Home Buyers Report has me freaking!

Ellen016

Hi everyone

We’ve just had our survey done – we did the ‘home buyers report’ and after reading it I’m stressing a little to say the least. After it was done the surveyor called us and said the house is fine, although the windows need doing, the kitchen needs modernising etc. but we knew this already and we have budgeted to allow for this, we are actually looking forward to turning this house into something special. In our eyes it has amazing potential and we have long term plans for making this a real family home.

He also mentioned that the garage (it’s a 1.5 size garage) has a large crack and we would need a structural surveyor to check this bit out but other than that we are ok.

However I have just read the report and it sounds like the house is derelict! Am I being silly and reading too much into it, are they supposed to nit-pick in this way?

We knew going to view this house it would need some work and we are happy to invest (obviously within our financial means) but I am worried we are taking on more than we thought.

For example he’s put ‘possible asbestos in artex plasters’ in the risks and that’s got me worried!

Any advice is welcome

Thanks J

hazyjo

All old artex is at risk of asbestos, same as a lot of garage roofs, etc. They have to say it to cover themselves. If it's undisturbed, you're fine. If it is, just get it removed - yourself with protection, or get a specialist in. It's really not a biggie.


They are also not electricians, plumbers, etc so will also say they can't say whether they are all in working order or meet modern standards.


Really, don't panic. Search this forum for words like 'asbestos' - it's bound to have come up lots before and hopefully you'll be reassured.


Jx

stickshaker

Asbestos in artex can also be OK if it is at a suitably low level. I had to get some artex checked for asbestos - it showed some signs of it but was at a level which could be worked on without problem.

HouseBuyer77

Am I being silly and reading too much into it, are they supposed to nit-pick in this way?

Well without reading the report hard to say for sure. However surveyors do need to cover themselves by listing every possibly little problem and potentially saying further investigation required.

They're normally more candid over the phone and the fact that your surveyor has verbally said the house looks fine just needs some modernisation is a good sign.

Crack in the garage could be a problem, talk to the surveyor and see if they have any ideas where it's come from. Though it was going to be a big problem no doubt he would have talked to you about it during your initial call.

As for asbestos it's present in many houses built in the early 90s or before. It's not really a problem as generally it's low-grade stuff embedded in another material (plaster or concrete usually). You just need to ensure you don't disturb it (say drill or sand it) and it's not a problem.

societys_child

‘possible asbestos in artex plasters’

There may be asbestos in some Artex, and it's in millions of homes.
You can repaint etc, just need to take care if you start scrapping it off or something.
Remember surveyors cover their backsides in these reports.
What else is bothering you?

Ellen016

Thank you everyone for your replies. We've just spoken to the EA and they have also said they always read worse then they are. One thing that did bother me was the mention of some of the ceilings in the bedrooms


'We are of the opinion that significant areas of repair and replacement are required


to the ceilings in the property. There is a lot of cracking most of which is historic in


nature but there is a quite significant sag in some of the ceilings particularly


bedroom one. We have previously mentioned at F1 that some of the joist hangers


have become detached and this is the possible cause for this together with the


fact that the ceilings have been walked upon in the loft.'


Could this be a cause for concern? Thank you

societys_child

The saggy ceiling would be higher up my "things to have look at list" than the Artex.
Having said that, I wouldn't be unduly worried, there are a number of reasonably cheap ways the joists could be strengthened (if necessary) depending on the roof construction. (maybe the hangers just need re-attaching?)

Edit: As the surveyor has said the house is "fine" I think you may be worrying a little too much.

AnotherJoe

I'd be worrying about saggy ceiling and the big crack in garage. Everything else sounds like typical overreaction / bottom covering.

G_M

I treat these surveys as surving 2 functions:

1) highlight major issues that might make me either
a) withdraw from the purchase, or
b) re-negotiate the price

2) give me a useful overview of my new home, and jobs that will/may need doing (either DIY or contractors) in the short, medium or long term once I own.

You need to be able to distinguish between the two!

So the written report may highlight lots of things which, as well as 'covering the surveyor's backside, is very useful to you for 2) above.

In this case, the surveyor has also verbally reassured you, so that suggests everything (other than the crack?) falls within 2) above.

And the crack is in the garage, not the house, so less critical (is it a detached garage?)

glasgowdan

Read their wording carefully and you will start to pick up which bits are standard text across all reports they do, and which bits are actually specific to this house. A lot of what they say is rubbish and doesn't apply but they copy and paste the text in to cover their backsides.