Timber-framed house - desktop valuation?

ukri

The banks valuation is for them. Idiots pumping insulation (which later gets soaked) into the cavity on timber framed buildings is a real risk and it’s on you as a buyer to do your due diligence to avoid buying a dud, the bank will look after itself.

alanyau88

@leypt1  From your answers, and playing the devils advocate, I feel that I have to tell you that there will be mortgage-ability problems in the future.  Unfortunately most lenders will only lend to timber framed houses if the outer skin is made of brick or block.  The fact that your outer skin seems to be made of UPVC cladding does not bode well with lenders.  Even if the usual lenders of timber framed houses such as Halifax and Nationwide may still lend now, they may not in five years time.  

Getting specialist survey's may not always help as my experience of some of them are that they will not know what the construction is or just take your word for what you assume it may be.  They may have to make invasive surveys such as drilling though holes into the ceiling or floorboards to look at the parts that are holding the house together.  If you already know it is timber framed house, then it is most likely the case that it is timber framed house and they would not be able to confirm positively what type of construction it is.  What they can confirm is that whether the house would be still be standing in 25 years time.  

You may be able to find out by going to your council planning department to make enquiries and if necessary view any microfiche architecture plans of the property.  You can also make enquiries with neighbour's who had purchased decades ago and may be able to provide you with a surveyors report on the construction type.  But even if you do find out, is that going to help you in your ultimate aim which is to ensure the property is completely mortgage-able.  My opinion is that it won't be and you will face some push back in the future when you come to sell.  A buyer would ask exactly the same questions as you are asking now.  

I own a timber framed house and I have no issues with it at all however I do realise that it is more difficult to get a mortgage on it than a bricks and mortar house.  So ask yourself if the property is worth the amount you are paying and if it is already below market value and if it is, is it still worth going through with this given what you know about the property in relation to sale-ability in the future?