Who pays for surveys "problems"

Jenny.W

We've just had a survey done and the surveyor called me to just go through his findings.

He said nothing of great concern but round some damp areas on one of the walls perhaps caused by the flashing around the porch, and some woodworm in the loft timbers, other things like couple of uneven roof tiles, bit of external rendering has cracked, single skimmed utility area.

I panicked on hearing damp and wood worm but he said it was to be expected of an older property and can be treated but I'm not sure how to go forward. Do we ask the vendors to get the work done or is it expected that we would have to pay if we proceed or do we renegotiate?

Thank you

RockPaperScissors

For minor issues such as those I wouldn't have thought anyone would negotiate with you on property price (please someone correct me if wrong).

You would therefore weigh up whether you wanted the house enough and inform your conveyencer that you were happy to go ahead (thus footing the bill yourself when you complete).

We had a fair few bits come up such as the possibility that we may need to re-wire, some pointing needed, extra loft insulation and decoration.

I spoke to the solicitor and they said that these weren't things that would be that helpful for negotiation (more looking for structural defects etc.) so we went ahead and will work on things over the next few years.

moneyistooshorttomention

I'd be wondering about that single-skinned utility area personally - that will be a cold bit of the house and I would wonder how much of a house could be single-skinned and pass muster with a mortgage company.

Having gathered many mortgage companies don't like giving mortgages on single-skinned properties - so worth checking if they would be okay with just a small bit of the property being single-skinned.

motherofstudents

There's nothing to stop you from trying to negotiate a reduction, they can only say no ! What you need is to find out how much the work will cost and then decide if you are prepared to just go ahead and do the work at your leisure (well, not leisure, but in your own time). Maybe get a decent builder to have a look and get some prices.

Jenny.W

Well I got hubby to call the surveyor as he is pretty clued up on building works etc and surveyor confirmed that the woodworm was probably dead and the damp wasn't anything major and to be expected and works to fix would be in the 100's and not 1000's and said the house value was fine. Sounds like he gave my husband the impression that there wasn't anything of great alarm but to get some quotes for the work.

So we're going to speak to the EA and request a couple of quotes then take things from there

The utility room is the only single skinned room, probably an old outbuilding which was converted.

G_M

My house is riddledwith worm holes.

Panic!

No - there is a huge different between active worm and historic worm. You can treat the timber, kill the worm but.... the holes are still there. So next time a surveyor comes round: "Oh, evidence of wood worm!"

'Course the wood treatment companies love this. They can treat the same property every time it changes hands as surveyors note the holes, buyers panic, and treatment companies rub their hands with glee!

In an old property, some 'evidence' is inevitable. But is it active.....?

Woodworm hate dry wood. If it's dry, they'll go off to the garden and lay their eggs in some nice damp old wood there. What happens is when the house was first built (80 years ago?) the wood was still 'fresh' so some eggs were laid. The worm then burrowed out, leaving holes, but never came back once the wood was proplerly dried out. But every 10 years or so the timber gets treated again as the house changes hands....

Jenny.W

G_M wrote: »

, they'll go off to the garden and lay their eggs in some nice damp old wood there....

I have a vision of angry worms marching into the garden :rotfl:

I've calmed down a bit and not such in a panic and my husband isn't worried after having the conversation with the surveyor. Hopefully the mortgage company will be happy with things

Perelandra

One question I've found helpful to ask of surveyors is:

"If you were buying the property, would the issues put you off"?

They have to list any problems they find (to cover themselves), but this question can be an easy way to get an idea of the severity of that problem.

Hope everything works out.

Jenny.W

Perelandra wrote: »

One question I've found helpful to ask of surveyors is:

"If you were buying the property, would the issues put you off"?

They have to list any problems they find (to cover themselves), but this question can be an easy way to get an idea of the severity of that problem.

Hope everything works out.

Well after worrying about everything during the night I called the surveyor again this morning. He said that the damp areas were isolated And that I really don't have anything serious to worry about. What he has found is to be expected and he would be more concerned if he hadnt of found anything. He is not suggesting any matters require further investigation in order to proceed but they are items that we can fix at our convenience if we end up living there.