Estate agent asking for survey

10 replies

INeedABiggerBoat · 08/05/2014 21:42

I've posted on here before about our FTB situation and had such good advice - so I'm back for more, hopefully for the last time...

We're down to getting the final paperwork sorted - the estate agent called today to say that it should be with us early next week. This is good, obviously! However, they then emailed to ask us to send a copy of the survey/valuation to them. We did so, but we're now wondering why they would need this. Any ideas?

OP posts:

specialsubject · 09/05/2014 10:09

the survey is confidential to you and it says so on the front. Ask them what they are playing at.

starfish4 · 09/05/2014 11:41

Our survey & valuation came in mid March and the estate agent hasn't asked to see it. The solicitor doesn't need to see our survey, but we had to give him written confirmation that we were happy with the valuation and didn't propose to raise concerns over the survey.

The only reason I can think of that they might like to see it, is to verify if you are claiming unexpected work needs doing and trying to reduce asking price. Otherwise, I'd ask why they need to see it.

RCheshire · 09/05/2014 11:48

You do not provide it to the EA. There is no reason they would need it. I've shared sections of it to support my case when revising an offer due to unexpected discoveries. No other reason.

eurochick · 09/05/2014 11:50

I've never shown or been asked to send a survey to an estate agent.

Original poster

INeedABiggerBoat · 10/05/2014 08:01

Thank you all. We've had a fairly friendly relationship with the EA so far and can't for the life of us see what benefit it would give them - the valuation was lower than what we're paying, for example, and there were some minor problems with the building that we're not disputing. So for the moment we're going to hold fire - it's been a long slog to get this far and TBH we're running out of fight a little bit. It may be that they're trying to get an idea of how much other flats in the block would be valued at. If they do end up using it against us in some way I'll report back to warn others.

OP posts:

Hotbot · 10/05/2014 08:21

Don't give them it, if they ask again say you will for a fee !

Pinkje · 10/05/2014 09:38

Are they arranging your mortgage? Could it be to do with that?

starfish4 · 10/05/2014 10:42

Just to check, have you tried to get the price reduced because the valuation has come in lower. If you have, then I half understand why they'd want to check the valuation side of things as the seller would want to ensure you weren't trying it on. If not, they just do not need to see it. If they ask again, then ask them why.

Original poster

INeedABiggerBoat · 17/05/2014 11:32

Hi all, thank you very much for your replies, just wanted to post a quick update:

We spoke to the EA as we haven't been trying to get the price reduced or anything. Apparently he's been having some trouble with a valuation of a flat in the same building, and was hoping to figure out whether the new offer on this other place was fair or not.

At the moment we're accepting that explanation, as our move does seem to be moving forward, and the valuation showed that we're paying exactly what we 'should' be.

Fingers crossed there's nothing more sinister to it.

OP posts:

wowfudge · 17/05/2014 11:45

Cheeky bugger: could have told you that when they asked!

Flip