am i really being that difficult?

cookie_monster_2

I am reluctant to have over survey as it says that the house is worth what we are paying for it AND that it would cost a hell of a lot more to replace it. I've been told apparently it costs less to rebuild a house and I'm worried they'll think they need to increase the price.

AdrianC

cookie_monster_2 wrote: »

I am reluctant to have over survey as it says that the house is worth what we are paying for it

So you're reluctant to provide the evidence to back your reduced offer up, because it actually says that, despite the (relatively minor, if it'll only cost a couple of grand) issue, the house is worth your original offer...

I think you've answered your own question there, don't you?

AND that it would cost a hell of a lot more to replace it. I've been told apparently it costs less to rebuild a house and I'm worried they'll think they need to increase the price.

Rubbish. Rebuild value is not directly related to sale value. It would basically cost the same to build two identical three-bed semis, one in some godawful semi-abandoned ex-industrial village where houses fail to sell for buttons as it would in a swanky London suburb where people are fighting to up each other's offers.

If sale value was always the same as rebuild value, speculative property developers would be out of business in minutes flat.

Gordon_Hose

As AdrianC states, you don't want to hand over the survey because it backs the EA and vendor up in what they are saying. In light of this revelation, yes I think you're being difficult.

You need to decide whether you can arrange and pay for the work yourselves or move on. Simple as that really.

Unitoons

It is perfectly simple. Send a copy of the survey to your solicitor with a letter stating you with to reduce your offer based on the work required.

They will contact the vendor's solicitor and pass this info (not the survey) to the vendor. They will then say yes or no!

You will then be told the outcome and will have to decide if you want to continue with the purchase or not.

cookie_monster_2

okay thanks guys - maybe I am being unreasonable. I do get that, I'm just worried about other costs that may crop up in the future. Maybe buying such an old house wasn't a great idea but I love its character.


You're right... I'll see what the other company comes back with and decide whether we can, and whether we're willing, to pay for work to be carried out on the cavity walls.


We were willing to save and do up the property as we lived in it but we didn't expect huge financial problems straightaway if that makes sense.

Annie1960

cookie_monster_2 wrote: »

Also, I keep being told by the EA I need to hand over a copy of the survey we had done which we paid A LOT of money for.

You paid for the survey, and it belongs to you. You do not have to hand it over to anyone.

However, if the survey showed that structural work is needed and you have quotations for doing this work, then I would I give the EA the relevant parts of the survey to support what you are saying.

AdrianC

cookie_monster_2 wrote: »

okay thanks guys - maybe I am being unreasonable. I do get that, I'm just worried about other costs that may crop up in the future. Maybe buying such an old house wasn't a great idea but I love its character.

We were willing to save and do up the property as we lived in it but we didn't expect huge financial problems straightaway if that makes sense.

If the prospect of a bill of a couple of grand - which isn't "NOW or it'll fall down by Monday!" - is that big a "financial problem", may I respectfully suggest that house ownership is probably not for you? Especially given that the lender don't see your purchase as being particularly close-to-the-mark for your finances?

cookie_monster_2

No, we definitely want to buy - I'm sick of moving all of the time due to renting. We want to buy and maybe start having babies in five years or so.


I'm not a big commitment person - never have been. The biggest financial commitment I have ever made is a mobile contract. It's daunting.

Gordon_Hose

cookie_monster_2 wrote: »

okay thanks guys - maybe I am being unreasonable. I do get that, I'm just worried about other costs that may crop up in the future. Maybe buying such an old house wasn't a great idea but I love its character.


You're right... I'll see what the other company comes back with and decide whether we can, and whether we're willing, to pay for work to be carried out on the cavity walls.


We were willing to save and do up the property as we lived in it but we didn't expect huge financial problems straightaway if that makes sense.

Depends what the survey said about it... does it need doing straight away?

Surveyors always err on the side of caution. Ours suggested our roof would cave in if there was heavy snow fall. A Structural Engineer we called to come and have a look laughed and shook his head at what the surveyor had written.

AdrianC

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

Surveyors always err on the side of caution. Ours suggested our roof would cave in if there was heavy snow fall. A Structural Engineer we called to come and have a look laughed and shook his head at what the surveyor had written.

We had a full structural survey on our last house. None of the bits the surveyor flagged were an issue in the 15yrs we were there. Plenty of work he didn't flag, though...