Frustrated - buyers pulled out due to standard surveyr responses

davilown

So probably more of a rant than questions. Proceeding well until the survey - red on electrics, gas and insulation, and outside new render. Caveated by surveyor as he can’t test them.
we supplied gas safety cert from October, building Regs and electrical safety certificate from March this year.

The insulation is a bit messy in the attic due to electrics being replaced.

The only part I do agree with them is the hairline cracks on the new render on the extension - this was done when it was relatively warm so probably my fault for doing it then. 

What to do?
Sort the insulation in the attic out (and put extra in)
Repair the render 

Im not sure I can do much else with regards to the gas and electricals to be honest - perhaps they just didn’t want to buy in the end and were looking for an excuse to pull out.

greatcrested

Every survey will show red for gas and electrics as the surveyor cannot test them so advises separate reports. Nothing you can do except get your agent to try to explain to jittery FTB that this is normal, and if they want to test them they can.

As you say, the buyers may just be using this as an excuse.

Insulation is ridiculous. Even if there were no insulation that's not a reason to pull out. Insulation is cheap and easy to fix. So as above.

Cracks in render can cause a problem if water gets in behind the render and then obviously can't get out. So can end up penetrating the wall and causing internal damp. But 'hairline'? Unlikely to happen, but should be easy to fill the gaps. Again, not really a reason to withdraw.

These were either very jittery FTBs who will pull out of every purchase as every survey will show some isues on an old (as in not brand new build) property, or they just changed their minds and used the survey as an excuse.

A frequent problem is people misunderstand surveys. Both the severity of issues highlighted, and also the purpose of the survey. Yes, sometimes it can highlight a major issue that is reason either to withdraw or renegotiate price, but 9 times out of 10 it should simply be used as a helpful 'to do' list of maintenance and improvements a new owner should consider (eg spend a weekend improving the loft insulation!).

davilown

Thanks that’s my feelings exactly. Will spend the weekend tidying up the insulation and sorting the hairline cracks.

Not FTB either - just haven’t moved house in 36 years.

FTB_Help

davilown said:

Thanks that’s my feelings exactly. Will spend the weekend tidying up the insulation and sorting the hairline cracks.

Not FTB either - just haven’t moved house in 36 years.

Did they pay at asking price/ above? If so they may have factored in that these survey issues wouldn't be brought up.

I was accepted 25k below asking price and my survey brought up a few issues (windows, some damp, a slipped purlin, strengthening needed on the gallow brackets) and i accepted these issues and am proceeding with the purchase as im getting it for 25k below asking/market value. However if i paid the asking price i would have definitely gone back to renegotiate or possibly pull out as window replacements aren't cheap.

Would you be willing to renegotiate on price to get everything back on track again?

davilown

FTB_Help said:

davilown said:

Thanks that’s my feelings exactly. Will spend the weekend tidying up the insulation and sorting the hairline cracks.

Not FTB either - just haven’t moved house in 36 years.

Did they pay at asking price/ above? If so they may have factored in that these survey issues wouldn't be brought up.

I was accepted 25k below asking price and my survey brought up a few issues (windows, some damp, a slipped purlin, strengthening needed on the gallow brackets) and i accepted these issues and am proceeding with the purchase as im getting it for 25k below asking/market value. However if i paid the asking price i would have definitely gone back to renegotiate or possibly pull out as window replacements aren't cheap.

Would you be willing to renegotiate on price to get everything back on track again?

Of course we would - it’ll only cost ~ £1000 to sort the cracking and the insulation out. The rest is already sorted with the gas and electric certificates

greatcrested

davilown said:

FTB_Help said:

davilown said:

Thanks that’s my feelings exactly. Will spend the weekend tidying up the insulation and sorting the hairline cracks.

Not FTB either - just haven’t moved house in 36 years.

Did they pay at asking price/ above? If so they may have factored in that these survey issues wouldn't be brought up.

I was accepted 25k below asking price and my survey brought up a few issues (windows, some damp, a slipped purlin, strengthening needed on the gallow brackets) and i accepted these issues and am proceeding with the purchase as im getting it for 25k below asking/market value. However if i paid the asking price i would have definitely gone back to renegotiate or possibly pull out as window replacements aren't cheap.

Would you be willing to renegotiate on price to get everything back on track again?

Of course we would - it’ll only cost ~ £1000 to sort the cracking and the insulation out. The rest is already sorted with the gas and electric certificates

£1000?

!!!!??

Sounds like half a days work to fill the cracks. £100?

Insulation you could 'straighten' yourself in a couple of hours. £0? Or £50 to buy another layer and lay on top.

davilown

greatcrested said:

davilown said:

FTB_Help said:

davilown said:

Thanks that’s my feelings exactly. Will spend the weekend tidying up the insulation and sorting the hairline cracks.

Not FTB either - just haven’t moved house in 36 years.

Did they pay at asking price/ above? If so they may have factored in that these survey issues wouldn't be brought up.

I was accepted 25k below asking price and my survey brought up a few issues (windows, some damp, a slipped purlin, strengthening needed on the gallow brackets) and i accepted these issues and am proceeding with the purchase as im getting it for 25k below asking/market value. However if i paid the asking price i would have definitely gone back to renegotiate or possibly pull out as window replacements aren't cheap.

Would you be willing to renegotiate on price to get everything back on track again?

Of course we would - it’ll only cost ~ £1000 to sort the cracking and the insulation out. The rest is already sorted with the gas and electric certificates

£1000?

!!!!??

Sounds like half a days work to fill the cracks. £100?

Insulation you could 'straighten' yourself in a couple of hours. £0? Or £50 to buy another layer and lay on top.

I know that - just being generous!

FTB_Help

davilown said:

greatcrested said:

davilown said:

FTB_Help said:

davilown said:

Thanks that’s my feelings exactly. Will spend the weekend tidying up the insulation and sorting the hairline cracks.

Not FTB either - just haven’t moved house in 36 years.

Did they pay at asking price/ above? If so they may have factored in that these survey issues wouldn't be brought up.

I was accepted 25k below asking price and my survey brought up a few issues (windows, some damp, a slipped purlin, strengthening needed on the gallow brackets) and i accepted these issues and am proceeding with the purchase as im getting it for 25k below asking/market value. However if i paid the asking price i would have definitely gone back to renegotiate or possibly pull out as window replacements aren't cheap.

Would you be willing to renegotiate on price to get everything back on track again?

Of course we would - it’ll only cost ~ £1000 to sort the cracking and the insulation out. The rest is already sorted with the gas and electric certificates

£1000?

!!!!??

Sounds like half a days work to fill the cracks. £100?

Insulation you could 'straighten' yourself in a couple of hours. £0? Or £50 to buy another layer and lay on top.

I know that - just being generous!

If you’re still willing to proceed go back and tell them you'll knock off £1k so they can rectify the issues when they move in, alternatively offer to get the "issues" fixed yourself

princeofpounds

If they are using this as an excuse, they probably just wanted out of the deal. Your EA would/should have patiently explained to them about the survey issues being universal, and asked them to confirm with the surveyor

davilown

princeofpounds said:

If they are using this as an excuse, they probably just wanted out of the deal. Your EA would/should have patiently explained to them about the survey issues being universal, and asked them to confirm with the surveyor

By all accounts they - as did the surveryor but they were just fixated on the 3 / RED.  I think they just wanted an easy out. 

easy come easy go