Home buyersurvey says damp on interior walls

tbs624

Frankie19 wrote: »

The estate agent has offered to speak to the damp surveyor they use. Is this wise? Am I better doing it independently of the EA since they are working for the seller?

Do not use the EA's contacts - the EA does not have your best interests at heart and will be in receipt of commission for pushing punters along to his/her preferred contacts, plus there is the possibility of a lower cost being quoted so as to ensure that the sale proceeds without too much dispute over eventual selling price

Do a search online for Jeff Howell's articles on damp ( building background, lectures on building issues and is the author of books and newpaper columns on property matters.) - a previous poster has also referred.

tbs624

teneighty wrote: »

At this stage in the buying process as well as the independent damp surveyor it may be worth using a local damp-proofing firm just to get a free report and quotes to use to re-negotiate the price. Ask the agent if you can get specialist contractors to inspect the property. You'll probably find some contractors will charge for this but don't assume that makes them an independent surveyor and take what they say with a very large pinch of salt. I would say most of these firms will give you the worst case scenario as they have a vested interest in selling you their installation service so will give high quotes which will be useful for re-negotiating downwards.

For that very reason, many vendors will not jump to the tune of non-independent contractors. If as a vendor I were faced with a buyer waving Joe Bloggs installer of DPCs report at me, I'd be obtaining my own independent guy for a more realistic figure for any works that may need doing. Remember too that if the property has valued up at the agreed asking price the vendor may not be prepared to negotiate at all.