how serious is this?

patrick_bs15

Am buying a house... expecting homebuyer's survey any day now, but EA e-mailed me a report from a damp treatment company out of the blue...

Getting to the point - they noted 'infestation' in the main void - and recommend that 'their technician spray accessible timbers with a water based insecticide' - at a cost of £250 all incl.

(Their introductory blurb stated 'instruction to inspect and report for wood boring insects in the accessible timbers. All infestations detailed are by the common furniture beetle.... unless otherwise specified.')

I phoned the EA instantly saying that I think the seller should pay for this & I want it done before exchange of contracts (a bit strong maybe, I don't know?)

Phoned the bloke from the damp treatment company and he reassured me that the surveyor is probably just covering his back and that it wouldn't take £400 - £450 to do the whole property.

So, do you think this is a serious issue, or do you think I'm being a bit of a drama queen? (Honest feedback appreciated!)
Many Thanks

Mallotum_X

Do you know who instructed the damp treatment company to investigate?

It is unusual for such a report to come via the agent.

patrick_bs15

No, don't know yet - am wondering if the surveyor had a word with the seller (not received survey yet, despite it being done on 1st Aug!)

Mallotum_X

patrick_bs15 wrote: »

No, don't know yet - am wondering if the surveyor had a word with the seller (not received survey yet, despite it being done on 1st Aug!)

That is possible.

Have you had the homebuyers report yet? If you did was there any mention of bugs?

On the report you have been given is it addressed to anyone, i.e. a covering letter or anyone mentioned in the blurb. That would give you a clue who instructed them. You could of course ask the company directly.

In terms of requesting the work to be done, it seems perfectly reasonable to request this to be done before exchange, with confirmation from the damp company that the work has been undertaken. The vendor may of course refuse and then you would need to consider your position and negotiate if appropriate. But £250 is not a huge sum so hopefully wont be a deal breaker either way.

patrick_bs15

No - not yet received Homebuyer's report, which is why this came as a bit of a nasty surprise...

I agree that £250 in itself definitely is not a deal breaker(!), am just concerned that issue might be a bit more than 'it's alright, mate, we'll spray the roof timbers with insecticide then it'll all be ok'

Mallotum_X

patrick_bs15 wrote: »

No - not yet received Homebuyer's report, which is why this came as a bit of a nasty surprise...

I agree that £250 in itself definitely is not a deal breaker(!), am just concerned that issue might be a bit more than 'it's alright, mate, we'll spray the roof timbers with insecticide then it'll all be ok'

See what the report says, and consider asking a friendly builder to take a look as well.

patrick_bs15

Your advice is fair enough - thank you.

The irony is I actually went round with a builder before putting an offer on the property - he had a quick look around the loft with a torch and said he thought it looked ok...

But that isn't enough to reassure me at the moment!

moneyistooshorttomention

I think that EA is having an "identity crisis" (as he seems to have forgotten he is working for the seller and said seller will be livid if it comes out that he doesn't appear to be at all).

Having said that...a couple of hundred £s is nothing and any seller would expect their buyer to "swallow that" and pay up for the work themselves.

patrick_bs15

An estate agent on the buyer's side... surely not?!

If I am convinced that just coughing up £250 is the issue settled, then I'll do it - as soon as the word 'woodworm' is mentioned it just panics me though...

EvaCustard

I'd be wary of the Damp Treatment guys too -it's in their interests to "find" damp.

Our survey said there were damp issues and thanks to really good advice on here - we instructed an independant damp and timber specialist (who just surveys doesn't do or reccommend anyone to do any remidial works etc) and it turns out our "damp" is simply lifestyle condensation and requires nothing other than us opening windows appropriately etc... we could have spent a fortune on a treatment for no reason.

kingstreet

This may be a gambit.

In one hand they show you the £250 woodworm report, while remaining silent about the £10k roof replacement etc.

Await your own surveyor's verdict, before you do anything else.