Additional survey request from buyer

xmsdave

Hi all,

This is my first post, been an anonymous lurker for quite a while

I accepted an offer on my Victorian Terrace recently, which I have lived in for 12 years, it was just over the asking price as I had 3 offers the day after it went on sale. I accepted the highest offer from a cash buyer who wanted to rent it out - I thought the sale would be quicker/simpler, plus the extra cash would be useful.

The property is a classic 3-bedroom Victorian Terrace, back bedroom split to make a bathroom. The property was gutted between 2005-2008, according to the neighbours, adding UPVC windows, central heating, re-wired, new plumbing, re-plastered, plus a new bathroom and kitchen. Some of the finishing wasn’t done to the highest of standards and the lead mains water pipe hadn’t been replace – guess this may have been because the recession kicked-in.

12 months after I purchased the property from the new owners, who only stayed for a few years following the refurbishment, I decided to finish it off. I replaced the remaining lead pipe with plastic and a new blue pipe to the mains, replaced the open coal fire in the living room with gas, put a new kitchen and bathroom in of a much higher spec, meaning I stripped both rooms right back, and re-decorated throughout. During this process I had most of the floorboards up, both upstairs and the only suspended floor downstairs, the living room. It took exactly 12 month start-to-finish. The property has been fairly-well maintained by me since then, happy to do any repairs myself or get a professional in for anything I can’t do, i.e. the roof as I don’t like heights.

The potential buyer organised a Level 3 survey which reported a few visible snags, that I can repair myself quite easily, but also recommended further investigations which were not visible. 1: Timber survey of the joists in the living room floor. 2: Structural investigations of a chimney breast removal where not all of it was removed, the lower breast was removed as was the chimney stack/pot, but not from the room above or the loft – the intention being to check what is left is correctly supported. As far as 1 is concerned I know the floor is OK, I’ve seen it, plus the surveyor didn’t even try a “bounce test”, it was just recommended because of the age of the property - from the survey. Regarding 2, there is no sign of stress or cracking in the ceiling/walls below the remaining chimney and it’s been like that since at least 2008, maybe earlier, I have no idea when the chimney was removed (house on the party wall also has chimney partially removed in the same way). I’m therefore assuming it was done correctly at the time, RSJ, Gallows Bracket, or even just timber, depends on when it was done.

The potential buyer wants me to remove the carpets and floorboards in 2 rooms to allow the surveys to take place, this sounds very intrusive and time consuming, especially as no evidence has been produced that anything is wrong. I did suggest using an Endoscope to check, although I’m not sure this would prove conclusive, but we never got that far anyway as he insisted I pay 50% of the costs to feed his paranoia!

If this happens again with another survey, does anyone have any recommendations as to how I should proceed?

Thanks

propertyrental

So I take it you refused and the buyer has gone on his way?

I wouldn't worry too much. Few surveyors expect floorboards to be lifted.

xmsdave

Thanks for the reply, yes the buyer pulled out when I refused to split the costs.

I thought the request was unusual and very invasive, the request to split the costs was the icing on the cake!

I did do a bit of research on a timber survey, one company put on their website that they do not do full surveys prior to exchange of contracts, only using an endoscope. They recommend a full survey only when planning a refurbishment.

Millsandovis

Depending on the area you live in and if there’s a lot of interest in your property then I would hold your ground and refuse. If they’re a nightmare now they’ll be a nightmare later on (some people might not think this is them being a nightmare but I would) 

I told my estate agents not to sell to people who had taken numerous pictures during an open house to later bring up issues. No offer and no idea about proceedabilty but demanding answers from me and taking pictures. Some people might not see a problem with that but I did and simply wouldn’t entertain selling to them. It’s not always about money but I’m in a privileged position in the area I’m selling in 

BarelySentientAI

Millsandovis said:

Depending on the area you live in and if there’s a lot of interest in your property then I would hold your ground and refuse. If they’re a nightmare now they’ll be a nightmare later on (some people might not think this is them being a nightmare but I would) 

I told my estate agents not to sell to people who had taken numerous pictures during an open house to later bring up issues. No offer and no idea about proceedabilty but demanding answers from me and taking pictures. Some people might not see a problem with that but I did and simply wouldn’t entertain selling to them. It’s not always about money but I’m in a privileged position in the area I’m selling in 

You take offence at people taking photos and asking questions about something they might be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on?

I'm glad I'm not buying in your area.

