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Original poster

To pull out of house sale?

31 replies

Househelp85 · 22/09/2021 19:08

I'm a little heartbroken. After months of work, we just got our survey results back and its raised some issues and now need to consider our options. Issues are:

  1. There was a leak which we noticed at viewing, and were assured it has been fixed, and the bedroom was redecorated. Survey has found there is 60% damp in that room, and that there is still a leak. The whole roof and ceiling needs replacing, all the plaster stripping and redoing. EKKK
  1. There is another leak in a bay window and the surveyor says that the beam is damaged. He can't tell us to what extent it is damaged as he would need to get to it, which he can't. Could be a replacement job, could be able to get by with steel reinforcements.
  1. The house seemed to have been underpinned at some point. This wasn't raised in the searches so he said it could have been done when the house was extended, but that we need to look into it as it will effect our mortgage and insurance

I am totally gutted and not sure what to do. The house is expensive and by no means our dream house. I don't think its worth the extra cash that is needed to be spent to bring it up to a liveable standard. The roof needs replacing ASAP and it might not survive the winter.

Also, builder are like gold dust, so even if we negotiate down the price (or do a retention for the work) I have no idea when someone will be able to fix it!

Anyone has any wise words?

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 22/09/2021 19:11

The house is expensive and by no means our dream house

Pull out.

NoSquirrels · 22/09/2021 19:14

That was a bit abrupt, sorry!

I wouldn’t buy this house if I hadn’t totally fallen in love, and even if I had I’d be seriously considering pulling out.

Badly done extensions with supporting beams that ‘could’ be cracked, and leaks that were ‘sorted’ but now mean a full roof replacement sounds like a huge can of worms. I’d only buy a house like this if property investment was my business, I had loads of building trade contacts and could drive a very hard bargain.

That doesn’t sound like you?

Granllanog · 22/09/2021 19:16

Pull out now.

Rainbowheart1 · 22/09/2021 19:17

Pull out

CormoranStrike · 22/09/2021 19:17

Run for the hills

FionnulaTheCooler · 22/09/2021 19:20

Pull out. The whole point of getting a survey done is so you don't end up dealing with this shit after buying a house. Be glad you found out before it's too late.

girlmom21 · 22/09/2021 19:21

If it's already expensive and not your dream house definitely pull out.

BeyondTeddington · 22/09/2021 19:24

Ahh surveys often read like horror novels as surveyors have to cover themselves but your report sounds particularly bad. Have you negotiated with the vendors or was the house priced to reflect it needed a new roof/ceiling etc?

Travis1 · 22/09/2021 19:33

Run far and run fast

DramaAlpaca · 22/09/2021 19:34

Nope, don't buy it.

Chloemol · 22/09/2021 19:37

Pull out

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 22/09/2021 19:37

I cant imagine why you are even asking. Pull out.

bonfireheart · 22/09/2021 19:38

The surveyors report for house I bought was the stuff of nightmares. I took a builder friend to have a look. It was a probate property and I wasn't at all surprised because some of it was obvious, it was priced accordingly but it did take me year to fix it up and lots of money. Dealing with tradespeople was a headache. I wouldn't do it now because over the last few months I've found it so hard to find a decent gardener, painter, any kind of tradespeople during lockdown - either all top expensive or too busy. It will quickly eat into your time and money, not worth it unless you love the house.

Original poster
Househelp85 · 22/09/2021 19:39

The survey is 22 pages. These are only the things I am frightened about!

@BeyondTeddington I’m struggling to get a builder to get a quote! Three kids. Two stressful jobs. I can’t be managing a building site even if I could find a builder and their quotes are going up and up due to supply problems!

In all honesty I’m not too worried by the money but I’m terribly worried about having an even more shit winter with a leaky roof.

OP posts:
Original poster
Househelp85 · 22/09/2021 19:40

@bonfireheart it’s over 1m and the issue is these problems are not reflected in the price.

OP posts:
Chronicallymothering · 22/09/2021 19:42

Run, don’t walk.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 22/09/2021 19:42

I bought an underpinned house and found it more difficult to insure and more expensive too. Definitely pull out!

Original poster
Househelp85 · 22/09/2021 19:43

God. Sounds like I need to put a pair of running shoes on.

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 22/09/2021 19:45

I’d think very hard if it was my dream house. If it wasn’t I’d walk away.

mayblossominapril · 22/09/2021 19:48

I think in the current climate if you are not an experienced property renovator walk away.

DerAlteMann · 22/09/2021 19:51

I would be out the second I saw the word "underpinned" in the survey.

wigglycactus · 22/09/2021 19:51

Pull out for sure. Sounds like the start of a huge, huge headache!

user1471538283 · 22/09/2021 19:54

It sounds like a money pit. I would pull out.

Original poster
Househelp85 · 22/09/2021 19:54

The underpinned bit he said to him it looked like it had been but not necessarily through subsidence. Does that make it any better?

OP posts:
Granllanog · 22/09/2021 20:21

worse!