Can i contact the vendor?

hoponhiggo

Hi everyone

We are buying our first house and so far we have had on offer accepted, mortgage offer is in place and the solicitors have started the legal work. Just waiting for the search results now.

We had the survey done a few weeks ago, and while it didnt show up anything we didnt already suspect, it does say a few things like:

You are advised to commission a reputable electrical contractor to undertake a full inspection of the installation and to provide a quotation for necessary works of upgrading prior to legal commitment to purchase.

Does this mean we should contact the vendor directly and request access for an electrician to take a look before we exhange? Is it accceptable to contact the vendor?

Thanks

Excited13

I think that's a pretty standard paragraph as the surveyor isn't an electrician. It's up to you if you get the electrics checked, normally I would go through the EA or solicitors. Saying that during my last purchase we had the vendors mobile number and were in discussions privately.

Thrugelmir

Communicate through the Estate Agent initially.

bigadaj

That's the problem with surveyors, if anything looks slightly untoward they just refer you to someone who knows some thing about it, ie not a surveyor.

hoponhiggo

Thanks for the replies.

My dad is pretty good when it comes to the things that were pointed out on the survey, but wasn't available when we went to view the house, so I would like an opportunity for him to get in an give it all a once over before it all goes through.

Also, the vendor mentioned that he would be willing to leave some fairly expensive items in the property if the right offer was received. Wouldn't mind sounding him out about them either.

Would it be acceptable to contact the estate agent and ask the vendor if we can have another viewing? It would give my dad chance to take a look around and me chance to sweet talk the vendor a little

bigadaj

Your the buyer so should be able to do anything reasonable. Issues raised at survey can be a point of negotiation. Electrics were old in our house and it needed retiring so we agreed to split the cost, ie purchase price was reduced by half of the rewiring cost.