Homebuyer report found serious issues with roof, vendor not want to re-negotiate pric

paulsad

Are you sure you really want this house? Not being harsh but if it were me and the faults were as you've outlined it wouldn't put me off if it were the house we'd chosen. I'd bite the bullet and get the repairs done myself over time and mostly by me. I'd be happy I'd tried to get a bit more off but failed - so what!

anear

Not everybody can do DIY jobs. The cost includes flat roof of a double garage and a porch, and pruning two trees. The two roofers I got quotes from: one I found him on the Internet, the other is the recommended roofer by the EA. I forwarded their written quotes to the vendor (through EA).

DaftyDuck wrote: »

They are not that urgent... Flat roof is on a garage. Short-term measure, bug tub of bitumen, apply in dry spell. Costs forty quid from Wickes, DIY job. Trees attacking phone line.... depends on size, but most tree surgeons would trim back a few branches from a tree fir under a hundred quid. Trees attacking phone lines aren't necessarily your responsibility, may rest with BT.

I would have thought trees and (perished) flat roof would have been fairly obvious prior to offer.
Anyway, what valuation did the survey place on the property? If I were the vendor, I'd only even entertain the thought of further reduction if there was a clear valuation that was well below offer price. Otherwise, I think you are vastly overinflating the importance, and certainly the cost, of fixing these issues.

Davesnave

I'm not sure that trees touching phone lines is necessarily a problem.

In 2013, Openreach relocated a pole here, and they chose to place it where the line goes between the branches a couple of trees. That tells me:

• it's not a problem

• if it is a problem, they will sort it out

Certainly, Western Power have have nice men with chain saws who come and cut back trees whenever they look like they're too close to the 11kv lines. It's more important to do this than with 'phone lines, but the principle is the same: they shoulder the cost.

paulsad

"Recommended by EA and found on the internet" - mmm they'll be the most economical then ...

harrys_dad

Your vendor is not going to budge (and neither would I if I were them). The decision is yours, and any advice we offer is not relevant. The faults seem really minor to me, but if you feel they MUST be fixed and cannot afford it then walk away.

This is a game of poker and you seem to be holding 9 high.

Mattygroves2

I doubt you really need to get the trees done. We've got several trees (and a large hedge) in our garden that grow up and reach the electricity wires. Scottish Power come along every 5 years or so and trim them all for us for free - one year they took 3 foot out of a 100m hedge which is a big job ! Openreach have been up our telephone pole which has tree branches close to it and never mentioned the branches.

As has been said it's your call but if I was your vendor I wouldn't be budging either.

Cuilean

If it's any consolation, when our survey came back last month, it was like reading a horror movie, especially about the roof. Rotten timbers, chimney stack a complete state, and upon speaking to the surveyor (Who cheerfully said "Nobody pays me to give them good news") he said we were looking at a minimum of 4 figures to get just those areas fixed.

We sent a couple of local builders round (We live 50 miles away and are relocating) and the quotes to fix the loft and roof came in at £300 to £350. When the builders heard what the surveyor thought their work would cost, they all laughed.

The valuation on our survey agreed that what we'd agreed to pay was a fair price, given the local market, and that the EA brochure clearly stated "Scope for improvement", which I have learned is EA speak for "Needs gutting" :laugh:

Moral of the story is to find out how much it would take to fix from someone who knows how to fix it, and not freak out over the surveyor's idea. Good luck!

jenny54321

Walk away from the sale if you dont want to spend that money on reapirs and get something else

[Deleted User]

I have a flat roof over the kitchen. It did start letting in water last October. BUT the builder who replaced it said that the problem had been going on for 10-15 years (so no urgency over it for last 10-15 years). He removed the damp plywood, replaced the felt.., redid the flashing. No timbers needed replacing. Took less than a day.., and was definitely as big as a garage roof if not more. Took two men. Knowing my LL there is no way he'd have paid over the odds to have it done. Unless the roof timbers (not the ply boarding) are actually rotten, they probably won't need replacing.., just the ply. The actual timbers will dry out.

You DON'T need to have the trees pruned.

I really would look with a fresh face at what needs to be done. I think those estimates are way too high.

Bossypants

paulsad wrote: »

Are you sure you really want this house? Not being harsh but if it were me and the faults were as you've outlined it wouldn't put me off if it were the house we'd chosen. I'd bite the bullet and get the repairs done myself over time and mostly by me. I'd be happy I'd tried to get a bit more off but failed - so what!

This is what I'm wondering. Of course real estate is an investment, but if it's going to be your home you should really try to also choose somewhere you look forward to living if you possibly can, a few k's worth of not-urgent repairs notwithstanding.