Survey results, advice on chimney, hot water, electrics

Davesnave

datimms wrote: »

T Just not clear what trade to approach, whether to split it up or provide as one big job.

As I said earlier, jobs like verges, pointing and lead flashing are all within the scope of a good general builder.

We've had all these jobs and more done on our bungalow in the past year. They aren't terribly tricky, unless you find bats!

Davesnave

jingles8384 wrote: »

We had a full structural survey completed and LOADS of things came out (around 30 from memory) but if you can ask the estate agent to arrange for the relevant tradespeople to have a look and provide estimates before you complete/exchange, you'll have an idea of what you're getting yourself into (as well as formal estimates you can use in future if you want to)...

I'm not sure all agents provide the service you describe, but even if they do, I'd be wary of taking the estimates of someone in a business relationship with the EA too seriously.

I would want an assessment by someone independent and free from possible conflicts of interest.

After all, estimates are just educated guesses and not binding. It's amazing how jobs can and do lead to further work, once started.

Kynthia

You aren't buying a new build so a survey is always going to find stuff, especially things that are ongoing maintenance a property requires periodically. Plus regulations change over time and it's unfair to hold past work to current standards that didn't exist then. You aren't going to get money off for these things as they don't change the value of the property.

The items listed under services are red because the surveyor isn't qualified to assess them so it's up to you whether you pay an expert to take a look at them.

The amber things are just warnings that something isntb 'correct' and could cause an issue however it doesn't appear to have done so at the moment, or it's maintenance items you'll need to fix in the future if you become the property owner but they aren't urgent and don't need doing yet. It would probably be a good idea to get some ventilation put on the roof and chimney breathing but these aren't massive or expensive jobs and they aren't urgent.

So the only issues of concern are the two main red issues. Either get someone to quote for reporting the chimney and sorting the damp issue in the breast (possibly just some ventilation and something to prevent rainwater getting down the chimney). Or carry on withing the purchase having mentally put aside a grand or two fir things to be done once it's yours. The property was valued at what you're paying for it so that's reassuring.

Just pass the issue about the WC to your solicitor to deal with.