Got the homebuyers report through. Few red flags. What next?

JustAnotherSaver

We got our homebuyers report emailed to us today. It's a long read & i've only so far had a skim through it. There's over 30 pages so need to go through it thorough.

In the meantime i forwarded it to our IFA & asked whether they just go all out doom-&-gloom to cover their own behinds. IFA said we should focus on the following pointers raised...

The meter and consumer unit can be found in the cupboard within the kitchen. 3
Where visible, the installation has been wired in plastic covered cable.
Although there is evidence of some updating to the installation, this may not
comply fully with present day regulations.
When considering the advice of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the lack
of a test within the last 10 years you should have the system checked and tested
thoroughly before occupation and use.
As this is serious you should instruct an approved electrical contractor registered
with the Electrical Contractors Association, ECA, or the National Inspection
Council for Electrical Installation Contracting, NICEIC to inspect the installation
and report on any deficiencies prior to exchange of contracts. This is considered to
be a health and safety risk and should be treated as requiring urgent attention.
Repair works could be costly and estimates should be obtained before a
commitment to purchase.

The cement flaunching (bedding to the chimney pot) is badly cracked and needs
replacing to prevent water penetration. When this work is done, all pots and
flashings/fillets (weatherproofing details) should also be checked for any disrepair.

Higher than normal damp meter readings have been recorded to walls internally at
various locations on the ground floor level, notably the front wall of the lounge and
hall and the dividing wall between the kitchen and dining area (which would be the
original outside wall before the extension was built). The pattern of the readings
suggests localised failure of the damp proof course.

The house was built in the 1930s so we're not expecting anything perfect. The house we currently live in was built around 1705 & would probably get ALL #3 red flags, but it's certainly liveable.


Our IFA has advised us to get in touch with the sellers EA to ask whether they could get any specialist/s in to check the above issues.


Is this generally the way things go? I assumed it would be down to us to hit the yellow pages to find the appropriate people to deal with said issues?
And what if EA can't/wont find anyone?

Just wondering what the usual procedure is from here on in.

witchy1066

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

We got our homebuyers report emailed to us today. It's a long read & i've only so far had a skim through it. There's over 30 pages so need to go through it thorough.

In the meantime i forwarded it to our IFA & asked whether they just go all out doom-&-gloom to cover their own behinds. IFA said we should focus on the following pointers raised...





The house was built in the 1930s so we're not expecting anything perfect. The house we currently live in was built around 1705 & would probably get ALL #3 red flags, but it's certainly liveable.


Our IFA has advised us to get in touch with the sellers EA to ask whether they could get any specialist/s in to check the above issues.


Is this generally the way things go? I assumed it would be down to us to hit the yellow pages to find the appropriate people to deal with said issues?
And what if EA can't/wont find anyone?

Just wondering what the usual procedure is from here on in.

I don't know what is the norm but we have some issues with the house we are hoping to buy and we have also been told to get the vender to supply the various, checks , warranties , and reports, the venders EA agreed that they should,

my Broker said at the end of the day, if vender wants to sell, if we buy or not , he will need these issues sorted so it is their interest to sort them ,

I must admit I am happy to let them sort it , after all it is still their home not mine so why should I fork out to get electric reports and wet rot estimates, and a chimney expert/builder to report on a chimney I already have a report for, but because it was done by a retired builder the lenders will not accept it

SG27

I think it's the buyer who should arrange the additional surveys. Firstly it's up to you to make sure what your buying is good condition and secondly who knows what sort of people the vendors would get in to do the surveys I'd want to make sure they are independent and reputable.

We needed additional surveys and paid for and arranged them ourselves.

I'd be very surprised if a vendor agreed to pay for and arrange surveys on behalf of a buyer who may then pull out after the results!

witchy1066

we are not talking about a survey here, I had a full structural survey done and paid for it ,
we are talking about having the electricity checked , and other issues that would need to be addressed whoever the vender sold the property to, they will be the only ones to benefit at the end of the day, if the buyer decides to walk the vender has the reports needed and will not come up against the problem a second time

I understand what you are saying about they could get just anyone but that is where the EA comes in , they know it has to be reputable local company's or the lenders will not accept them
not so bad in a small place were i live , we all use the same trades people

JustAnotherSaver

Is that what getting the EA to do it means then - essentially getting the sellers to pay for it?

