Not Facing House Disrepair

Adamc

We've been in our house for 4 years and we have found lots of botched jobs and things that need maintenance and replacement. 

We've avoided addressing them partly because of money worries but also due to potentially moving at some point in the near future. 

These things are getting on top of me and causing sleepless nights. I feel so awkward getting quotes off trades people as I'm afraid of getting ripped off. We have a flat roof problem and have been unable to get a roofer to sort it since trying in May. We've tried 3 who have promised to look next month and then never shown up. It's a garage roof with an intermittent leak. 

We also need pointing doing and a new retaining wall. We're so confused as to what to repair if we decide to sell this summer. 

Emmia

If the repair requirements are obvious to prospective purchasers, they'll offer less to account for the cost/hassle of fixing them - or not offer at all.

There's also no need to feel awkward, get 3 quotes and compare them. 

CliveOfIndia

One option is to not bother doing the work, unless leaving it will cause further damage (e.g. a leaking roof).  When you come to sell, you'll have to accept that you'll receive a lower price for the house than you would if it were in tip-top condition.

The leaking flat roof - it's pretty easy to do a temporary fix yourself by slapping on a load of bitumen paint.  I did this years ago in an old house I had, and it actually worked really well, it stopped the leak for a good few years until I finally got around to having it re-done properly by a roofer.

In terms of finding reliable tradesmen (or women !), personal recommendation is always best.  These days the simplest is to ask on your local community Facebook group (if you have one), just ask "Can anyone recommend a good roofer" or builder or whatever.  Bear in mind that any good (i.e. reliable, reasonably-priced, does a good standard of work) trades-person will very often be booked up several weeks (sometimes months) in advance.  So it's worth putting some feelers out now, getting some recommendations and asking for quotes, with a view to actually getting the work done in February/March/whatever.

bluelad1927

It can be very difficult getting people to the house. Have you searched on local community FB pages and look at old posts. You can often gauge who is worth contacting from there.

Once you find one good person ask them for recommendations  of other trades. They are more likely to recommend  people with the same work ethic.... A great plastering friend put me on to a brilliant bathroom fitter.

We were sort of in the same position living in a house for 15 yrs and not taking great care of it. I did spend around 1.5k getting jobs sorted before selling and it paid off in my opinion.

We've completely  changed our minset over the last 2 yrs in our new house and regularly get jobs done to keep on top of things. It does all add up but doing it consistently feels a lot more affordable

Cherryfudge

We had two quotes for a very small flat roof (bay window) - one of £300+, one of £400+. In the end my husband did the job himself for £70ish, and all the problems we used to get with rain blowing under the flashing and leaking into the house, have gone completely.

I also remember my Dad used to repair the flat garage roof himself - roofing felt, if I remember rightly.

If you're at all handy, it may be worth Youtubing whether it's a job you could try, perhaps with a mate, as roofing felt weighs a lot.

If it doesn't look like something you'd try yourself, the three quotes thing seems to be standard. The no-shows are a nuisance which I think has got worse over recent years, as workers are in demand. You could perhaps ask on social media for recommendations, choose your best three and when you contact them, mention they were recommended. I think that gives some leverage as people don't want to lose a good reputation.

If you are thinking of selling, would it be worth popping into an estate agent for advice on what to prioritise?

twopenny

Not being able to come and look for a month means they aren't coming.
Or will come and look if they don't have better jobs come in before that so accept if they give a date but keep on looking.

Remember it's been dreadful weather for outside work this winter so they are likely behind with already promised work.
A retaining wall would be the most important. How big or difficult? Just pointing or remortaring is a job you could do yourself. It's fairly easy but needs to be dry before starting. 

A good odd job man could do both jobs. A builder or roofer may find these jobs too small.

Albermarle

The leaking flat roof - it's pretty easy to do a temporary fix yourself by slapping on a load of bitumen paint.  I did this years ago in an old house I had, and it actually worked really well, it stopped the leak for a good few years until I finally got around to having it re-done properly by a roofer.

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