In the Meantime

doingitanyway

My initial angst and action list is much less angsty now.
I've decided:

• no drains survey unless speaking to neighbours uncovers a problem
• windows appear weatherproof except for one and I will request vendors fix that one
• fireplaces will request regs
• drainpipes and gutters not treating as a major issue unless ensuite doesn't drain correctly or soil stack is an issue
• gas and electricity have safety certificates

Generally there are known issues. There will also be unknown issues. Once I have done due diligence, and I will, I will have to let those unknown issues go.

Today I raised the ensuite, where there is no water. It was confirmed the water was turned off. I used the EA rather than the solicitor. The vendors turned it on and sent a video. They will arrange for it to be on so I can inspect prior to EOC when I will also measure for curtains etc.

Heading towards the end of the week feeling more settled than I did at the start 

savingholmes

Glad you are feeling better. On the patio door - mine was a basic slider which was £1.6K - if that helps.

Skint_yet_Again

Glad you are feeling more settled and things are becoming clearer. 

I didn’t have the drains survey either 

jwil

Glad you are feeling more settled now.

MovingForwards

Not many people would have a drainage survey. Main things are, is it all connected to the main drains (shows up in water survey) and does water come out of taps and go down the plug without springing leaks while on the way to the drains.

The reports would be so much better if the surveyor said they're not qualified in (elecs) and recommend getting (an electrician report). That would cut out a lot of stress for people, especially FTB.

Everything is heading in the right direction.

WelshmansDaughter

I had the electrical check carried out after I bought my flat. I was following a list of recommendations for new home owners. 

The electrician had a specific form for it. 

doingitanyway

Thank you @Skint_yet_Again @jwil @savingholmes

Thank you @WelshmansDaughter (good point about electrical checks after...  

Thank you @MovingForwards good point about drains I will get someone else to turn on taps and drain away bathwater to see what happens when they exit the building! I'm going to do a final check prior to EOC so if anything else springs to mind please let me know  

doingitanyway

So, the nerves are back a little. Part of the process I guess..

Two of the searches are back ok. Waiting for a final one, due next week

Today I went through the survey report and divided up the actions needed now.

There are repairs identified to the back of the property, a pipe pulled away from the wall and guttering broken (both suggested immediate action by surveyor) There is also a window leak at the front of the house. The bath is not bolted to the floor and that will result in movement.

There are other issues that will come up in the near future that I can attend to.

For the repairs the report says get quotes, but then do I ask the solicitor to get the other side to address these?

There is rubbish at the back door. Looks like builders stuff. Wondering whether to ask the estate agent to get the vendor to remove or go through the solicitor.

I was going to ask the estate agent to ask the vendors to confirm if there are other stop cocks/isolators elsewhere in the house too...

Any suggestions? 

Skint_yet_Again

You are doing really well dia. 

All rubbish should be removed on completion. Maybe point it out to EA especially if vendor doesn’t live there. For repairs I got people in for quotes before exchange & got the vendor to reduce purchase price accordingly via EA, so I think it’s up to you whether you want the work done before you exchange. 

Worth asking about the stopcock via EA. I didn’t have one inside my old property & had to turn off in the street but that wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me. There may be isolator valves on taps/washing machine inlet & worth asking at same time. 

redofromstart

I only ever got the solicitor to deal with anything legal (it really depends if you are on a fixed price quote or 6 minute dings for every interaction) and I made the estate agent work for their fees otherwise.  'Prior to exchange I will want to have a final inspection of the property and will not be able to proceed if 'the rubbish is still there/etc'

urgent works are a bit different, something politely worded via the estate agent to say that the survey has identified three points that require immediate action, and that they must be completed before exchange? The risk is they say 'No, we allowed for this in our pricing, and when we accepted your offer below asking',  but that is the same via your solicitor. We took an offer on our last house but made it very very clear there would be no negotiating if the survey identified anything minor and we would have let the chain collapse before we had moved any further.