Property Survey

Andy257

Hi all,

I have had my eye on a property i like for some time now. The house has been on and off the market for over 2 years now. About six months ago it was down as STC from the estate agent. However, the property is now back on the market. I know this could be for any number of reasons but i cant help think there is something wrong with this house which is why everyone is walking away. I have had a viewing myself and did spot some questionable issues (cracks and possibly some rising damp)

To cut a long story short i was wondering is it possible to get hold of previous surveys that may have been done on this property. Its been on the market too long for nobody to have had one done.

Forgive me if this sounds like a stupid question, i am a first time buyer trying to find my feet.

Thanks

G_M

If this site allowed one-word, two-letter rsponses, I would simply post:

No.

MelaBella

No, unless you manage to find previous failed buyer and may be purchase the report from him:) some properties stay on the market for long and this is not necessary due to the problems with it. Sometimes the prices are unadequate and vendors dont want to reduce it, sometimes vendors just keep changing their mind about the house sale or find tenants, rent it out for short and the put it back on the market.

im also panicking FTB welcome to the club and good luck:)

david29dpo

As said above, do you know/find out pervious buyers?
If you can they will gladly sell you the survey.

more_money_for_me

We have previously bought a survey, so it is possible. The estate agent will know who the previous purchaser was, and whether they are prepared to help you make contact might tell you something. The failed purchase will have meant a survey of £750 and upwards, and the failed purchaser has no further use for it. They are quite likely to be open to letting you have it at a price to reduce their loss. The reason that an estate agent might not want to put you in touch is that either there is something that will put you off completely, or point you towards a very low offer. Why not simply take a locally respected builder to give you a quote for works, this will give you a pointer. As I am sure someone will point out surveys are only meant to be for the person who they are written for and are not to be passed on/sold on, however you have to ask yourself what risk there is in buying it? Good luck.

kingstreet

If my estate agent put a potential buyer in touch with a previous purchaser who had commissioned a survey on my property and later pulled out, I would be questioning their ethics and considering a complaint.

From a business point of view, I'd also be wondering if they had taken leave of their senses...

more_money_for_me

kingstreet wrote: »

If my estate agent put a potential buyer in touch with a previous purchaser who had commissioned a survey on my property and later pulled out, I would be questioning their ethics and considering a complaint.

From a business point of view, I'd also be wondering if they had taken leave of their senses...

I am sure you wouldn't be the first to question an estate agents ethics!

In our case the estate agent had the full consent of the vendor. We felt there was too much to do on the house. The estate agent was keen to persuade us it wasn't as bad as it looked and elicit an offer. The previous buyer had pulled out not because of the house, but because a chain had collapsed. The estate agent was doing his job to convince us that it was a property worth proceeding with, the vendor was happy with this, and the previous buyer recouped some costs. as it happens we found something more suited to us.:)

kingstreet

I'd have no problem with that. I've worked with agents in the past and where it looked sensible we've shared information where it would help. IMHO there's no point hiding something which will be patently obvious to any potential purchaser.

My problem would be with the agent making a unilateral decision without discussing it with me/the vendor first.