Survey results

hudson2012

Hi,

I am in the process of buying a 1970s terraced house and I have just had a level 3 survey carried out. I got the survey results seem to be generally good, there are few major issues identified. I am first time buyer so maybe I'm being overly positive but it seems like the house is in a generally good condition for its age. But I just want to be sure I have not missed anything here.

The following items are category 3 or 2:

• No gas safety or electrical documentation available: I have already provided with the EICR which done last year with no major issues and the boiler was serviced a couple of months ago so it doesn't seem like there's anything to worry about here.
• Blown gasket seals in the living room windows: budget cost for this is £700 but then it suggests all the window units in the house may need to be replaced in the future.
• Significant defect to front door locking mechanism: I intend to change the locks when I move so again seems like its not a major issue.
• Misaligned rear garden door
• Roof insulation levels are 100mm
• Ceilings have textured coating: due to age of the building, these coating may contain asbestos
• The loft door doesn't have a ladder.

The report also notes that:

• the drainage inspection chamber may have been covered by the decking within the garden;
• water supplies: incoming mains supply could not be located.

Am I missing anything here?

bolwin1

None of those findings would worry me. Maybe worth adding more loft insulation to improve energy efficiency. I'd be tempted to skim the ceilings to make them smooth, but that's just aesthetics. 
You should make sure you find the stopcock & drainage inspection chamber in case you have a leakage or drains blockage in the future. 
I had blown window gaskets sorted out for about £50 each a few years back.
n.b. simply replacing the key barrel probably won't resolve the door mechanism (front or back) - they are often caused by the door dropping in the frame by a few mm. You might need the experts in to sort that, but it probably won't be expensive.

FreeBear

bolwin1 said: I had blown window gaskets sorted out for about £50 each a few years back.
n.b. simply replacing the key barrel probably won't resolve the door mechanism (front or back) - they are often caused by the door dropping in the frame by a few mm. You might need the experts in to sort that, but it probably won't be expensive.

Is it the rubber gaskets or the sealed units that are blown ?

Neither are particularly expensive to fix. A bead of silicone sealant will sort the rubbers for a couple of years. Replacement sealed units (depending on size & toughened or not), probably £50-100 each.

The lock could be nothing more than an alignment issue, or it could be the gearbox starting to fail - If you are paying someone to replace sealed units, they may well readjust the hinges for free. If it is the gearbox, that might be £100-150 fitted. Assuming uPVC, use a window/door doctor rather than a locksmith for the door.

The rest of your survey is pretty trivial, although locating the stopcock and any inspection chambers is important. Loft insulation is £25 per roll from somewhere like B&Q and dead easy to install yourself. Loft ladder - Plenty of houses don't have one (I certainly don't), so go and invest in a short extending ladder. You'll find it useful for other jobs around the house.

walwyn1978

None of this is especially costly and much of it as already mentioned can be done yourself.

Definitely do more loft insulation. 

hudson2012

FreeBear said:

bolwin1 said: I had blown window gaskets sorted out for about £50 each a few years back.
n.b. simply replacing the key barrel probably won't resolve the door mechanism (front or back) - they are often caused by the door dropping in the frame by a few mm. You might need the experts in to sort that, but it probably won't be expensive.

Is it the rubber gaskets or the sealed units that are blown ?

Neither are particularly expensive to fix. A bead of silicone sealant will sort the rubbers for a couple of years. Replacement sealed units (depending on size & toughened or not), probably £50-100 each.

The lock could be nothing more than an alignment issue, or it could be the gearbox starting to fail - If you are paying someone to replace sealed units, they may well readjust the hinges for free. If it is the gearbox, that might be £100-150 fitted. Assuming uPVC, use a window/door doctor rather than a locksmith for the door.

The rest of your survey is pretty trivial, although locating the stopcock and any inspection chambers is important. Loft insulation is £25 per roll from somewhere like B&Q and dead easy to install yourself. Loft ladder - Plenty of houses don't have one (I certainly don't), so go and invest in a short extending ladder. You'll find it useful for other jobs around the house.

It sounds like its the rubber gasket but it good to know that none of are major issues. The property used to be rented and it sounds like the sellers have never lived in the property but I hope they will be able to tell me where the stopcock and inspection chambers are.

Thanks very much for all the comments.

kdog91

Just to say we have the textured ceiling issue, it’s only a risk if you start disturbing it eg, cutting open for crack repair etc. You can get it plastered over easily.

canaldumidi

hudson2012 said:

FreeBear said:

bolwin1 said: I had blown window gaskets sorted out for about £50 each a few years back.
n.b. simply replacing the key barrel probably won't resolve the door mechanism (front or back) - they are often caused by the door dropping in the frame by a few mm. You might need the experts in to sort that, but it probably won't be expensive.

Is it the rubber gaskets or the sealed units that are blown ?

Neither are particularly expensive to fix. A bead of silicone sealant will sort the rubbers for a couple of years. Replacement sealed units (depending on size & toughened or not), probably £50-100 each.

The lock could be nothing more than an alignment issue, or it could be the gearbox starting to fail - If you are paying someone to replace sealed units, they may well readjust the hinges for free. If it is the gearbox, that might be £100-150 fitted. Assuming uPVC, use a window/door doctor rather than a locksmith for the door.

The rest of your survey is pretty trivial, although locating the stopcock and any inspection chambers is important. Loft insulation is £25 per roll from somewhere like B&Q and dead easy to install yourself. Loft ladder - Plenty of houses don't have one (I certainly don't), so go and invest in a short extending ladder. You'll find it useful for other jobs around the house.

.......I hope they will be able to tell me where the stopcock and inspection chambers are.

Thanks very much for all the comments.

If not, you'll soon find them once you move in.

In a few cases there might not be a stopcock inside (my mother didn't have one). You can always turn the water off outside in the street.

And of course the internal stopcock might be frozen solid. Utube will teach you how to free it off, or replace it.

Woolsery

If the inspection chamber id decked over, that suggests the drains don't give trouble. After all, not many people can go long with a blocked bog!

Ramouth

walwyn1978 said:

None of this is especially costly and much of it as already mentioned can be done yourself.

Definitely do more loft insulation. 

Make sure you don’t block eaves ventilation in the process - you need good airflow in your loft to keep the timber nice and dry