2nd renegotiation

TBeckett100

We are buying a 1860 cottage and at the time offered 197k.

The survey was done and the surveyor called to say he was doing a 5k retention as the roof needed replacement and there was damp.

We spoke to the EA and the price was lowered to 192k plus £500 for bits and bobs. We got a quote for the roof. The roofer said a replacement wasnt needed, just £300 worth of patching up. The damp company want £2,500. The vendors caught wind of the cost to them (5k) and the cost to us 3k and wanted to up the price from 192k. I said no as there will be a lot of disruption and a need for full redecoration of all downstairs cos of the replastering. They concurred and the price stuck at 192k.

We are due to exchange Friday having signed the paperwork today. However, I have just received the full survey report via email which makes worrying reading.

The report states that the roof does need replacing. I queried the roofers comments that it didnt but the surveyor said that I can continue patching it up for years, so think long term.

The report mentions damp which we have had quoted, but that the chimney needed repointing and the lortar replaced at it was causing damp on the chimney breast. Also, the guttering may need attention and the fasia board was rotting.

The report suggests the property is overpriced and we should ask for a reduction. estimate of the works required £10-£15,000.

Since we have had 5k knocked off already and in light of the recommendations in the report, should we be asking for a bit more off. I say yes, but it means jigging the paperwork around again.

What would you do in my position?

Jorgan_2

The only thing with trying to re-negotiate at such a late stage would be that your vendor may think you are trying to gazunder them, rather than doing it for the reasons stated. Why has the survey only been e-mailed to you in the last day or so when you are such an advanced stage?

I would certainly try & re-negotiate, if you are successful, try & get the solicitors to make an allowance on the price, this should stop you having to re-jig the paperwork & getting a new mortgage offer.

PasturesNew

TBeckett100 wrote: »

We are due to exchange Friday having signed the paperwork today. However, I have just received the full survey report via email which makes worrying reading.

You're doing it again aren't you ... "serial offerer"... as you said on 28/02 when you got the jitters.

TBeckett100

no this is the property for us. you know when the property is right when you look for reasons to love it rather than excuses to dump it.

We offered on it at the beginning of March and the survey was done on the 14, unfortunatly the full report has taken a while to reach me. we got glimpses of the problems in the mortgage valuation report but it didnt mention everything.

merlinthehappypig

TBeckett100 wrote: »

no this is the property for us. you know when the property is right when you look for reasons to love it rather than excuses to dump it.

That's not instinct, simply the difference between men and women;)

Doozergirl

I'm wondering how a new roof, some fascia and guttering, some chimney repointing (which can all potentially be done at the same time) and damp proofing can cost £10-15000. Is there more to be done?

I do agree that a new roof is better than continual patching.

Is there absolute evidence of damp? I'm always dubious about these things. Unless you can see or smell it then I don't think it's worth addressing. These companies will always sell you a product - often for no reason other than making a sale. I would certainly live in the house for a while before you decide whether to have the work done. Not to say you shouldn't knock the price down just in case

It would be fair to email the list of work and the cost of doing it over to the agent so that they can confirm it's legitimate and not blatant gazundering.

TBeckett100

the roof on the extension has got holes and is causing high levels of damp. in the chimney, the breasts are damp and the roof has had some lead s shaped things put on sue to nail corrosion.

the damp company have been out and said the DPC was done by them previously but the previous owners didnt carry out the plastering side of the work which has rendered the whole thing pointless.

mystic_trev

Forward the email to the Vendor, saying as work could cost £15,000 and you've already knocked off £5,000 you'll go half on the difference i.e. drop another £5,000 off the price.

Doozergirl

TBeckett100 wrote: »

the damp company have been out and said the DPC was done by them previously but the previous owners didnt carry out the plastering side of the work which has rendered the whole thing pointless.

Please! :eek: That's the oldest trick in the book. That's why none of these guarantees are worth the paper they're written on. There's some bizarre instruction on mixing bat's brains and dried, ground bull's testicles into the plaster mix that otherwise renders the guarantee void.

I'm not disputing you need a new roof or damp proofing but it shouldn't cost that much - both together in an average house shouldn't cost more than £8000? and I'm being really generous. repointing costs about £25 per square metre and I bet you there's no real damp problem anyway. Old houses have high damp readings, that doesn't mean they are suffering from damp. If the damp in the chimney breast comes from above then deal with that and wait.

TBeckett100

here is another interesting thing with the house. it was originally leashold then it became freehold as no-one claimed ground rent. there is an indemnity on it. also the vicar can ask me to sort his roof out i understand.

so thats the roof i am contributing towards on the sale flat, the new roof on the house and i bet the vicar will be round asking for a roof on his church as well. i may just give up my day job and become a roofer

TBeckett100

the damp tanking etc and replastering is £2500 plus vat. the roof, well, thats a quite for the roofer.