Honest opinions about the survey

[fruitstick]

OK, had survey back on house.

It has been recently extended and modernised so not expecting to any work.

There is damp that needs further investigating. The roof will need replacing "in 3 to 5 years" and is not properly insulated.

There is some repointing to be one.

Can we ask for money off for these things?

What do you think?

Get a roofer in to quote on how much it would cost to replace and insulate the roof. Replacing the roof can be quite expensive it depends on how big.

Get somebody in to look at the damp.

You can't get money off without some proof so you need quotes.

If its a few hundred you can't negotiate. A few thousand you can try but it depends on how much you want a property.

You also need to take into account the price you're paying for the house. If it's already priced to allow for some work then I doubt you'll get the vendors to drop the price.

That's the thing though nocake - it's not.

The modernisations have only just been completed so I was assuming it was a move in and spend no money except on sofas kind of thing.

In that case I think you have a good case for asking for a reduction in the price but, as Fiddledee says, make sure you have proof of the costs.

The roof would worry me because (a) it could be expensive and (b) why would you extend and do up the house without doing that as well? It would suggest that there may be other hidden bodges or short cuts. Again, it seems weird to spend money on an extension without sorting out the damp first.

What would concern me is the damp, you need to find the cause of this and be prepared to walk away. Also be aware that the extension could have caused the damp (blocking airbricks, natural drainage).

The damp is in the front of the property and seems to be caused as the original (1920s) damp course isn't sufficient. But waiting for the full report.

Yes, I agree about the roof. I don't think they modernised it to sell, have been living in it but are now relocating, so I guess it didn't need doing at the time and thought they would do it down the line.

The rest looks like it's been done well.

I've rung round a few roofers for a phone quote and they've ranged from £2,000 to £10,000

Get a roofer to look at because survey can say needs a new roof and a roofer will say it just needs a few tiles replacing. IME surveyors don't know much about roofs.

You want the damp seen by a specialist and treated - there should be a 10 year guarantee that the solicitor will get transferred to you.

Wouldn't worry so much about the roof and repointing, but any house that's 80 years old will have the original roof at the 'end' of its life. It could easily last another 30 years but might all go in a big storm and you'd then have to get it replaced immediately.

(our house needed a new roof 'immediately' but was fine for another 5 years until we replaced it. Need to contact the damp company though...)