Homebuyers survey and stress levels!

RM_2013

Hello all.  Long time lurker but this is my first post here - apologies for the long post 

Does anyone have any advice they can share whilst awaiting homebuyers survey (booked for 20th)? 

we have sold STC at just below asking price to FTB and they’ve asked for mortgage valuation and a homebuyers survey - being done through Connells.  Slightly concerned about the horrendous online reviews.

We’ve lived in our 1970’s link detached house for 19 years and done routine maintenance and improvements but no major works/extensions.


The main issues that seem to crop up on google searches are 

damp, subsidence, Japanese knotweed, asbestos - don’t believe we have any of these issues.

Reading a lot of feedback online which suggests that a lot of surveys tend to say new roof needed, electrical and gas/boiler checks for older houses.

we know that the garage flat roof will probably flag up - it’s not leaking but it’s not been replaced for many years.  The UPVC windows probably need an upgrade - all in working order.  We pointed out to the buyers that the front drive (block paved) needs replacing - in hindsight it was a shoddy job we were talked into but we pointed out the flaws and price reflects this. 

Kitchen and bathroom aren’t new but clean, functional and in a good condition to just move in.

however google is not my friend and stress levels are through the roof as I don’t deal well with situations out of my control.

if buyers pull out we will lose our onward purchase and we can’t afford a massive down value and re negotiation as we’ve already had a down value on the house we were buying - another story but we offered over asking in a bidding war so we knew this was a risk but it’s my dream house so we’ve had to increase deposit so there is now very little wiggle room. 

Can anyone share their recent experiences please or any advice how to stay sane during the process!! In particular anyone that’s had a survey done through Connells? 

Many thanks 

Martico

When I've bought, I've not worried about minor stuff. As my solicitor said when I queried a couple of things on the survey, he said "It'll last longer than you will." That was enough for me, I wanted the house.
And when I've sold I've been upfront about known issues, saying those were reflected in the price. The person had wanted the place enough to fork out for a survey, and we both knew the market was competitive.

It really (IMO) depends on the attitude of the potential buyers

user1977

Is finding hypothetical things to worry about going to help you? Nothing you can realistically do until you know what the survey results are (if they're shared with you - bear in mind there aren't usually significant issues, people post here if they've got problems).

trakky14

Is it a level 2 homebuyers survey? If so they look at a lot less than the level 3 full structural so that would immediately make me worry less! 

We had someone do a level 2 on the house we are selling, they were here for less than 40 mins (inside and out) and the survey came back fine...there will be things that come up, but they have to comment on everything including carbon monoxide alarms etc...so it often sounds worse than it is. Not a lot you can do other than wait and see, it will be fine!! Your buyers are FTB which CAN make them a bit more twitchy than seasoned buyers and they may stress over things more than others would...but hopefully they are sensible and not hoping for perfection!

RM_2013

Martico said:

When I've bought, I've not worried about minor stuff. As my solicitor said when I queried a couple of things on the survey, he said "It'll last longer than you will." That was enough for me, I wanted the house.
And when I've sold I've been upfront about known issues, saying those were reflected in the price. The person had wanted the place enough to fork out for a survey, and we both knew the market was competitive.

It really (IMO) depends on the attitude of the potential buyers

I know.  They are FTB and love the house but unsure how they will proceed if the survey is not favourable.  

On viewing we pointed out that the drive, garage roof and windows could probably do with updating but all functional and no leaks or any other major issues 

Appreciate your reply thank you

housebuyer143

As above. You need to find a way to keep your anxiety in check, this is the first step and it gets a hell of a lot more stressful from here. I was the same, worrying over every little thing that might go wrong and it's just crazy. 
If it does happen, then you deal with it then, wasting energy thinking about everything that could go wrong that probably won't isn't going to help you at all. 

In the end, everything that could go wrong did with mine, but we thought about it and resolved it, I am still here 👍 

Find a way to put it out your mind .

RM_2013

user1977 said:

Is finding hypothetical things to worry about going to help you? Nothing you can realistically do until you know what the survey results are (if they're shared with you - bear in mind there aren't usually significant issues, people post here if they've got problems).

Thanks great point made as you tend to read reports on here or elsewhere on google when there is an issue not all the countless times where everything has gone smoothly!

I massively overthink and worry so need to find a way of managing this - like you say I can’t do anything until after the survey anyway

tacpot12

You could look into Cognative Behavioural Therapy to help with your worry and overthinking, but I'm inclined to think that you need to remind yourself that there is no point in worrying about things that are not yet a problem. Save your energy for the things that ARE a problem. Remind yourself that you will need energy to deal with the real problems, so you should not be wasting energy on things that are not a problem. Tell yourself this when you catch yourself worrying about what might be and you'll be ok.

There is a bit of skill involved in understand what problems reported in a survey really are problems that need dealing with immediately (very few do), and which should be dealt with over a longer period. Damp is generally something that needs dealing with immediately because you don't know how long it has been going on for, so you need to jump on the problem, but most other problems will wait. 

MrCarrot

When I bought my first house, I took the approach it had been stood there for 30 years, and would most likely be there in another 30 years, so I didn't bother with my own survey.

With the property I am buying now I just had the survey back yesterday.  There are some very minor issues, but to be honest the issues would have to be really major to put me off buying it (subsidence or the roof is about to collapse).

The issues in the survey are also graded in terms of what's urgent and what isn't.  So I don't think old double glazing and a dodgy driveway would be flagged up as critical/urgent.  If your buyer's like the house then hopefully they are willing to live with non-critical issues and will see it as a work in progress.

Good luck.

RM_2013

trakky14 said:

Is it a level 2 homebuyers survey? If so they look at a lot less than the level 3 full structural so that would immediately make me worry less! 

We had someone do a level 2 on the house we are selling, they were here for less than 40 mins (inside and out) and the survey came back fine...there will be things that come up, but they have to comment on everything including carbon monoxide alarms etc...so it often sounds worse than it is. Not a lot you can do other than wait and see, it will be fine!! Your buyers are FTB which CAN make them a bit more twitchy than seasoned buyers and they may stress over things more than others would...but hopefully they are sensible and not hoping for perfection!

Pretty sure it’s a level 2 as the surveyors called to say it was a valuation and homebuyers survey and could take up to 2hrs.
I’ve made sure we have fire and carbon monoxide alarms in clear view. I’m hoping they don’t get twitched when they get the report as I’m aware the way they are worded can sometimes seem overwhelming.
we’ve got a good relationship with the buyers so hopefully if they are concerned about any issues raised we can work through things with them.

thanks for your advice 

RM_2013

housebuyer143 said:

As above. You need to find a way to keep your anxiety in check, this is the first step and it gets a hell of a lot more stressful from here. I was the same, worrying over every little thing that might go wrong and it's just crazy. 
If it does happen, then you deal with it then, wasting energy thinking about everything that could go wrong that probably won't isn't going to help you at all. 

In the end, everything that could go wrong did with mine, but we thought about it and resolved it, I am still here 👍 

Find a way to put it out your mind .

Thank you you are absolutely right.  The constant stressing is not getting me anywhere. My husband fortunately has a more relaxed whatever will be will be attitude!!