Valuation issues - should I walk away

mobidavid

Hi,

FTB here, looking for some advice. I recently put an offer in on a house, the offer which was accepted was reasonable (but not a great deal by any means). The valuation (a home buyers report) had a category 3 issue on damp (multiple walls lower level). On viewing there's no sign of the damp, and the vendor claims his valuation (not too long ago) showed no damp issues (his was only a level 1 survey). In addition there was a category 2 on the roof basically saying some daylight and might need some externel work soon. The valution given did match the asking price though. The EA suggests I pay for a damp survey at my expense to move forward. The property has been recently refurbished, perhaps to hide the damp issue, but in general to a high standard.

Being honest this isn't my 'forever home' - it just ticks the boxes for me at the moment. Equally I like to treat people with respect and don't want to mess around the vendor or EA. Between various fees I'm already £700 :mad: or so in the hole on this so wanting to make a decision.

I guess the question is should I just walk away, suck up that £700 or try to work with the EA / vendor to try and rectify the damp issue?

Thanks, :beer:

Mobi

FreeBear

mobidavid wrote: »

The valuation (a home buyers report) had a category 3 issue on damp (multiple walls lower level). On viewing there's no sign of the damp, and the vendor claims his valuation (not too long ago) showed no damp issues

The EA suggests I pay for a damp survey at my expense to move forward.

Talk to the surveyor and ask how he concluded there was a problem with damp - If he used an electronic damp meter, treat any conclusions with a great deal of scepticism - These meters do not give a true reading of damp levels in walls as different materials can and do affect the readings. https://www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/the-ping-prong-meter-guilty-of-fraud.html

If you want to pay for a damp survey, that is entirely up to you. Find yourself an independent surveyor who does not have any links to a damp treatment company and steer well clear of any PCA registered ones - The PCA is the trade body for the damp proofing industry, so there is bound to be a conflict of interests if a surveyor claims to be independent and is also a PCA member.

What ever you do, don't get one of these "free" surveys done. It will most certainly find all sorts of damp problems and recommend several expensive and pointless "cures".

Daylight visible through the tiles - A lot of older houses are like that. As long as the roof structure is sound, it is nothing to worry about. The gaps aid in ventilating the roof space.
As long as the tiles are all in place, any flashing is secure, the roof shouldn't be a cause for concern.

ThePants999

The valuation matched the asking price. Why would you walk away? The surveyor is saying it's worth what you're paying for it despite the issues.

Depending on your level of risk aversion, there are two sensible approaches from this point:
1. Just buy the damn house. Once you own it, maybe do some work.
2. Pay for a damp survey so you know what lies ahead of you. If it's not too bad, buy the damn house. Once you own it, maybe do some work.