Crack outside house. Should I place offer?

jimbog

EddyBaloch wrote: »

Can you please elaborate why you think this way? It seems in a nice neighborhood with easy access to train station.

Look at post #13 and post #31 is particularly insightful

Doozergirl

EddyBaloch wrote: »

Thank you so much for your insights. I will do what people have suggested and get a structural engineer with me for viewing. That is the best way.

As I was explaining to another member, I know I sound dumb about houses and that's because I have got not a single friend or family member who owns a house in UK. However, I will get a most comprehensive survey done anyways which should help.

So far the agent has confirmed
- No insurance claims against the house/ subsistence issues
- Chimney in original place
- Crack is rendering (I will confirm through my own structural engineer)

I want to ask you one more thing. There are a couple of trees in the back garden.
[Removed] One large about 70 feet and the other about 30 feet from the house.
Do you have any advice for this?

The rule of thumb with trees is to imagine that the roots spread out as far as the tree is high. So if you laid the tree down with the trunk starting from the same place as it is now and pointed it towards the house, would it touch it? If it wouldn't then they are totally unconnected.

Those trees are nowhere near the house and nothing to do with the crack.

Even if the trees were closer to the house and within the margin I suggested, it doesn't mean there is going to be a problem. .

The question insurers ask, I think, is whether there are trees over 10 metres tall with 5 metres of the house. That's a lot of tolerance! You see how that little tree at the front wouldn't bother them at all.

EddyBaloch

Doozergirl wrote: »

The rule of thumb with trees is to imagine that the roots spread out as far as the tree is high. So if you laid the tree down with the trunk starting from the same place as it is now and pointed it towards the house, would it touch it? If it wouldn't then they are totally unconnected.
.

Thanks again. Structural Engineer booked. Your insights have been immensely helpful.

Doozergirl

Let us know how you get on, please?

coolman_2

Also you may struggle to a mortgage on the property with those cracks.

Doozergirl

coolman wrote: »

Also you may struggle to a mortgage on the property with those cracks.

Not if it turns out to be rendering cracks or even a wall tie problem. This is why the OP is getting the structural engineer out first!

EddyBaloch

Doozergirl wrote: »

Let us know how you get on, please?

Update: Only minor rendering problem confirmed by the structural engineer.
Thank you all of you for your inputs.

Okay next question. What type(s) of survey do you suggest for this 1950s house?

Mickygg

If it was me? Full structural buildings survey every time unless a new build. It's a few hundred quid more expensive than a homebuyers but well worth it IMO.

stator

1950s you really need to know the construction method, ie brick and block or concrete (wimpey no-fines, laing easi-form) and get a structural survey from someone who knows about that type of house.
I don't recognise it, it's got a huge roof space. You can often tell the construction method by looking at the walls in the loft

EddyBaloch

Mickygg wrote: »

If it was me? Full structural buildings survey every time unless a new build. It's a few hundred quid more expensive than a homebuyers but well worth it IMO.

Thanks. I agree. I will go for a full building survey and a proper structural engineer report for the crack.

I have two questions at this stage.

1) Fellow members suggested going on the RCIS website to find a surveyor. But there are no quotes. Is there a trustworthy comparison site where I can compare chartered surveyor quotes?

2)Should I wait for mortgage decision before I arrange for surveys?

Should I wait for the mortgage decision to come first?