Survey before selling?

landgirl100

I'm hoping to put my house on the market soon. It's a 1920's house with some problems and not in perfect decorative order. Do people think it would be worthwhile getting a survey done myself, so that I know the kind of issues that will be raised by potential buyers? I don't want the hassle of doing repairs etc myself, I would rather price the house realistically and let the buyer do up the house the way they want to. I understand that surveyors are often valuers as well. I feel as though estate agent valuations are often pitched to get the business rather than pricing to sell, is that true?

tom9980

landgirl100 wrote: »

I'm hoping to put my house on the market soon. It's a 1920's house with some problems and not in perfect decorative order. Do people think it would be worthwhile getting a survey done myself, so that I know the kind of issues that will be raised by potential buyers? I don't want the hassle of doing repairs etc myself, I would rather price the house realistically and let the buyer do up the house the way they want to. I understand that surveyors are often valuers as well. I feel as though estate agent valuations are often pitched to get the business rather than pricing to sell, is that true?

Not all Estate Agents operate that way no, if you get 3 or 4 in to value it and say you want it to sell within a certain time frame most will understand you are not looking for maximum value and price the property realistically to sell.

eddddy

So if your survey shows up problems which you don't want to fix, what will you do?

- Volunteer details of the problems to buyers?
- Say nothing and hope that the buyer (and their surveyor) doesn't find them?
- Say nothing and act surprised if the buyer finds them?

landgirl100

I thought that I would be up front with the work that needs doing and explain that the price takes that into account. Seems somehow better than letting a buyer discover all the defects themselves then either withdraw or perhaps over-reduce their offer. Am I naive?
The reason I don't want to do or commission work myself is down to health and stress. Moving is enough on its own!

nimbo

I'm looking to buy at some point soon.

Personally all prices I'm seeing online - even if tagged with offers is excess of £xxxxxxx I'd be considering offering less than that number. If the survey then came back saying ps it needs lots of little things doing i'd accept that. if extensive works needed doing then I'd be considering knocking down the price unless I didn't want to face the disruption of getting the issue fixed. However the doer uppers online are not my bag. I skip straight over them. I've lived in a building site and didn't like it so wouldn't choose it again. Also not my Mothers bag. However she still bought one as she fell in love with it before she found out the issues that needed looking at. I don't think the seller was not truthful - but had they marketed it as a doer upper she never would have viewed.

It's up to you - the buyer would need their own survey of some description anyway - and if their survey found anything yours had not would they still try to knock the price down?

I'm expecting my survey to highlight issues and will react accordingly - and I think someone pointing out the double glazing was blown and the electrics need redoing and the roof leaks would just distract me from falling love with it. So probably a good idea in reality - but it might dissuade people who think with their hearts. I'd also probably be wondering what you were distracting me from? you point out the need for a few tiles - but secretly the cellar fills
With sewage when it rains?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

I wouldn't bother - I'd prefer to save myself a few hundred quid. All but the most green of buyers will expect the survey to throw up a few issues.

hazyjo

Definitely wouldn't. Market realistically and drop to sell and maybe after survey. They might not even get one done if the house needs that much doing as they may be doing it up themselves if competent.

Ignorance can be bliss when selling! Buyer Beware, not Seller Declare. Not being sneaky, it's just the way it's done.

Jx

glasgowdan

I don't think it'll be money spent usefully. Buyers will get their own surveys anyway. Not to mention a general home survey is pretty poor in accuracy and technical content and are viewed by many (including me) as an incredible waste of money. They'll get things wrong,make vague assumptions and highlight things you already know. Then cover everything with reams of caveats including "doesn't meet current regulations", "degree of upgrade required", "not inspected on this occasion" and "should be inspected by a specialist surveyor"

landgirl100

Thanks to all, I won't bother then!