In the Meantime

Skint_yet_Again

Good luck with it all dia. What a stress for you. 

My survey has come back much the same but mine is wall ties & structural movement, extensive damp in walls & floors / joists and roof issues. Have spoken at length with the surveyor and solicitor and I have decided not to get additional surveys and walk away 😢 Second property purchase fallen through.
However the only little glimmer of good news is that I took out no costs insurance with the solicitor which was £90 and means no solicitor bill to pay. Maybe you could ask your solicitor about this going forward if you offer on another property? 

maggiem

Sorry to hear about the damp problems but totally agree it is important to know the scale of the problem. Hope the report can clarify your thinking. 

jwil

£3000 extra for 1/2 day seems a no brainer, particularly if the commute isn't too far.

savingholmes

Interesting on the survey results. Other than one 1930s semi - pretty much bought new or nearly new houses. I think it's not just the cost to resolve that I would want to know but also consider how quickly or otherwise you are likely to get a builder.

The part time job sounds good.

Chrystal

doingitanyway said:

Chrystal said:

Make sure you aren't buying a pig in a poke!  ((((hugs)))) XXX

@Chrystal your comment kept coming back to me today. It has been shared with family and friends. Today the survey for floors came back. It is a very old property and the timbers are vulnerable to an insect infestation that can cause the floor joists to rot. There is such an infestation! Written report will come back today.

Decided to go with the damp investigation next week then depending on the results I will stop spending money on surveys and review.

Going to check how much solicitor will be owed if this house doesn't complete.

An EA called about a property they are marketing. It is beyond my budget but EA suggesting I view anyway. Will be there to see the flat so will take a look.

Wishing you all a good day

DIA, in my honest opinion it's better to pay the solicitors fees for non-completion than be stuck with a house that sounds as though it's going to be an ongoing nightmare in hassle and costs.
After everything you've been through to get a new home you deserve better than that.
Also what Skinty said about paying insurance to solicitor sounds as though it would take some worry of your mind for the future?  
I'm keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed that you find something lovely that isn't a 'pig in a poke!)  
I really think it's about time that Sellers have to have all the surveys done prior to putting their houses on the market, so that buyers know exactly what is being sold!!

jwil

Chrystal said:

I'm keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed that you find something lovely that isn't a 'pig in a poke!)  
I really think it's about time that Sellers have to have all the surveys done prior to putting their houses on the market, so that buyers know exactly what is being sold!!

I totally agree!  Then only one set of surveys needs to be done rather than every potential buyer doing their own.

MovingForwards

Good luck with the survey and making a final decision. Hope the new viewings go well.

Did you get the application in as half an office day could be combined with something else afterwards to make the most of the trip.

doingitanyway

maggiem said:

Sorry to hear about the damp problems but totally agree it is important to know the scale of the problem. Hope the report can clarify your thinking. 

Thank you

jwil said:

£3000 extra for 1/2 day seems a no brainer, particularly if the commute isn't too far.

I agree, although the commute is a long way I will use the extra time to connect with friends/family who live in the same city as the job as suggested by @MovingForwards  

savingholmes said:

Interesting on the survey results. Other than one 1930s semi - pretty much bought new or nearly new houses. I think it's not just the cost to resolve that I would want to know but also consider how quickly or otherwise you are likely to get a builder.

This is the bit that friends are not getting. I have been through a lot in the past few years, I don't have the resilience to start dealing with builders (if I can even get them) again. It really isn't just the cost. I went for this one because it was supposedly 'good to go' and it isn't. 

Chrystal said:

DIA, in my honest opinion it's better to pay the solicitors fees for non-completion than be stuck with a house that sounds as though it's going to be an ongoing nightmare in hassle and costs.
After everything you've been through to get a new home you deserve better than that.
  
I really think it's about time that Sellers have to have all the surveys done prior to putting their houses on the market, so that buyers know exactly what is being sold!!

I totally agree!  Then only one set of surveys needs to be done rather than every potential buyer doing their own.

Thanks @jwil and @Chrystal   I can't face the prospect of ongoing hassle and costs, especially on my small budget.
I so agree on surveys being done prior to marketing!

Skint_yet_Again said:

Good luck with it all dia. What a stress for you. 

My survey has come back much the same but mine is wall ties & structural movement, extensive damp in walls & floors / joists and roof issues. Have spoken at length with the surveyor and solicitor and I have decided not to get additional surveys and walk away 😢 Second property purchase fallen through.
However the only little glimmer of good news is that I took out no costs insurance with the solicitor which was £90 and means no solicitor bill to pay. Maybe you could ask your solicitor about this going forward if you offer on another property? 

I will definitely look into insurance, thank you  Sorry to hear your sale fell through. So disappointing...

WelshmansDaughter

In Scotland you get a home report with every property on the market. You get the survey that tells you the 1s and 2s etc and then anything more indepth you would get yourself.

doingitanyway

Yesterday I went to view the flat. I knew it had 1 bedroom but it looked big enough to work with. It was nice with good potential but ultimately too small. I wanted to make some space for creative work plus a sofa bed so I could accommodate friends/family but the room was too small to do that in. A shame...

I cancelled the viewing for the house as it is too expensive. If it comes down in price I will view it.

The house I had the survey on? The EA gave me an offer of a few thousand if I stopped all inspections with a view to complete next week. There is no chance of me doing that. The vendors are panicking because they say their chain will collapse. Sorry to sound uncaring but that isn't my problem. Looks like this sale will fall through. 

MSE wise not great! I spoke to the solicitor to see what I owe. Add that to the searches and survey and inspections I will have lost £2,700  But as @Chrystal said, it is a lot better than having issues with the house in future with a small income. Finding it hard to get the damp survey let alone find trades to do any work I need if I bought it.

Tomorrow's top 3 things...

• email EA and refuse offer
• HMRC to rectify some misinformation
• do job application

Hope everyone is ok.