Structural survey back on the 1930s house I am buying, some questions:

manrow

rammster,

you sound someone who is young enough to be able to look forward to salary increases over the years so that when the roof does have to be done then you could take out an additional loan to pay for it.

But as other posters have commented the electrics are potentially life-threatening so sort out the priorities by taking a local builder's advice - there are some good ones out there believe me!!

rammster

ok guys then how should I go about it. Should I just email the estate agent the prime points of the survey and ask him to forward these to the vendor and follow this up with a call to the estate agents.

Some background, my estate agent is quite aggressive and even knowing that I am FTB I have found him a tad bit pushy. My vendor is Greedy with a capital G. We are talking mindless self humiliating kind of greed here. So this is what I am up against . So obviously I would have to think it out. Should I ask for twice the amount (i.e 4000£) and then back up to midway (£2000).

Or is a face to face approach better with the estate agent.

I think the email and back up with phone call is better as it gets attitude from both sides out of the way.

Anybody with any experience please help .

danuk

yeah put it in writing via email mate, ask them (on email) to get back to you by close of business with a decision or give them some indication of time frame to reply. I would not email and phone, one or the other , if you do both it would appear as your chasing and they would know your keen.....

Above is my views of what i would do!

redfan

If 2 grand is going to cover all the work that is needed on a near 80 year old house, then I would consider yourself fortunate. It would be rare to find a structural survey that didnt come back with some work required simply because the surveyor has to cover themselves against being sued in the future. Most would always state that the roof would need replacing in the future (unless done fairly recently) as this generally would be the greatest cost in renovating a house.

As for reducing the cost of the house, I wouldnt ask for more money as they may ask to see the report. In fact if I were in your shoes I would say that you should offer to split the cost 50/50 with the seller - this is what I have done in the past. Dont lose the house, and the money you have already spent, for the sake of a £1000.

Stephen