why would vendor delay damp & timber survey?

illusionek

Hello

I am at the stage where I am very close to exchange of contracts, which the EAs and vendor are aware of. The results of structural survey confirmed issue with damp and potentially some issues with the timber. So I wanted to carry out damp&timber survey. Initially my request was denied but when I stood my ground the EAs has agreed. I instructed the surveyor to get in touch and agree the inspection date and I was just told it is at the end of April. Apparently no other day is convenient for the vendors.

Obviously there is something going on here but cant really understand what a month would give them, any ideas? I am trying to assess my situation to figure out what to do next but I can't make head nor tail of this situation.

Thrugelmir

Tell the EA you wish to view other properties. In case this one falls through. That should rattle the vendors cage.

Hoploz

They are delaying in the hope you'll decide you can't wait that long, and go ahead without the survey.

illusionek

I made it very clear I am not going to go ahead without a survey, was also thinking about rattling the cage or just saying that I will pull out my offer. However I do not want to put myself in a situation where I say it and then dont follow through as it would be just silly. So I am just trying to figure out where they just dont care whats going to happen or if there is an ongoing issue at the property and a month would give the enough time to hide it from the surveyor and once completed I would need to deal with it. I spoke with some other people and no-one ever came across so silly situation.

rach_k

Do they have children who may be home from school over Easter? I'd always prefer to have people poking around the house while the kids are safely locked up at school. Or might they be going away for the Easter holidays?

AnotherJoe

I would certainly start looking elsewhere in earnest, not just as a tactic. I think post 3 has the most likely reason, that they hope you'll give up on a survey and take a chance. So that says that most likely there is something very nasty lurking.

If they were to deliberately conceal something that would leave them open to all sorts of issues so I think that is unlikely.

DigForVictory

Are they hoping that Brexit will put the price up?

Honestly, you do get some right numpties selling houses! (We loved buyers wanting surveys At Once - strong sign of *commitment*!)

theartfullodger

They are furiously drying the place out & hiding evidence of woodworm/dry-rot/wet-rot..

Beware!

waamo

Judging from your previous thread on this they do sound very reluctant to let an independent survey be done.

Call me cynical but I would be very suspicious.