Help Me Sell My Elderly Parents House

the_greed

No, there was no noise as far as I was aware I know that they did not do all the walls. It all looked pretty straightforward to me.

jennifernil

The surveyors will report back to the buyers in a day or two at the most, and they should confirm their offer quite quickly.

We bought a flat in Glasgow in 2003. We viewed on the Sunday, sorted the mortgage Monday am, put in an offer Monday pm subject to survey, it was accepted within 30 minutes. Surveyor visited Tuesday am, report back same day, flat bought on Wednesday. DD moved in 6 weeks later.

the_greed

Well here is the latest, had a phone call from the estate agent regarding the survey done by the prospective buyer last Wednesday and have been told that there is a bit of damp in the house. The estate agent told us not too worry. Some chance. The prospective buyer must still be interested as they are sending out a damp specialist on Monday to see the extent of the damp. The house is 85 years old, the walls are not running with water, we know there to be a wee bit of damp on one wall but the surveyor only checked one living room wall downstairs and one downstairs bedroom wall that I know off. I should have followed them. Can anybody put my mind at rest as to the most likely scenario. My dad is near breaking point about all this. I am feeling so sorry that I got him to think about selling his house and coming to live near me. Does anybody have any optimistic advice? Please help. I know its alright to say try not too worry but it is very difficult.

Tiger_greeneyes

The worst case scenario is that it costs a bit to rectify the damp. It's probably not going to be too expensive though, not of one or two walls. A few hundred pounds? The purchaser may ask for a lower purchase price - or may not. It's certainly not a deal breaker, and therefore no biggie

the_greed

Thanks very much, the estate agent said that they told her it was a bit of damp so I am hoping it is not through the whole house, surely we would smell damp or the wallpaper would be falling off if it was major. That is what I am telling myself. Hurry up Monday and beyond.

the_greed

Through reading through this forum I am learning a lot about damp course rip offs. What can I suggest my parents to do when the report comes through which the estate agent said we would here about on Monday afternoon. I know I am getting ahead of myself but I am new to all this carry on and it is worrying. My dad was in at the estate agents this afternoon and they told him not too worry as this is a very common occurrence in a surveyor's report. My dad is horrified to think that his house is damp and I don't want him ripped off.

Tiger_greeneyes

Why don't you ask the estate agents which company is carrying out the damp and timber report, and you get in a different company to quote. You can compare both reports that way. You can also ask the agents if the company the buyers are using are reputable. Estate agents know that kind of thing

It sounds like you're fretting just as much as your Dad. Don't worry though - it's only a damp and timber report, this type of report is asked for on more surveys than you can probably imagine! I've bought six properties and had damp and timber reports on four of them. Only two needed any work - both costing around £300.

the_greed

Tiger_greeneyes wrote: »

Why don't you ask the estate agents which company is carrying out the damp and timber report, and you get in a different company to quote. You can compare both reports that way. You can also ask the agents if the company the buyers are using are reputable. Estate agents know that kind of thing

It sounds like you're fretting just as much as your Dad. Don't worry though - it's only a damp and timber report, this type of report is asked for on more surveys than you can probably imagine! I've bought six properties and had damp and timber reports on four of them. Only two needed any work - both costing around £300.

To you Tiger_greeneyes thank you very much for your input into this post, you certainly know how to put a girls mind at rest. We are a family of worriers and Monday cannot come soon enough. The estate agents told my dad that if the report mentions a considerable sum of money needs spending, eg £5000 they will organise an independent damp specialist and take it from there. We do have until July to sell the house so it is not really a pressing problem. I know that the prospective buyers, a young couple who had been looking at new builds are definitely interested in our house, I also know that they have got a bargain, a semi detached 3 bedroomed villa for £110000, compare that to a new build. I also know that they have plans for extending the property and remodernising, otherwise they would not have authorised a damp specialist. What worries me is this damp specialist might be a rip off man and as I said before ripping off my eighty year old parents will never happen, not if my husband and I can help it. I know they can always put the house on the market again, I mean they have had a man at the door, who my dad knows, who has offered them £115000 and then they can inform prospective buyers about the previous survey and they can make an offer knowing about this so called damp problem. I know all is not lost but I am just worried about mum and dad, I think I am getting them worried more because I am worried. I don't drink so I think I will take a few valium over the next few days and try to calm down. Thanks again to Tiger_greeneyes.

Tiger_greeneyes

Where would we be without valium!

Normally what happens with damp and timber reports is that the buyer could either pay for it themselves, the vendor goes halves with the buyers or the vendors offer to pay for the works themselves. If you go down the latter route, I'd suggest you reduce the sale price - that way the buyers will get the work done after completion, and not while your parents are still living there.

Wait til Monday and take it from there

Melissa177

Going back to the original post, and slightly off-topic, I am amazed by the number of FTBs who look at asthetics over anything else. This is fine when you are renting, as you can't do up the place, but if you're struggling to get on the housing ladder, why not buy somewhere that needs some cosmetic work?

Paint & carpets are both relatively cheap!