Price re-negotiation based on building survey

Petermaxwell

Recently, I received the building survey report from a qualified surveyor and I would like to re-negotiate the price with the seller. In general, the house is in reasonable condition with some minor defects. However, I am not sure which of the following items are consider to be reasonable for the negotiation. Here are the quotes I obtained from the surveyor.

1.     Installation of fire and burglary alarm (£300):  The current house does not have any of those in place while I believe those are essential.

2.     Loft repair/upgrade (£1000): The insulation within loft is below the recommended guidelines, surveyor suggested that should be thickened. Besides, the electrical cables was chased through existing insulation and this may lead to fire risk.

3.     Hairline cracks on wall/ ceiling(£3250): There are couple hairline cracks found but with no major structural defects. Base on the severity of these cracks, I believe it is hard to justify this affects the overall quality of the house and therefore maybe hard to use it for negotiation. (But still worth trying?)

As I am a first time buyer, I am not sure what will the best strategy to re-negotiate the selling price and would like have your opinions. If you have any experience on this, please share your story with me. Thank you lots.

NameUnavailable

Presumably fire/burglar alarms and cracks in plasterwork are things you (should have) spotted when viewing and were taken into account in your offer.

The fact there aren't fire/burglar alarms might be essential for you but then so might a swimming pool.

Personally I don't think any of these points are grounds for renegotiation. You can of course try but what will you do if the seller declines to reduce the price?

hazyjo

Good luck finding a house without hairline cracks!

Alarms are totally your preference. Absolutely not essential.

Forget the loft insulation.

Only things there which at a huge stretch may help get a reduction are electrics, but that's doubtful. You'd have to pay for an electrical report.

What was it valued at by your lender? If the price you're paying, I'd say no to a reduction.

Majoggy

I really don't think any of those warrant renegotiation. 

FreeBear

Loft insulation - A couple of hundred quid for a few rolls of rockwool and an afternoon putting it down. Or wait until September and try to get some of these government vouchers. Certainly no where near £1k of work.

The wiring will have been installed in accordance with the relevant regulations in force at the time. Any cables running through insulation would have been selected so that they pose no risk - If in doubt, get a qualified electrician in to check.

Burglar & fire alarm ?? You will have smoke alarms - Asking for a reduction will likely elicit ridicule.

An odd hairline crack is to be expected even in a new build. So arm yourself with a tub of filler and a tin of paint.

Slithery

As all of this would have been visible when viewing I don't think you have a case for renegotiating.

jaxkesa

Good luck! Surely all of this was apparent when you submitted your offer? Don't forget to deduct £1000 if the wall colour is not to your liking.

billy2shots

Pop the corks and celebrate. That is a fantastic survey report if that's all that's mentioned. Great house by the sound of things. 


Oh, no real legitimate reason to negotiate either. 

Splatfoot

That's a great survey. No house is perfect. 

ElizabethRose

If it was my property I wouldn't renegotiate based on that. Also the quote for the hairline cracks is laughable, a bit of filler, sanding and time job done. The burglar alarm is personal, we have cctv but if we moved I wouldn't be using that as a reason to reduce the price after the survey as I'd have factored it in originally. I think as others have said it sounds like a decent house if they're the only issues. 

RelievedSheff

I don't think you have any grounds for renegotiation at all there. If that is all the surveyor has picked up it sounds like a house in very good order.

The alarms are personal preference and in no way a detriment to the property. You can't expect a vendor to pay for your preferences.

Loft insulation you can easily top up yourself for a few hundred quid tops.

Cracks in plaster are to be expected in any house. Plaster is very brittle and cracks readily. The OH has recently been around our 1 year old new build and filled cracks in every room in the house. It is a very easy DIY job and requires a tub of filler and some paint.