Am I being ridiculous? 72 page RICS 3 building survey - Am I living in a dream world?

Lyd00

The one that worries me the most is the dodgy coal room.. Which is in between the kitchen and hallway. I wasn't shown inside this when I viewed it. The kitchen is tiny so would probably want to knock the wall to the left down anyway. I did ask the surveyor to tell me whether this would be possible but he hasn't commented...

Lyd00

To add....I will literally have nothing left after I've put a new kitchen in and replastered (which won't all be done at once either and will be replastered room at a time). 

I don't know if I'm taking on too much 

jst1986

The items with a 3 are those which require you to act sooner rather than later. Read the details of those first and foremost. Anything 2 or less can be managed in time.

Have you tried speaking to the surveyor for his/her thoughts? In my experience they are more than happy to talk through what they've found and what they have written. 

Lyd00

jst1986 said:

Have you tried speaking to the surveyor for his/her thoughts? In my experience they are more than happy to talk through what they've found and what they have written. 

Not yet as I've been on night shifts but I intend to call tomorrow 

TheJP

Does the house need a new kitchen or is the existing one habitable? I don't think that sounds too serious, i wouldn't bother adding a new step and handrail that's just !!!!!! covering. Over boarding the area they note wont cost much at all, not sure on the removing of some bricks but don't think its a complicated job.

Cactus_Flowers

I was a FTB when I completed 6 months ago, on a house that was structurally ok but needed a lot of work on it. It's still not in a comfortably livable state and doing the work myself is taking so much more time than I expected, but I haven't at all actually regretted taking this on.

My survey was full of 3s, but it was still possible to divide those up into actual emergencies (getting the electrics sorted) and non-emergency (rickety asbestosty structure in the back garden, which I can safely ignore for a while). My reading of your coal room issues above might be that's it fine to leave it for a year, just try not to use that door?

jst1986

Lyd00 said:

jst1986 said:

Have you tried speaking to the surveyor for his/her thoughts? In my experience they are more than happy to talk through what they've found and what they have written. 

Not yet as I've been on night shifts but I intend to call tomorrow 

Try making a list of the issues you want to discuss first. As you can see from some of the comments a lot of things are just covering their backs. My house had a missing bannister rail and was given a 3 on the off chance someone could fall and injure themselves. 

Lyd00

TheJP said:

Does the house need a new kitchen or is the existing one habitable? I don't think that sounds too serious, i wouldn't bother adding a new step and handrail that's just !!!!!! covering. Over boarding the area they note wont cost much at all, not sure on the removing of some bricks but don't think its a complicated job.

It definitely needs a new kitchen, cupboards shelves have fallen in and really oddly laid out. I really want to make it bigger as well by knocking into the coal room otherwise its tiny (2.5m x2.5m) 

TheJP

Lyd00 said:

TheJP said:

Does the house need a new kitchen or is the existing one habitable? I don't think that sounds too serious, i wouldn't bother adding a new step and handrail that's just !!!!!! covering. Over boarding the area they note wont cost much at all, not sure on the removing of some bricks but don't think its a complicated job.

It definitely needs a new kitchen, cupboards shelves have fallen in and really oddly laid out. I really want to make it bigger as well by knocking into the coal room otherwise its tiny (2.5m x2.5m) 

Perhaps the work in the coal room can be done when you knock in, if the trades there already then the additional stuff may be pretty cheap to do. Id imagine that the plastering would be done anyway as part of the cost, just the brick work.

Lyd00

TheJP said:

Lyd00 al room can be done when you knock in, if the trades there already then the additional stuff may be pretty cheap to do. Id imagine that the plastering would be done anyway as part of the cost, just the brick work.

Hopefully. 

The estimated costs on his report come to approx £20k. And that's only what he can see. That's my worry. When I viewed it I thought it looked in good condition, no damp, newish windows and doors, the roof looked good to me (oops) so I only budgeted for cosmetic stuff. If I'm going to keep finding things that's where I'll struggle being alone with no one else to help financially.

Then again it's the only house I can see myself in. Nothing in budget has ever excited me. I've waited a long time and been sensible with money to be able to get a deposit with no help from others and a change of career plus covid stalling things. I'm torn because my ex says I've been patient and good with my money and will blow it on a problem house that may go into negative equity soon