Buyers Survey Replies- Where do we stand/ advice?

woolley900

Hi All new to this forum. 

We are currently selling out 1940s end terrace house and the buyer has come back with some questions, we were aware of these before the survey. Just looking for some advice on this and if its standard issues that arise with a property of this age. 

Concerns over the roof these are- Hip/ridge tiles re-bedded

Concerns over cracked and hollowing render, we believe this is just due to the age of the render, however the surveyor has asked for a drain survey to be completed. Is this something that is a standard answer to the above issue? 

Finally it has asked for a gas and electrical inspection I'm pretty sure all surveyors ask for this as a standard practice. 

Do we have to worry about any of the above? 

user1977

What are the questions? If the buyer wants to have additional people in to look at drains/gas/electric, that's not particularly unusual and there's nothing you need to worry about (other than be prepared in particular for the electrics to be not up to current standard - which pretty much nothing is unless it's just been installed!).

TheJP

All of that would have been visible on viewing.

If they want a gas/electrical survey then let them, obviously they would pay for that and anything it raises may be out of regulation anyway so if they want things updated then that would likely be their costs.

woolley900

user1977 said:

What are the questions? If the buyer wants to have additional people in to look at drains/gas/electric, that's not particularly unusual and there's nothing you need to worry about (other than be prepared in particular for the electrics to be not up to current standard - which pretty much nothing is unless it's just been installed!).

The main defects concern the roof, which is in a pretty bad condition  and the render, which is past its lifespan. In conjunction with the defective render, the surveyor also recommended a drainage test to examine whether the observed cracks are due to defective drainage leading to subsidence (page 19 and 21).

 I wondered if you could please get in touch with the sellers and ask:

- could I please send a roofing/building contractor around to give me quotes for the roofing and render repairs?

- would the sellers be prepared to instruct their water company to carry out a drainage test to prove that there is no risk of subsidence due to potentially defective drainage?

- there appears to be neither electrical nor gas safety documentation; would the sellers be prepared to carry out the recommended safety tests (page 43 and 44)?

woolley900

TheJP said:

All of that would have been visible on viewing.

If they want a gas/electrical survey then let them, obviously they would pay for that and anything it raises may be out of regulation anyway so if they want things updated then that would likely be their costs.

They have asked us to pay for the inspections. 

user1977

Normal practice would be that the buyers arrange and pay for their own surveys.

And I'm not sure that the water company would even do the test they're talking about? If it's your drain then up to you (or your buyers!) to sort any leaks.

canaldumidi

woolley900 said:

user1977 said:

What are the questions? If the buyer wants to have additional people in to look at drains/gas/electric, that's not particularly unusual and there's nothing you need to worry about (other than be prepared in particular for the electrics to be not up to current standard - which pretty much nothing is unless it's just been installed!).

The main defects concern the roof, which is in a pretty bad condition  and the render, which is past its lifespan. In conjunction with the defective render, the surveyor also recommended a drainage test to examine whether the observed cracks are due to defective drainage leading to subsidence (page 19 and 21).

 I wondered if you could please get in touch with the sellers and ask:

- could I please send a roofing/building contractor around to give me quotes for the roofing and render repairs? if buyer wants a roofer to look at the roof and asess/quote, let them. Whether you renegiate sale price if the roof turns out to be expensive depends whether the price already agreed takes into account the conditionof the roof, which you seem to acknowledge was a known problem.

Same with render. Problem with render is water gets behind it through the cracks and then cannot evaporate, so often penetrates the wall (internal damp?). Frankly that's more likely than the cracks being caused by drains/damp.

- would the sellers be prepared to instruct their water company to carry out a drainage test to prove that there is no risk of subsidence due to potentially defective drainage? No. Water company won't do that. If buyer wants drains inspected they can pay fr a CCTV inspection!

- there appears to be neither electrical nor gas safety documentation; would the sellers be prepared to carry out the recommended safety tests (page 43 and 44)?

No. No requirement for these documents. If buyer wants inspections/tests, fine, buyer pays for inspections.

TheJP

Are your buyers FTB by chance?

woolley900

TheJP said:

Are your buyers FTB by chance?

Yes they are

TheJP

woolley900 said:

TheJP said:

Are your buyers FTB by chance?

Yes they are

I thought as much, So a lot of this is naivety as first time buyers however make sure to word your responses carefully to appease their fears and educate that what they are asking isn't a requirement and that they if they want can instruct further surveys.