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Original poster

Pull out of house sale due to survey?

37 replies

maneandfeathers · 21/02/2020 10:12

Has this happened to anyone else?

Finally found one we sort of agreed on, although I prefer it to DH who is very unenthusiastic about anything we have seen as he wants a house 100k over budget and compares everything to that.

Mortgage valuation has thrown up a major issue in that the roof needs replacing.

DH wants to pull out and just buy a new build instead, I’m undecided. Am I mad to even consider it? Vendors won’t drop any lower than we are now so we are currently at a stalemate.
The house already requires a lot of work and this has doubled it, I don’t even know how much a roof costs!

We need to decide today whether to proceed or not.

Something else will come up won’t it

OP posts:

JigsawsAreInPieces · 21/02/2020 10:14

Sad but I would drop out.

Submariner · 21/02/2020 10:27

Surely that's the point of the survey - to highlight issues you may not notice at viewings? Unfortunately I would back out. There's no point rushing and regretting it in a few months time.

beachcomber70 · 21/02/2020 10:29

If the vendors don't adjust the selling price when the property needs a new roof they are being unreasonable. There seems to be a lot of work to be done there anyway apart from even more...and more stress, time and money on top. [Scaffolding all round the property for weeks, which is very intrusive].

Depending on the type/size of property a new roof can be anything from £5000-£10,000 for a small terrace/larger semi and that's assuming the work doesn't discover roof timbers which need replacing. More expense, more decisions, delay in finishing the job.

Yes, something else will come up. Houses come on the market every day. I wouldn't settle in this case but move on. I think that's the sensible option.

uuurrrrgggghhhhh · 21/02/2020 10:31

Get a second opinion. Someone pulled out on our house because the surveyor said the roof looked like it was wonky (can’t remember exact term) and the chimney was at a funny angle)
Our house is only 8 years old and we’ve never had any problems.
The surveyor made this statement from standing on the pavement and looking up 3 stories.
We got 3 more opinions from both surveyors and roofers who all said the roof was perfect!
We paid for scaffolding and the roofer went onto the roof and inspected the roof and chimney. It was 100% level.

NewYearNewTwatName · 21/02/2020 10:32

how big and straightforward it the roof? it will determine how much it will cost, a mid terrace house with typical roof shouldn't be too much.

Maybe gets rough quotes and try to negotiate with sellers?

uuurrrrgggghhhhh · 21/02/2020 10:32

Our tv aerial however was wonky, which made the chimney appear at an angle.

HeartyGreenSalad · 21/02/2020 10:34

Why have you got to decide today.?

NewYearNewTwatName · 21/02/2020 10:34

sorry don't know how I missed that the sellers won't negotiate.

if you are on tight budget, then drop out.

I have lived in houses that needed lots of work and no money. It's not fun.

coconuttelegraph · 21/02/2020 10:36

Obviously no one can know if you'll find another house but from what you've said it would be crazy to proceed with this one without a reduction in price if you can't afford the extra cost of repairs

idril · 21/02/2020 10:36

If it was a house I really wanted, I wouldn't pull out because of it needing a new roof. But given you don't sound very enthusiastic about the house anyway, this sounds like it's tipped the balance and you should pull out.

Incidentally, I bought a house in 2004 where the survey said it needed a new roof. We got it patched up (replaced broken tiles etc.) which didn't cost much but we never replaced it and it never leaked. We sold in 2019 and the buyers survey didn't bring up anything about the roof.

CommunistLegoBloc · 21/02/2020 10:50

Funnily enough there's a house that's just sold opposite us that very obviously needs a new roof, along with a lot of other work. DP and I always say we don't know who would buy it, because roofs are such a ballache and an expense to fix! I would pull out personally. It'll be a money pit and you don't sound in love with it.

PeterPanGoesWrong · 21/02/2020 10:53

If the vendors won’t budge on price and you haven’t totally fallen in love with the house, I’d say walk away.
I know new builds have a bad reputation as being soulless and having no character, but I live in a new build and it’s been a great experience. My old place was a Victorian terrace that needed something replaced or repaired every month. The few, very small issues we have had with this house have all been covered by the nhbc and very swiftly put right.

