Home Buyers Survey getting access to property for quotes

[Bobballs]

Hi,

I had a HBS on a house I want to buy and it came up with rather alot of 'urgent issues' rated 3, I knew the place needed work but not as much as the survey says.

Anyway I need to get an idea of cost to sort these items out so I can adjust my offer price, in this situation is it usual for the buyer to ask the seller to allow a builder access to the property to quote on the work, or does builder have to do it blind and just based on survey results, I don't know as I have not been in this position before ?

Also one if the issues its recommended to get a timber rot person into to look at it, again would be it usual for the seller to allow this, also I take it I would have to pay ?

Final question, garage has an asbestos roof, is that a no-no these days and has to be replaced ? The surveyor says it needs to be at some point replaced would you factor that in to a revised offer.

The offer I made did factor in work needed but some of the stuff that has come up I was not aware of hence revising the offer.

thanks

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

There is no set of standard answers to any of your questions. You'll have to suck it and see. Respectfully if you've got little idea how to even approach this aspect maybe you should not be looking for a house that needs a ton of work ......

 

[Burnerman]

Bear in mind Bob that 'surveyors' in this case need to justify their existence and costs......anything that's found can be discussed with the seller, and it's up to him who he allows into his property.
Obviously it can be to his advantage if the new buyer needs a mortgage.
Can you tell us what was actually found by the survey? Just a wee bit intrigued by the timber rot comment!
The asbestos roof is fine if it's sound.....if it needs replacing, then specialist disposal is required.
I'm just saying this because I had this done on someone's behalf recently, and the survey missed more than they found!
John

 

[Bobballs]

Hi,

Thanks for replies, the issue with the possible timber rot was they looked in a fitted wardrob that is directly under the chimney flashing that is leaking and they found,

"water staining and vegetation intrusion, possible vegetation growth from timber rot (possibly fungal) to the ceiling joists / roof plate directly under the leak"

Other issues with an urgent were,

"Electrics some of the cabling was on in external walls in plastic covering and not truncked into the plaster work".

"2 man hole covers in garden tenent informed them they have blocked 6 months ago, recommend a CCTV inspection of the drains due the large number of trees and bushes in the vicinity"

The eletrics one I don't understand as the place is currently let and has been for 6 months through an agent so I assume they have an electrical safety cert, so I know it doesn't look pretty until I sort it but is it really that bad ?

cheers

 

[Burnerman]

Thanks for the reply Bob.
I think Freddy has really nailed that one......I mean, if I was selling the house I would say that I had adjusted the price to accommodate remedial work on the roof - but I wouldn't have any objection to a second viewing, so long as there was no dismantling involved.
Any professional inspection would be at your expense.
As for the electrics, well it sure wouldn't look very pretty and could indicate that there was rewiring involved in the near future - as far as I know it isn't illegal though.
As for the drains, I'd say that they were working fine to date.
A bit of a minefield, for sure it sounds like a project, but if the price reflects this etc.......
John

 

[ree]

The roof business sounds exactly like Dry Rot manifestations. Straightforward enough to fix, just so long as the roof isn't shot?

Channeling cables is no big deal, & as you say if its a rental there might be an elec certificate of some kind.

If the house is in use then the drainage is in use - quite whats blocked sounds confusing?

Most of the stuff in these reports is almost Mickey Mouse in terms of remedial costs. If the house suits, and you can borrow & spend a couple of thousand on repairs then go for it.

 

[longdogs]

I think I am right in saying that if a property is rented to a tenant, the tenant has to agree before anyone enters the building for surveys and quotes. etc. (not a 100% sure about that).

Surveyors tend to pick put the most obvious problems and tell you they are urgent to cover themselves. They always advise to get the electrics checked independently. They are not allowed to lift carpets for inspection and advise you have it checked out. Pointless really and the full survey isn't any better.

You could try contacting their estate agent (or yours if they are helpful) and tell them that you would like to arrange for some building quotes. If your seller is not helpful in arranging it - pull out.

Or you could take a chance, get a ballpark figure from a builder and knock it off the price. I suppose it depends on how much you want that house.

Don't be surprised if the owner turns the offer down.

 

[big-all]

as an aside
if more than one property share the same drains its the water companies responsibility