help to understand homebuyers' survey

orangeshortbread

I have just had the homebuyers' survey back for a victorian property and I am panicking a bit at the number of red 3 warnings! I am very inexperienced with property/DIY issues so I would really appreciate a bit of help interpreting how much of an issue the following things are that have been flagged up. Could anyone offer any advice on whether you would pull out or if they are easily fixed and also which are urgent and which could wait:

1. Chimney stacks - "The chimney stacks themselves are in reasonable condition for their age, although there is the odd loose brick and small areas of poor mortar pointing. However, the joint of the stacks to the roof covering is formed with mortar fillets. These have a very limited life and crack away due to differential movement and expansion of the various materials. It is advised that the stacks are generally overhauled and that lead flashings are fitted which will have a much longer life"

2. Guttering - "There is a deformed section of plastic guttering to the rear single storey section, this will require to be repaired/replaced. Prices should be obtained."

3. outside walls - "However, the left-hand bay window on the front elevation has significantly deformed brickwork and it would appear that this is continuing as indicated by the cracking and gaps where new windows have been fitted. The brickwork to both the piers and above the windows will now need to be rebuilt."

4. walls - "I found high moisture readings to the front wall in the first floor bedroom cupboard. This was just below the window and looks to be moisture penetration. The joints beneath the window, along within the pointing in the vicinity should be checkedand dealt with as necessary."

5. moisture - "High moisture readings were found to the chimney breast in the rear bedroom indicating that flue condensation is a problem here. The affected plasterwork will need to be stripped off and removed, damp-proofing applied to the brickwork and then replastering works undertaken"

I really appreciate any advice you could offer

themull1

Don't buy it.

SG27

Post on the house buying forum lots of people with experience of this sort of thing there.

The only one is be concerned about personally is number 3

wallbash

themull1 wrote: »

Don't buy it.

If you wait for a perfect house , you will wait for ever...or pay a fortune.

This survey is ALWAYS worded to cover any liabilities by the surveyor.So read and understand but don't panic.

1) conclusion you are buying a victorian property, with old stacks .......!

2) Plastic gutter is damaged .... if you are handy with a ladder , will cost very little to replace.

3) could ?? be a problem , get a quote to fix , use as a bartering tool.

4) Not a big problem

5) Spelling out the very worse it could be, it might be a lot easier to fix. Removing plaster whilst not knowing the cause is covering his own ars*e


Ps whe buying my present house, I was informed that the ground level at the front door was too high in relationship to the DPM course......true. BUT the area was underneath the projecting garage roof and the house is built on a solid slab.In 14 years have had no problems and I don't expect any in the next 140 years!

Ectophile

No. 3 is the only one that would really worry me. It needs looking at by someone who can work out what's gone wrong.

Every older house has a few dodgy bits, and the cost of fixing them is a fraction of the amount you have to pay to buy a house.

The odd damp patch is not unusual. If the house has been unoccupied for a while, then the problem will probably improve as it's lived in. Otherwise, it's just a case of fixing whatever is letting the damp in.

orangeshortbread

Thanks for your replies. We are going to ring the surveyor and ask for more info regarding number 3.

macman

Surveyors have to find faults. If they gave you a report that said 'everything is just fine', then you'd not think that you'd had your money's worth.

wallbash

macman wrote: »

Surveyors have to find faults. If they gave you a report that said 'everything is just fine', then you'd not think that you'd had your money's worth.

Has anyone at any time ever seen a report that contained no faults / problems/ concerns ??

Does a perfect house exist?

orangeshortbread

Surveyors have to find faults. If they gave you a report that said 'everything is just fine', then you'd not think that you'd had your money's worth.

I take this point but I guess being inexperienced in such matters I am left wondering how I would know if one of these things was a genuine issue that should put me off buying this house or that will cost a lot of money to sort out.

stebiz

No 3. sounds like an underpinning job. Not cheap.