Survey reveals potential issue

teneighty · 19 December 2018 at 3:04PM

It is quite common in areas where known deleterious materials such as red ash under floors have been used to have the necessary tests done by the vendor.

If the property gets a clean bill of health the test certificate is used in the marketing to substantiate the market value. If the test reveals deleterious materials or there is no test certificate then the value of the property is lowered accordingly to reflect the risk of replacing all the concrete ground floors etc.

If the vendor wants top price they will have to bite the bullet and get the tests done or hope they find a stupid cash buyer.

Socrat · 20 December 2018 at 7:38AM

GM, not unrealistic. Houses testing positive would be incredibly difficult to sell so it's in the vendors' best interest to know.
Read Teneighty's reply.

Teneighty, thanks.
We had to pull out of that one as the vendor wasn't interested and are now facing the same issue with another property. These vendors are well aware of the issue in the area so fingers crossed! The survey on this one came back with a number 3, red flag for shale due to slightly uneven floors.

Socrat · 20 December 2018 at 7:45AM

DottieDam wrote: »

Can you imagine if it was your house, you allowed a prospective buyer to drill holes in your property and then they pull out, the next buyer comes along and you let them drill etc etc.

If it is a common problem in the area and you really want to live there, then maybe budget the works in for any property? Because even if this new house doesn't show a problem now it seems likely (by what you are saying) that it could in the future.

Oh, it's not a nice thing by any means but any informed seller in the area is aware of the potential issue coming up on the surveys.
You would only test it once, you wouldn't do it for every buyer and holes are sealed, covered, cleaned up,,, Once you get a clean bill of health for your property, it's much easier to sell at a decent price anyway.

Your other option would be not knowing and potentially having serious structural problems in the future.
The repair work includes removing all the concrete floors and possibly hardcore and costs in excess of £12k so not exactly something you can budget for and do "one day". This kind of situation is ideal for getting it sorted - while it's vacant, empty and needs all the floors and kitchen changed anyway.

Lauralou79 · 20 December 2018 at 9:22AM

Whatever the issue on the survey I wouldn't pay for testing I'd allow it though within reason. If the house is valued at the price being offered I'd also be reluctant to reduce the price.

However that depends on the needs to sell and how much money you need going forward. Most people will need a certain price to fund their purchase going forward. A goodwill reduction could happen.

If this issue is causing you stress you need to look further afield if you aren't prepared to pay for testing or are really worried then it's not for you.

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Survey reveals potential issue

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