If the answer to that is a yes, then i'm surprised at our IFA advising that. I'm with you - the seller is selling the house as it stands & it's down to the buyer to make themselves happy with it. That's not good news for my pockets, but it's my view all the same.



So, how do you go about checking these things out? Take the 3 our IFA highlighted...

#1 - do we just hit the yellow pages for any old electrician & say .... this is what our report says. Go knock on their door & see if they'll let you in for an inspection? I can't imagine this is how you'd go about it, so if not, then how would you?

#2 - some sort of builder maybe? Or is there a specialist for this?

#3 - No idea who you'd get in to inspect the damp.


Just wondering how you go about it?

jiggy2

point no 3.

http://www.independentdampsurveyors.co.uk/

Cost around £200 to £250 for the damp survey.

witchy1066

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Is that what getting the EA to do it means then - essentially getting the sellers to pay for it?

If the answer to that is a yes, then i'm surprised at our IFA advising that. I'm with you - the seller is selling the house as it stands & it's down to the buyer to make themselves happy with it. That's not good news for my pockets, but it's my view all the same.



So, how do you go about checking these things out? Take the 3 our IFA highlighted...

#1 - do we just hit the yellow pages for any old electrician & say .... this is what our report says. Go knock on their door & see if they'll let you in for an inspection? I can't imagine this is how you'd go about it, so if not, then how would you?

#2 - some sort of builder maybe? Or is there a specialist for this?

#3 - No idea who you'd get in to inspect the damp.


Just wondering how you go about it?

why is it down to the buyer, when they get the reports the buyer may decide to walk away, what use are the reports to the buyer then, would you give them to the vender , so he has them to hand for the next buyers ,of course you would ,

so it makes sense for the seller to get the reports done

if the seller gets the reports done then he has them and knows what to expect when his next buyer comes along, or could even get the issues sorted and no problems would arise the next time,

but its good to negotiate ,if not with the vender then with the EA

when I am selling mine I will be having my own survey done before hand , so I know what may need addressing and save myself all this agro about who pays for what, its a fact that if the seller wants to sell then they should be happy to provide some reports , and in many cases warranty's already exist but its the seller who needs to contact the company that he has a contract with if for any reason the service that was paid for has failed

of course its up to you if you want to pay, and if you offered on the house knowing of the issues , then yes you should pay but if they have come as a shock and was not expected and not considered in the offer price then why should you, its not your house , its still the venders house

Mickygg

People who say its down to the seller are not living in the real world.Like it or not it's down to the buyer to get all the reports and surveys done to satisfy themselves they are happy to pay tens of thousands of pounds.
The seller would not arrange for surveys and reports, pay for them only for the buyer to pull out!
When I sold my property the buyer wanted a boiler report, I said no its down to buyer beware. My solicitor totally agreed.

retepetsir

First point is just them covering their !!!!. It's probably fine. If it's plastic covered PVC insulted cabling then that's 1970's onwards and would still be fine in 90% of cases. It may not be up to the current regulations but it would have met the regulations at the time it was installed/upgraded and would be fine to use. This is something you could have checked by an electrician carrying out a PIR if really needed.

Dan-Dan

hmmm, there is no way on earth a seller living in their house , presumably death free is going to pay to have their electrics checked with no gurantee of sale

you can try but...

HTB_newbie

Hi

When I bought my first house, I used the EA to arrange for an electrician to come around which I paid for. I went through the EA as they were aware of independent reputable electricians used for the same reasons for other houses they sold in the past and so felt that this would be better than just opening up the yellow pages and not knowing anything about the quality of the electrician. They accurately identified what need doing immediately, what could be left but should get done when we could afford to etc.. The cost of the immediate works was £900 and the seller agreed to leave various things that they were until that point taking in the fixtures and fittings like carpets, curtain poles, curtains, blinds, cooker, washing machine and other stuff useful initially to a FTB etc.. as their contribution to these costs.

So perhaps the your IFA means to go through the EA to get recommendation of a reputable electrican?