can help as depending on who I speak with I've got answers ranging from 'your parents house is off the same age and in the same condition and you live with it ok there' to 'I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, the mortgage has only been offered because youve put down a good deposit and otherwise the bank make you have it done'
Also, the solicitors are ringing me for payment of the searches fees tomorrow. Am I able to hold of paying for searches that may be unessecary until I know about more about the reports etc?
Many many thanks in advance for any help or advice

skinnyman9000

I've recently had a homebuyers survey on a house were buying, it picked up things like old boiler, old fusebox etc.

Yes the house could do with a new boiler at some point, but if it's working fine now what's the problem? Has it been well maintained? Have the vendors got proof of servicing?

Also the fusebox, yes it might not meet todays regulations, but that doesn't mean it's no good, I'm sure the vendors would go on living with it if they stayed in the house.

I would arrange to have the boiler and electrics tested. If they come back and say the boiler is fine, then it's fine. If you need a new fusebox you're looking at round £300-£400 I'd imagine, if it NEEDS doing you could negotiate that with the vendors.

Try not to worry about the "I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole" comments. My friend bought his house as a new build, so when I showed him my survey he nearly had a heart attack, but when he moved in his house he was concerned if the paint wasn't perfect.

Arrange to have any tests carried out and then go from there. I'm in a very similar position myself and I've swinging from perfectly calm and level headed to "oh my god I've made a massive mistake", so you're not the only one.

littlesheepy

Thanks ever so much. I'm glad I'm not the only one who keeps swinging from the 'oh my god, what am I doing' to the 'it's fine, It'll all go ok' very reassuring the hear that, thank you.
As you say, to be honest, the people who've said about 'wouldn't touch with a barge pole' are, exactly like you, the ones who'd worry if it was painted the wrong shade of magnolia. Something would always be wrong, which is why it annoys/gets to me.
Think I'll start by ringing the vendors tomorrow and checking if they've got any boiler /gas certificates and see about getting a quote for the electrics. 1 step at a time

kingstreet

littlesheepy wrote: »

gas fire, boiler and meter that the surveyor hasn't seen certificates for. For this I plan to ask the estate agent tomorrow if they know if there's any? If not, can I ask the vendor to pay for these checks or will it have to be me? Also the fuse box is old, which I'd noticed on viewing, and the report has come back to say they don't have to do anything with it, but it could do with updating. Again for this, should I ask the vendor if they wish to get a quote, or arrange for a quote myself?

Also, the solicitors are ringing me for payment of the searches fees tomorrow. Am I able to hold of paying for searches that may be unessecary until I know about more about the reports etc?
Many many thanks in advance for any help or advice

In the first instance, don't ask the agent to deal with such issues. Have your solicitor request copies of any service/inspection reports via the vendor's solicitor as part of the enquiries process. Then you can be sure they are completely kosher.

If you want further information, decide what you want, be it a gas safety check or electrical report and decide who you want to pay for it. You can ask the vendor (this time via the agent) or you can agree to go halves, or pay for it yourself. There is no hard and fast rule.

Finally, pay the search fees, but ask your solicitor to hold the searches until you are happy you have all the "condition" issues finished before they go ahead.

Please discuss the issues you have raised here with your solicitor to establish how they think you should best approach them. Same with any future concerns.

littlesheepy

Excellent advice thanks kingstreet. Didn't realise I could pay the search fees but ask them to hold back.
Being a FTB buyer, doing it alone and with no friends or family that have moved house in the last 20 years, it's difficult to get advice. I was even unsure that it'd be the solicitors who do this sort of chasing for you. Will be getting on the case this afternoon, thank you