Survey showed spray foam, cut beam and sagging... recommending new roof

EssexHebridean

My suggestion after reading that is slightly different to my previous post.  I would be inclined to lace up the nearest pair of running shoes and run as fast as possible in the opposite direction...the alternative is purchasing a problem.

stuart45

If he's a joiner by trade, he should have known how not to wreck his house.

Albermarle

There are a lot of posts on the forum where a FTB is panicking, as a survey has highlighted some issues with the roof, and where it seems the surveyor is being over cautious in recommending what works need to be done.
However this would not seem to be one of these situations. I think even if a £40K discount is agreed, I would still be nervous.

Herzlos

rundmc-k said:

Vendor comes back and says as he's a joiner by trade he'll remove the foam himself and fix up the rafters and get it certified. Won't take more than 5k off.

If he's a joiner by trade then why did he do the work so badly in the first place and not even tidy it up before listing it for sale?

I'm curious as to what other DIY damage there is you can't see; I uncovered some spectacular stuff in the past (house was owned by an electrician and a joiner) and whilst it wasn't catastrophic it meant every job took twice as long as you'd expect. There's an adage about cobblers shoes that seems to fit here.

I think you want to press hard on the £40k discount to get a new roof fitted and walk away otherwise. You're going to need it however he bodges the roof.

ThisIsWeird

The vendor can do what he likes, so this would be a 'go ahead if you want, pal' situation. And, 'my offer at £40k off is still on the table'.

And keep looking elsewhere.

It should be the case that any new survey for any new potential buyers would return some concerns - the obvious signs of the foam and probably some botching. And then there's the other stuff like the internal walls you mentioned. And, if the EA is honest, they should be upfront about what issues drove other viewers away. "The EA either doesn't know or is feigning ignorance, as I asked them specifically about the tiles sagging, and they said they knew nothing about it." Well, the EA certainly knows now. I wonder how much fibbing he'll do?

Fair bet the EA will be back in touch at some point, so it's worth giving some thought to what compromise - if any - you may consider.

Of course a new roof - if it's needed - will be disruptive, but that's just a fact of life. In the longer scheme of things, it ain't an issue. And, there's the potential for an upstairs redesign when the time comes.

fourmarks

Run ----------------------------------> away.

rundmc-k

Thanks for all the tips and opinions folks. 

The situation is currently... owner didn't get their own survey, just "got someone" to look over what I sent of ours, then told us the max they would go is 10k off. We said our situ hadn't changed, EA told us it was a no go then, and we said ok, notified our solicitors and that was that. 

The next day, the EA contacted to say seller now agrees it does need a new roof, but maximum they'll take off is 25k!
We have been mulling over our response but I am almost certain it will be that our position still hasn't changed and that our figure is 40k off (well, 37.5 to allow it to be a potentially more appealing sale figure) or we continue to walk/run away.

I'm not sure what the response will be to that

Albermarle

rundmc-k said:

Thanks for all the tips and opinions folks. 

The situation is currently... owner didn't get their own survey, just "got someone" to look over what I sent of ours, then told us the max they would go is 10k off. We said our situ hadn't changed, EA told us it was a no go then, and we said ok, notified our solicitors and that was that. 

The next day, the EA contacted to say seller now agrees it does need a new roof, but maximum they'll take off is 25k!
We have been mulling over our response but I am almost certain it will be that our position still hasn't changed and that our figure is 40k off (well, 37.5 to allow it to be a potentially more appealing sale figure) or we continue to walk/run away.

I'm not sure what the response will be to that

Now the seller seems to have come to their senses, they probably genuinely think that £25K off seems a pretty good offer ( inevitably buyers and sellers will always have a different view).

Usually the best test in this situation is to imagine that you stick hard at £40K off, they refuse and you find a few weeks later the house has been sold to someone else. Would you be disappointed and wish you had compromised, or would you not be that bothered? 

Mutton_Geoff

rundmc-k said:

sammyjammy said:

Whats the asking price of this house in comparison with similar properties?  Even without the survey it'd need to be significantly cheaper for me to even consider taking it on.

The area is perfect for us, close to family, work, lovely views etc. It is sadly one of the most expensive areas in N.Ire and it is very difficult to find a property within our budget there. A "needs nothing done" property with the same footprint/exterior walls would be 60-120k more expensive I think

Just be careful of confirmation bias ie your train of thought convincing yourself that this house of horrors is worth pursuing.

LHW99

Walk unless they accept your offer IMO