Ridiculous survey comments?

thearchitect

When my late aunt's house in London was being sold, purchasers produced a report somewhat akin to this one and then tried to negotiate a substantial discount.   A number of the points made were technically incorrect, whilst others were "what ifs".   Eventually the purchaser's solicitor was advised that I was "in the profession", knew fine what the report said, and that they could whistle. Sanity then returned to the process.    It made me very glad that I operated within the Scottish system.

allconnected

housebuyer143 said:

I am a bit fascinated by the fact that our house is blighted by ‘heavy wallpaper’ (there isn’t any - the walls are paint over plaster or lining paper) - maybe it’s like heavy water, and radioactive?

You really should email the agent/buyer over these inaccuracies because maybe they will talk to the surveyor about it or rethink. 
Saying you have wallpaper when there is none.. surely this guy is negligent! 

The agent has a VERY detailed point by point rebuttal, largely because it made me feel better to do so - unfortunately the buyer isn’t one who wants to refurbish a house,  but to live in it - and no amount of reasonable negotiation will overcome the fact they now  feel like they will need to live in a building site for months if not years just to stop the house falling down around them. (Apparently houses wait for a change of ownership to disintegrate - who knew?)

allconnected

simon_or said:

Absolutely!

At least in England, it's an industry with weird incentives, due to how common it is for transactions to fall through between offer and completion.

Surveyors get their fee upfront. If the purchase falls through, the property goes back on the market. Another buyer has an offer accepted and commissions another survey, another fee is paid to some other surveyor. Add on top of this the multiple mortgage valuations as well for the same property.

As far as the surveyor industry is concerned, the more transactions that fall through, the merrier.

And all of those wasted surveys include hordes of recommendations to consult other building ‘professionals’ and throw money at them.

Our survey noted building alterations  done over 40 years ago. Did it recommend checking with the buyer if this has been picked up and resolved after a previous survey (it had.) No, it recommended employing the services of a structural engineer to investigate, and flagged it up as a serious risk.

thearchitect

At my aunt's house, they advised there was no DPC.   I could see the dashed thing with my own eyes.    It was nearly a complaint to the RICS.....

But in all fairness there are circumstances where it is perfectly prudent to suggest the advice of (say) a structural engineer be sought - usually where there is evidence of an ongoing problem.   If, on the other hand, a wall has been repointed and a crack has not reformed then it is a waste of time and money to have the engineer back.

youth_leader

It's very difficult when you are selling and odd things are mentioned.  I seemed to be angry and astounded all the time during my 'negotiation'. The buyer told my EA he was 'very concerned' about  the  'beetles' - and he'd 'probably withdraw'.  He was always 'possibly withdrawing' - I now realise this was a ploy.    She must have said 'beetles' ten times during the next three conversations I had with her.  She was not listening to me as I explained that I had engaged my own surveyor before going on the market, and the beetles were dead.  Brown bread.  End of.  

YoungBlueEyes

Funny we lost a buyer because of "no visible dpc". The fact it was a big old Edwardian terrace with the original slate dpc was neither here nor there.

Dustyevsky

In my limited experience, potential buyers who withdraw or lose interest,  before or after a survey, may lie about their reasons and seize on something physical. I know we did. Sometimes it's kinder, but often it's because the real reason is a combination of factors which weigh a lot taken together, but might sound pathetic to a vendor with different priorities.

[Deleted User]

Normal and inevitable for an old house. If you want some practical advice, address the issues. Move the furniture, get the walls inspected, address any issues. Offer to work with buyers' surveyors to provide the access and reassurance they need. Look into indemnity policies.

ReadingTim

Dustyevsky said:

In my limited experience, potential buyers who withdraw or lose interest,  before or after a survey, may lie about their reasons and seize on something physical. I know we did. Sometimes it's kinder, but often it's because the real reason is a combination of factors which weigh a lot taken together, but might sound pathetic to a vendor with different priorities.

It's not "kinder" - its a flaky buyer who doesn't have the balls to own their decision to pull out, so spinelessly blames someone or something else.  

ManuelG

Have they spoken with the surveyor in person? My surveyor was a lot more illuminating in person - was quite happy to say don't particularly worry about some things, bit he had to put them in the report.