Renegotiating price before exchange - annoying estate agent.

[fruitstick]

We are buying a house, recently extended and modernised. Not our dream home but nice house which we thought we could move straight into with no hassle.

He bought it for 175k last year. Has had big double extension on back and done lots of work. We are paying 325k which I think is a more than fair price.

Survey came back and entire front room has damp and the roof may need replacing soon, though not immediately.

To our mind, this is not the stress free low effort house we thought.

We got a quote for damp from company agent recommended. Agent is now saying that company are notoriously expensive and quote is not true reflection of cost.

We got a quote for the roof from company vendors used to build extension. Again, agent saying not a reliable quote.

What to do. We have asked for £12,500 off. Not expecting to get that but that's £2500 for damp and redecorating and £6,000 for roof and £4,000 for the loss of 'no work needed' premium we thought we were paying. Damp will take a month to sort out so we may as well carry on renting while it's done. Won't now be in before Christmas.

Anyone managed this?

Our surveyed said it was rising damp but the vendor's builder said it wasn't- just moisture coming in from pointing which needs doing.

Very marked difference in results. I'm so stressed and confused I just want it all to go away!

I would also walk away - its not your dream house so just leave it. And good luck to him selling it especially at this time of year.

If it is sressing you out then walk away, you hold all the cards.

depends on whether you really want the house

I'd walk away if it wasn't my dream house and wasn't easy and continue renting

prices are going down

they think you won't walk it might give them a shock

so you lose a few hundred on the survey - no biggie in the grand scheme of things

if you loved the house and it would be your forever place then it's different

Damp companies will tell you what makes them a profit. One told us we needed all sorts doing. We found that once we moved in and heated the house adequately unlike the vendors, the problem had gone in 6 months. No need for any other work at all.

If he has not bothered with the roof and just modernised the house I would wonder what corners he has cut and what nasty suprises might be around the corner.

The vendors builder is bound to say it's just moisture coming from pointing isn't he .