Price re-negotiation based on building survey

Caz3121

what was the valuation put on the survey? (which will be based on the current condition of the property) how does this compare to your offer?
If the valuation was £200k (including hairline cracks etc) and the offer is £200k then can't see how there would be any need for a renegotiation on price

AdrianC

Petermaxwell said:

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

You're an FTB...? Really? We never would have guessed.

Honestly, you're in cloud cuckoo land if you think any vendor is going to entertain renegotiation based on "But I'd like a burglar alarm" - would you like a swimming pool, too? Maybe a sauna? Heliport?

Insulation guidelines change all the time. As do wiring standards, disability access standards, and a whole variety of other aspects of buildings regs.

And, yes, hairline cracking is perfectly normal and purely cosmetic.

What did the surveyor say about the value relative to the accepted offer?

comeandgo

If it was my house you were buying you would be told no, and house would be on the market again.  If you were trying to get money off for those things then I would have no confidence in you as a serious buyer.

warby68

You have a very good report there and make no mistake, the vendors will know their house is in good condition.
There is nothing there to negotiate on and even mentioning those things is likely to elicit a negative response. 
The key thing is the value versus the agreed offer - what is that? 
If by any chance it is lower, renegotiate for that reason if you want to but don't factor in the items you have listed as they are petty.

D.L

If these are the biggest issues on your survey, this is the best survey I have ever seen.

eidand

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. No, you want them you pay for them

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. Same as above, you want that, you pay for it

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?). Fix these yourself, costs like a tenner

You can of course try these on, but you risk being told to take a walk. I would definitely tell you where to go and house would be back on the market in an instant.

Hasbeen

Petermaxwell said:

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.

First time buyer LOL. You are entitled to try and negotiate on the silly "minor defects" but you will look ER: silly?

And seller will classify you an "   " not allowed to say, but probably not a serious buyer?

Op I would walk away ASAP just to save the sellers problems and to let the house get sold to a more sensible buyer.

[Deleted User]

3 grand for fixing hairline cracks are you having a laugh? Thats something even the most incompetent of DIY'ers can manage to do. 

Burglar alarms are NOT essential. Majority of homes do not have them. And you can pick up a smoke alarm for as little as a fiver.

Whoever is advising you on this you need to stop listening to them immediately. 

Chilli6

I'm awaiting the results of my report and will be over the moon if it comes back similar to yours!! Can't imagine a better one to be honest.
Even my previous new build had hairline cracks and no burglar/fire alarm.
Things to negotiate on in my opinion are roof needs replacing, whole rewire needed etc. 

Falafels

I agree with everyone above. £3250 to repair hairline cracks which you've already been told indicate no structural defects? Really??? Will you be requesting a reduction of £2000 to get the windows cleaned while you're at it?

Seriously, though, relax and enjoy your purchase, secure in the knowledge that there's nothing significantly wrong with the house. Don't jeopardise the transaction by trying to beat down your vendor with this sort of nonsense!