URGENT: Buying dream house, structural problems - what to do?1?!

davidmcn

gabjam wrote: »

Hasn't yet, he was concerned about it so phoned us this evening. He's sending us the summary to put to the EA tomorrow, then the full survery report to follow.

Well, given you've paid a professional to give you an impartial view of the current market value of the property - best wait to see what he says first.

At the moment it doesn't sound like you know whether the property has been priced at a level which reflects the work needing done, and if it has then you might not have much of an argument for pushing it down further.

Elfbert

gabjam wrote: »

We've put forward our findings to the estate agent and asked if the vendor would be willing to do the remedial work before we move in, or at least a good chunk of it. That way we'd still have our mortgage as is.

Remember that if the seller has the work done they have every motivation to put as little money and effort in as they can get away with. Far better to get a price reduction (if the current price doesn't already reflect this work) and get it done yourselves if possible, so you know it's done properly.

AnotherJoe

extensive damp (50% on some walls), blown out rendering on the back, potentially rotten floors, it doesn't have dry lining and other bits and bobs. Essentially, the surveyor has estimated repair costs at between £10,000 - £25,000....
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err, in what way is this a "Dream House" ???
And who knows if this isn't the tip of the iceberg and you'll find worse.

Move on.

Mistermeaner

Just for balance and I've not seen it so don't know but lots of old houses have 'issues' that get highlighted on survey reports - many such issues are perfectly liveable with and shouldn't overly worry you. If you walked round the property and didn't see mould and smell all musty then the damp might be nothing to worry about. I live in a turn of the century semi with lots of blown bricks, external damp, the odd draught window etc. Slate roof with no felt, cracks creams and moans. It's called character!

Surveyors compare to modern build standards and regulations - you're buying an old house.

What you can be sure of is that it won't subside and that the wood will be slow grown. A newer house may well pass the survey report and have energy cert but not sure how long that flimsy quick grown pine frame will last......