Millsandovis

BarelySentientAI said:

Millsandovis said:

Depending on the area you live in and if there’s a lot of interest in your property then I would hold your ground and refuse. If they’re a nightmare now they’ll be a nightmare later on (some people might not think this is them being a nightmare but I would) 

I told my estate agents not to sell to people who had taken numerous pictures during an open house to later bring up issues. No offer and no idea about proceedabilty but demanding answers from me and taking pictures. Some people might not see a problem with that but I did and simply wouldn’t entertain selling to them. It’s not always about money but I’m in a privileged position in the area I’m selling in 

You take offence at people taking photos and asking questions about something they might be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on?

I'm glad I'm not buying in your area.

I can do that when I’ve had 3 offers from 8 viewings, 4 more viewings on Friday and 45 booked for Saturday. 

I’m glad you’re not as well, you might end up disappointed. 

xmsdave

I just reread the email from the EA, turns out it wasn’t the surveyor asking to lift the floorboards, it was the buyer, said he wanted to be in attendance when a structural engineer lifted the floorboards.

I should have mentioned before, the buyer was a retired Civil Engineer. 

BarelySentientAI

Millsandovis said:

BarelySentientAI said:

Millsandovis said:

Depending on the area you live in and if there’s a lot of interest in your property then I would hold your ground and refuse. If they’re a nightmare now they’ll be a nightmare later on (some people might not think this is them being a nightmare but I would) 

I told my estate agents not to sell to people who had taken numerous pictures during an open house to later bring up issues. No offer and no idea about proceedabilty but demanding answers from me and taking pictures. Some people might not see a problem with that but I did and simply wouldn’t entertain selling to them. It’s not always about money but I’m in a privileged position in the area I’m selling in 

You take offence at people taking photos and asking questions about something they might be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on?

I'm glad I'm not buying in your area.

I can do that when I’ve had 3 offers from 8 viewings, 4 more viewings on Friday and 45 booked for Saturday. 

I’m glad you’re not as well, you might end up disappointed. 

Congratulations - you are the pinnacle of all vendors because you have offers on your property, an example to all, and we must bow to your obvious wisdom.

Or in the real world, not everyone needs a nightmare to deal with on either side of the equation.  It wouldn't disappoint me at all.  In fact it would be, and is, a complete pleasure to not be buying from you. 

I'm sure you'll do great with whichever buyer you choose.  Happy selling!

chanz4

cash buy to let can be the worse buyers

Millsandovis

BarelySentientAI said:

Millsandovis said:

BarelySentientAI said:

Millsandovis said:

Depending on the area you live in and if there’s a lot of interest in your property then I would hold your ground and refuse. If they’re a nightmare now they’ll be a nightmare later on (some people might not think this is them being a nightmare but I would) 

I told my estate agents not to sell to people who had taken numerous pictures during an open house to later bring up issues. No offer and no idea about proceedabilty but demanding answers from me and taking pictures. Some people might not see a problem with that but I did and simply wouldn’t entertain selling to them. It’s not always about money but I’m in a privileged position in the area I’m selling in 

You take offence at people taking photos and asking questions about something they might be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on?

I'm glad I'm not buying in your area.

I can do that when I’ve had 3 offers from 8 viewings, 4 more viewings on Friday and 45 booked for Saturday. 

I’m glad you’re not as well, you might end up disappointed. 

Congratulations - you are the pinnacle of all vendors because you have offers on your property, an example to all, and we must bow to your obvious wisdom.

Or in the real world, not everyone needs a nightmare to deal with on either side of the equation.  It wouldn't disappoint me at all.  In fact it would be, and is, a complete pleasure to not be buying from you. 

I literally said in my original post not everyone would be bothered by their actions. But I am. No one mentioned offended other than you. They’re not spending hundreds of thousands on anything by the way as they haven’t even put an offer forward. Once an offer is accepted they could have a Eurovision party in my living room for all I care. But at this point with this level of interest I can filter who I would sell to. Which is my right. 

‘ Or in the real world, not everyone needs a nightmare to deal with on either side of the equation.’ Congratulations, that’s my point. What you consider a nightmare is different to what I do. 

What a bizarre post. I literally said in the original response not everyone would be bothered by it but I am and people still find a problem with it. 

BarelySentientAI

xmsdave said:

I just reread the email from the EA, turns out it wasn’t the surveyor asking to lift the floorboards, it was the buyer, said he wanted to be in attendance when a structural engineer lifted the floorboards.

I should have mentioned before, the buyer was a retired Civil Engineer. 

Oof.  I'm not sure the engineer would have enjoyed doing that survey a whole lot if it did go ahead.

I think you made the right call.  No need for destructive surveys with extremely good evidence that they are necessary, and even less need for you to agree paying towards them.