Just had a bad survey, now what?

[Chillisauce]

Hi,

We just had our home buyers survey back, it's flagged up structural movement that needs attention, a bowing gable end and damp, plus other stuff. It says we need to get a further structural report and costs, how do I do it? Start ringing builders? Or run for the hills?

Any advice?

Depends on how much you want to spend and how much you want the property.
A further report would be a good idea if you are still set on the property. Sometimes a seller will agree to come down on price in order to address the work needed doing. Sometimes, you can split the cost once you have got quotes.
It will probably be stressful but maybe worth it in the end, if this is the house for you.

We really do like the house. Ok, so we will probably get a further survey, What do we do about quotes though, do we start to get builders in to look?

Yes, contact a builder and explain the situation to them. I had someone come and look at my house before I bought, based on the survey, for a quote. He came back a couple of months later when the house was mine to do the job. Luckily very straightforward.

Thanks. I'll try and find a builder then. The estate agents said they know tradesmen but that worries me as at the end of the day the agent looks after the vendor not me!

I would be looking at the advice from a structural engineer before a builder if movement has been identified. Subsidence is a deal breaker for a lot of buyers so you really need to know what you are dealing with for the future selling on if you need to move.

Our buyers have just had a survey done on our house - and of course I'm now paranoid that you're talking about our house OP

The surveyor wouldn't say a word about his findings... and I'm desperate to know whether he found anything. As far as we know the house is in fantastic shape...

Put me out of my misery OP and let me know which region of the country the house you're buying's in so I can cross you off my worry list

Don't worry , it's not yours, ours is owned by some businessmen apparently so I doubt it's you.

So do I need to go and get a full structural survey now too do you think?

PHEW. Had convinced myself it was our house

now I know it's not ours if you love it, I'd get a full survey. Homebuyers surveys are well known to flag a gazzillion things for 'further investigation' while a proper survey will tell you what really needs attention, and what's actually okay.

I'm annoyed as the survey company told me that for this property a home buyers would be fine and they didn't recommend the full survey as it was really for pre 1850 or listed buildings. I wish I hadn't listened now!

Sorry OP - every surveyor I've spoken to (a few, through work) says that Homebuyers were introduced for people buying bulk-built to template standard 3 or 4 bed houses. Anything older, or that's been altered or extended or any one-off builds should be done with a full survey.

It'll give you peace of mind and you'll have a much better idea of whether it's a goer or a no-go.

I knew I should of gone with my gut instinct!

Well I can't stay annoyed. So do I just go and get another survey, is this one useless now?

Did they put a valuation on the house if it came up with so many issues? Some surveyors refuse to value until they have had structural surveyors reports.

Well I'm not sure, on the bit they send to the mortgage company they said they agreed with the price but on the report it says they need the work looking at first, like getting quote for it etc

It's all difficult as I feel as the buyer you don't really have anyone 'looking after you' if you see what I mean. The vendor has the agent but as a buyer you have to work a bit harder don't you and try to manage everyone else
.

Getting a full structural survey is worth doing when you are spending so much money on a house or, as you've already got the Homebuyer's survey, maybe get a structural surveyors report just on the issues your survey has highlighted. If the structural surveyor's report suggests further investigation, then you need to take a view on whether to go ahead with the purchase or not. Many people would pull out at this stage. If there does seem to be a structural problem, make your solicitor aware so that they can raise enquiries with the vendor's solicitor and then it is up to the vendor to sort it out. The vendor will not be able to sell to anyone until this problem is dealt with.

Don't beat yourself up about the survey - a full one, whilst going into more depth on certain things, still wouldn't be a structural survey so you'd still be looking at employing specialists. In my experience the more in depth a survey, the more that is flagged up for a 'specialist' to look at....

I wouldn't have thought it was subsidence, because you would struggle to get the mortgage approved in that case. Bowing walls are often a case of the walls not being tied in properly to the floors.

For the damp, a specialist company will often do a free survey to check and advise of any remedial costs.

Structural movement is the effect but the potential cost to resolve this sits with the cause. You really want to identify the cause here so that you can be advised about the cost and any subsequent issues that may come up else where.

Subsidence, due to adequate foundation, will be expensive to fix.

I would get a structural survey done if you want to proceed but too early to get builder involved

Thanks everyone. It doesn't feel quite so frightening now I've had time to think about it all methodically. We are going to get a structural engineer to have a look and see just how bad it is. Then we know where we are.

I need to think with my head and not my heart on this. As hard as that is!