Nasty surprise on homebuyer survey.. what to do now?

IAmWales

Cakeguts wrote: »

It wouldn't be my dream house either. If you didn't know that was the front of the house you wouldn't be able to tell. It isn't what I would describe as an attractive house is it? This kind of house is what I always think looks like a garage with a house attached because the first thing you see is the garage door.

I assume that this house is what a friend of mine would call "good value for money?" It is cheaper than many of the more attractive houses or houses in a better area? It won't matter how much money you spend on this house it will have an upper limit in value that is less than a similar sized house in the same area that looks nicer.

The reason why you have got a garage and a driveway for the price you are paying is because this house is cheap for a reason. The reasons could be it will cost more to repair than it is ever going to be worth. People don't repair them because they have had to stretch themselves to buy the house in the first place because this is the most they can afford and they don't have any money over for repairs. This means that there are going to be other houses in that style that are in a poor state of repair.

When you park in front of the garage with bags of shopping you are going to have to carry them up all those steps possibly in pouring rain. Now compare this to a probably much more expensive house where the driveway goes up to the front of the house and you get your shopping out near to the front door. Which do you think people would prefer? If the majority of people would prefer the drive to go up to near the front door of the house that reduces the number of people looking for a house like this one which is why the price is "good value for money." This is always going to be a cheap property compared. So however much you spend on it you are going to have to sell it cheap. How cheap will depend on the supply of houses that look nicer.

This is nonsense.

It's not a pretty house but who cares, how long do you spend stood outside admiring it?

Looking at Rightmove £135K is pretty average for the area, so at £130K it's not a bad buy at all. I can't see any reason why you suggest it is "cheap for a reason", for the area it is neither cheap nor expensive.

Steps up to the door? Shocker! Many homes have garages further away than that.

As for the interior (which is what really matters), it has a workable layout and good size rooms. It would make for a lovely family home.

Cakeguts

teddysmum wrote: »

Our large estate is 1970s and in the last 40 odd years have noticed no work done on roof tiles (unless extensions over garages were added) but most have had replacement soffits and drainpipes; not an expensive job

My parents lived in a house built in the middle 60s and some of the lintels were a major problem. It didn't seem to matter how you had them repaired they always leaked water into the house if the wind was blowing rain onto the house. My guess is that it was something to do with the way that the house was constructed at the time. When the house was sold the new owner extended the front of the house. The problem lintels were at the front of the house.

Cakeguts

IAmWales wrote: »

This is nonsense.

It's not a pretty house but who cares, how long do you spend stood outside admiring it?

Looking at Rightmove £135K is pretty average for the area, so at £130K it's not a bad buy at all. I can't see any reason why you suggest it is "cheap for a reason", for the area it is neither cheap nor expensive.

Steps up to the door? Shocker! Many homes have garages further away than that.

As for the interior (which is what really matters), it has a workable layout and good size rooms. It would make for a lovely family home.

How much research have you done on what kind of property people prefer? I am a landlord and I know for a fact that people prefer to be able to drive up to the front of the house to unload shopping and children from a car.

This house has the equivalent parking in the street. Yes the garage belongs to the house and yes there is off street parking but it is further away than from many houses if you parked in the street.

I wouldn't buy this house as a buy to let. It doesn't fit my research of what tenants are looking for. So if a house like this is going to be difficult to let what on earth does that mean for selling it?

ses6jwg

Thanks for the replies unfortunately we are constrained by a budget

EachPenny

I kind of agree with Cakeguts, lots of properties have steps up to them, but a long flight like that is a nightmare with children and a nightmare for elderly people. Also the garage is at a lower level than the surrounding ground at the rear so you can expect to have problems with damp.

The surveyor's report mentions cracking associated with the lintels, but as the property is built on a slope there is always the potential for future surveyors to link the cracking to movement of the slope (not necessarily what is actually happening) - which may make the property difficult to sell on.

ses6jwg wrote: »

If im honest were tempted to walk away. It's not our dream home and properties are coming up all the time

I wouldn't walk away just because of the steps, nor the general appearance of the house, but the combination of that plus the lintels, plus the possibility of roof issues all adds up, and maybe you already know that in your heart but just need the confirmation from someone else?

If other properties in your price range are coming up then personally I'd look for something else. Hope you find it

teddysmum

Cakeguts wrote: »

My parents lived in a house built in the middle 60s and some of the lintels were a major problem. It didn't seem to matter how you had them repaired they always leaked water into the house if the wind was blowing rain onto the house. My guess is that it was something to do with the way that the house was constructed at the time. When the house was sold the new owner extended the front of the house. The problem lintels were at the front of the house.

A lot depends on the builder. Ours was built by Seddon for whom my father worked. They were always fussy about the work force and used good materials. (This was in the days when run personally by the founder and his sons, but they are still going and houses seem to sell quickly.)


At the time, you could spot their estates/house groups, as window frames etc looked more substantial.

Cakeguts

ses6jwg wrote: »

Thanks for the replies unfortunately we are constrained by a budget

What I would suggest is that you look at houses that don't have a garage for a start. Most people don't put cars in garages they are just used for storage. See if you can get something without steps. It takes a lot of looking but I am sure that something will come up that suits you better and doesn't have all the maintenance problems that this one has. Good luck.

ses6jwg

Spoke to the agent today...

Turns out the vendors knew abut the lintels issue surprise surprise and are getting quotes as we speak. They've invited us to get quotes as well.

As for the roof they've said we are welcome to get it checked.

Think they're found another property and are keen for the sale to proceed.

It's making me cagey though. It's highlighted that maintenance has been slack so what else is wrong that we can see?

martinsurrey

ses6jwg wrote: »

It's making me cagey though. It's highlighted that maintenance has been slack so what else is wrong that we can see?

If that survey has made you think that, please buy a new build, or you'll be wasting more money on other surveys.

n217970

Just to jump in on the steps issue - Steps like this means it wont flood