Everything happens for a reason, I just think your house is still out there waiting for you to find it?

TheNoodlesIncident · 21/02/2020 11:00

With reference to your last comment - yes, it always does.

Surveys tend to look on the bleak side and a few slipped tiles can often be translated as "needs entirely replacing". The vendors may know the roof looks dodgy but is still sound, although all roofs need redoing at some point. Our house was built in the early 1930s and still has the original roof; clearly at ninety years old it is reaching end of life and needs attention. But at present it's not leaking and has been scheduled for "sometime in the next few years", hopefully it will last that long but other urgent repairs have come up and have been treated as higher priority. There are always hidden defects that need sorting, some as a matter of urgency, some you do when you get round to it.

If the vendors won't consider any deductions and the house is visibly shabby, I would probably pull out and keep looking. New builds are not always problem free, but I can see the appeal for your DH! He needs to stick to budget though, there's no point in tormenting yourself looking at houses you just can't afford.

sunshinesupermum · 21/02/2020 11:02

Drop out - if the vendors won't consider dropping the price. A new roof costs a lot! But don't buy a new buy unless you love it.

ChicCroissant · 21/02/2020 11:03

Was the house very cheap because it had taken this into account already, OP? If that's the case then although you can still walk away I can see why the vendors won't reduce the price.

It is a big job, no doubt about that, and might not be something you are looking to do when you move!

Bloomburger · 21/02/2020 11:05

Get someone go round price it up and stand your ground. Look at other houses and move on on your mind they may reassess and come back to you.

FairytaleofBykerGrove · 21/02/2020 11:05

We pulled out of a sale last year in similar circumstances. 4 months later the vendor dropped the price to even lower than our revised offer and we went sale agreed for a second time and moved in last month. Good luck!

BrownAjah · 21/02/2020 11:10

We pulled out of a purchase after survey found damp. Got a specialist to quote for the work and they refused to budge even to cover that. We thought it was too risky with our budget. Immediately found a better house fresh on the market, a couple of streets over in much better condition and cheaper and that's where we live now! Original house eventually went off the market unsold - owner clearly just wasn't being realistic.

Unless you love it then probably not worth it?

ChicCroissant · 21/02/2020 11:11

Does it mean a mortgage retention for you, or was it more a case of 'the roof will need replacing in time' which it always says tbh!

WhateverHappenedToBathPearls · 21/02/2020 11:20

Agree with pp - either pull out or drop your offer. If your DH is keen on new builds it sounds like he doesn't really want a fixer-upper, in which case perhaps best to walk away.

He wants a house 100k over budget and compares everything to that

If you do start looking again, screen out stuff you can't afford. Filter it out on Rightmove etc and for gods sake dont go and view anything over budget or this kind of thing happens.

woodencoffeetable · 21/02/2020 11:25

what does the survey say exactly about the roof?
nearly always if will say something like recommending replacing roof within the next 5 years.

bettytaghetti · 21/02/2020 11:26

Your original offer was based on how much work you thought it needed doing; it's now apparent there's quite a bit more, so you are quite within your rights to pull out if the vendor won't budge. Be careful you don't end up with a money pit! although new build is no guarantee of avoiding this!

Clariana · 21/02/2020 11:28

My husband is a roofer, many, many times he has been to properties where the surveyor has said it needs a new roof only to find a couple of places need attention and other than that it is fine.

If you really want it get a roofer's opinion, but if you don't want the hassle, pull out.

Didiusfalco · 21/02/2020 11:28

Agree with pp, was it an immediate issue or was it more something that may need doing over the term of the mortgage? If it was that serious they wouldn’t mortgage it without the work being done. However you don’t sound that keen anyway, so would probably pull out for that reason.

Southmouth · 21/02/2020 11:34

Hmm depends on how much I had my heart set on the house I guess. Also how much it would cost to fix would help me decide.

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