Home buyer survey

[Sammmy]

Hello all,

Lost login details for old account so had to set up a new one

We have just sold our home and the buyer has requested a homebuyer survey.

I have read that things they will check will be general condition, damp etc .

One thing about our property is that it was built mid 1800s with thick stone walls and I’m 99% sure it’s never had any form of damp proofing. We have lived in it for 9 years now and never had any damp issues but I’ve heard a few stories about surveys picking up rising damp from a meter when there is nothing wrong.
I was debating whether to get a damp meter just to see what the figures read around the house.
My question is what sort of readings would a surveyor be looking at when using it around a house? Is there a general threshold that would flag up as potential damp on their reports?

 

[just pumps]

Havent brought or sold for a long time but the last survey was down to the buyers not the seller.

 

[Sammmy]

Havent brought or sold for a long time but the last survey was down to the buyers not the seller.

Yes the buyer has requested one, not us. I have changed my wording as it may have come across incorrect

 

[johnny2007]

Nothing you can do to influence the surveyor.
Let them do their job and sit tight.

 

[Expired]

If your estate agent and solicitors are any good, they should be able to 'correctly' interpret the results/concerns to your buyer.

 

[just pumps]

If your estate agent and solicitors are any good, they should be able to 'correctly' interpret the results/concerns to your buyer.

Would the seller/estate agent/solicitor even see the report? I never did.

 

[Expired]

Would the seller/estate agent/solicitor even see the report? I never did.

When I sold last year, I chased the process of our buyers home buyers report with our estate agent as we hadn't heard anything. They said they had answered and deflected a few questions to settle our buyer.

So I'm guessing they won't actually see the report but should be familiar with certain queries that arise. Ours was a first time buyer so was likely questioning findings on the report.

 

[johnny2007]

Only the buyer will see the report, unless they pass it on, but it's up to them.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Hello all,

Lost login details for old account so had to set up a new one

We have just sold our home and the buyer has requested a homebuyer survey.

I have read that things they will check will be general condition, damp etc .

One thing about our property is that it was built mid 1800s with thick stone walls and I’m 99% sure it’s never had any form of damp proofing. We have lived in it for 9 years now and never had any damp issues but I’ve heard a few stories about surveys picking up rising damp from a meter when there is nothing wrong.
I was debating whether to get a damp meter just to see what the figures read around the house.
My question is what sort of readings would a surveyor be looking at when using it around a house? Is there a general threshold that would flag up as potential damp on their reports?

Hi,

There are many interesting websites around such as:
https://www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/managing-damp-in-old-buildings.html
that go into detail about damp problems in old houses.
One of the concerns raised is that homebuyers surveys are not suitable for an old house. Resistive damp meters are not designed to measure the dampness of stone walls - many will contain salts and materials such as pyrites etc. that conduct electricity and hence give a damp reading that is a false positive.

So no, don't invest in a damp meter. It may be next to useless in your house!

Good luck