Problem with wall not picked up in Homebuyers Report

AnotherJoe

Very similar experience to others here with my first purchase, missed the "biggie" (the roof was shot) and told me useless stuff such as, crack in concrete front path leading up to door, and had more caveats than a Microsoft Software License agreement.

Didn't bother with surveys after that.

Replastering the wall the OP has referred to will likely cost no more than £200.

Haylescom

I was home when our buyers' surveyor came round. He took some photos and walked around for 20 minutes maximum. Spent the next 20 minutes talking into his dictaphone about what he'd found (the house has storage heaters, maybe get some new ones, the walls are artexed so maybe take that off, the electrics should be checked, I couldn't really see the roof so get that checked etc...). His biggest portion of time was spent showing me pictures of his son!

I bought that house as a FTB and the survey didn't get help at all. The big thing I missed that they missed too was there were no light fittings in the living room, so I spent my first night on the floor with a lava lamp! I don't think our buyers noticed either so I left them a free-standing floor lamp to get them through!

martindow

In my experience, the surveyor spent most of his time photographing and noting the positioning of furniture, etc. to cover himself in case the client came back about something he'd missed. My buyer spent a lot extra for a more complete survey than standard and was shocked at how little real information it contained.

nLdn

Thanks for comments on this.

Just to be clear, this isnt the case of something being behind a chair or under a rug like has been suggested (and is often talked about on these threads), the bulge in the wall is pretty apparent.

As an update: a partner from the Surveyors firm visited last week to take a look. I expect to hear from them this week. He suggested that as the problem isnt "structural" and is more "decorative" then this wouldn't have been noted (when other, less vital things imo were).

I wont hold my breath.

AdrianC

nLdn wrote: »

Just to be clear, this isnt the case of something being behind a chair or under a rug like has been suggested (and is often talked about on these threads), the bulge in the wall is pretty apparent.

Bookcase, wardrobe?

nLdn

There was absolutely nothing in the way when it was inspected by the surveyor. no furniture in the whole flat.

Here's a pic I took a couple of weeks ago

AdrianC

nLdn wrote: »

There was absolutely nothing in the way when it was inspected by the surveyor. no furniture in the whole flat.

Here's a pic I took a couple of weeks ago

It certanly looks very noticeable... Was it there when you initially viewed the flat?

csgohan4

does it appear or feel wet? is there a leak above? any coffee staining appearance?

nLdn

I had only viewed once before the Homebuyers Report was done and didnt notice it - there was a lot to take in.

AdrianC - I sense you're probably going to go along the "buyer beware" route, which of course woudl be a common response. Surprise me.

Seriously though, my issue is that all advice tells us to make sure we hire surveyors and other experts to assess the condition of properties ahead of sale and notify us of any issues that are likely to cause us extra cost post sale. I did that and this wasn't flagged. In addition to the survey I got an electrician in to assess the electrics and did get some contribution towards them being made safe.

csgohan4 - its not wet. The wall is a concrete block wall with plaster board on both sides. The surveyor seems to think it has just given up after being in place for years. Theres is no evidence we can see of flooding or water issues in the past. I'm guessing the plastering was done when the flat was built by the council in the mid 70s.

AdrianC

nLdn wrote: »

In addition to the survey I got an electrician in to assess the electrics and did get some contribution towards them being made safe.

"made safe"... or "brought up to more modern standards than they were originally installed to"?

The wall is a concrete block wall with plaster board on both sides. The surveyor seems to think it has just given up after being in place for years.

I can't see that. For it to bulge out like that, it would have dropped at the top, too, as well as cracking where two boards were joined (the "hinge" in the middle) - it doesn't seem to have. There isn't even any decorative cracking. Are you sure it's plasterboard? How's it attached to this block wall? Is it bulging horizontally, as well as vertically? Plasterboard doesn't easily bend. It snaps.