Please help me stop fretting about our house passing its survey

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

We're selling our house which is due to be surveyed shortly. We don't have a lot of cash and our next house purchase is very much dependent on our house sale.

I confess I tend to find it easy to worry about things, so just wondering whether I should be worried, or whether my fretting is disproportionate?

Our house is a late Victorian (1890s-1900) brick terrace. Pretty bog standard. And therefore probably has lots of dings and nicks here and there, probably needs a new boiler at some point, doesn't have air vents over the chimney breasts that are now blocked up - that kind of thing that you often see in student houses (it's not a student house, but reminds me of the sort of terrace I used to live in as a student!).

It's probably also been 'enthusiastically' DIYed in places (ie. not by skilled professionals).

It's well presented and we've cared for it, but I would have no clue how structurally sound it is and knowing husband (who bought it) he would've paid for the bare minimum survey when he moved in so wouldn't know either.

Any words that could comfort me and help me to relax - or should I be worried?

We have progressed quite far with our own purchase (mortgage in place, surveyor booked) and it's now occurred to me that the whole thing could collapse if our house doesn't pass its MOT.

Forgot to add that it's also on a main road and near non residential properties. I've read that surveyors can criticise your house for things like that. But we can't do anything about those things!

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

Anyone?

[WhatKatyDidnt]

People expect lots of issues in surveys of period houses. I don't think there's any such thing as passing/failing a survey is there?

Don't worry. FWIW the survey on our 1900 house was horrendous but we bought it at the agreed price anyway cos we loved the space and location and even the mega expensive refurb hasn't tarnished that

[Dugongdog73]

I was really worried when our house was surveyed - I knew nothing major was wrong but expected the sale to be delayed by further reports, negotiations etc. In the end (although I didn't see the report obviously) nothing was raised to us as an issue. Remember too that they will have been aware about the boiler and the general condition of the house from their viewing and older houses aren't expected to be perfect. Good luck!

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

Thanks WhatKaty. Yes, by 'pass it's survey' I meant not be so horrendous that our buyer pulls out!

I know they've ordered a full structural one as the surveyor said they'd be here for hours! That's good to hear about yours. Though I sense that our buyer is a buy with their head not heart type.

[Northernlurker]

The Victorians built pretty solidly. If you're not aware of a problem then it's unlikely the surveyor will find one. How is the roof?

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

Good question NL! I have no idea. I even looked on Google satellite to try and have a look at it. My findings were...it's brown! (Not much to go on.)

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

Sorry dug didn't see your post. Thank you! Am fretting away here so your words have helped relax me a bit.

I know worrying about things that you can't help is pointless, but I've never been through this process before and I now understand why people say house buying is stressful!

[Dizzylizzie29]

hopefully it doesn't go as bad as our recent MOT
Turns out the house is underpinned. never picked up on out home buyers survey. Buyers pulled out

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

Oh no Dizzy that's awful, I'm sorry

[Dizzylizzie29]

Hopefully this kind of thing doesn't happen to people often.
Have rang both the solicitor and surveyors from our original move.it was underpinned in the 80's.
Bloody houses. Or rather this cursed house.
Good luck with yours, few other bits came back for ours which I think is pretty standard stuff, buyers apparently wouldn't have pulled out if it wasn't for the biggie

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

What are your options now Dizzy?

[lalalonglegs]

I feel your pain, Finally. The survey on the flat I am selling was done today. It's all been newly redone but surveyors always find something - or they put the normal stuff in such cataclysmic terms, that people panic. Feeling a bit tense...

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

Good luck lala - it is easy to fret, and it's a pain cos you just have no control over it!

[Dizzylizzie29]

Have just taken a much lower offer from someone who is aware of the issue.
Was considering renting but just want it gone, actually a cursed house!
Auction was floated as another option from EA.

Let us know how you get on with yours and fx for a swift and happy sale thereafter!

[FinallyLearntToBudget]

Thanks Dizzy. That's fab you at least have another offer from someone who knows about the problem! Must be a relief that at least you can still sell.