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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Cheeky buyer

21 replies

lostowl · 22/09/2016 13:32

Buyer doesn't want to get a survey but has asked whether he can see our over 5 year one!!!

What would you do?

OP posts:

MrsHulk · 22/09/2016 13:36

Why is that cheeky? If he doesn't want to spend the money on a survey, that's his choice and his risk.

He's asking you to disclose your survey.

You can either agree (in which case your lawyer can advise you on wording to make clear you're not guaranteeing it's accurate) or you can refuse.

If you refuse, he may be annoyed enough to pull out or he may suspect you are hiding something about the property and pull out.

You just need to have a think about what your survey shows and whether or not you want to disclose it.

It's not that unusual to ask to see previous searches or reports - sometimes as the buyer feels they don't want to spend the money, sometimes they're just double-checking their own reports. I wouldn't be offended or annoyed by the request.

LIZS · 22/09/2016 13:40

Are they cash buyers? 5 years is quite a long time.

Kaisha02 · 22/09/2016 13:43

Things can change in 5 years. Our survey brought up suspected problems but we the brought in a specialist at an additional cost who confirmed there weren't any problems, but signs of previously fixed problems. I would tell them no, pay for their own. It depends how desperate you are to sell but that's their risk to take. Just make sure you're legally covered if there is a problem and he claims you should him up to date survey.

Original poster

lostowl · 22/09/2016 13:47

They are cash buyers. I just wish he'd get his own damn survey.

OP posts:

MrsHulk · 22/09/2016 13:50

But why do you care? He doesn't have to get a survey - it's his risk if he decides to proceed without paying for one.
If you don't have a reason to refuse, why not just be helpful and hand over your old survey? Your solicitor can handle it and word it so you're not liable, so it's no risk to you.

Original poster

lostowl · 22/09/2016 13:58

I mean instead of asking for mine.

I can't see how a five year old survey would interest him. I'm worried he'll see something that'll put him off if I'm honest.

OP posts:

GiddyOnZackHunt · 22/09/2016 14:00

Have you still got the old survey? Does it show any problems?
If you've got it and it's good then you should be keen to let him use it. If he has to get a new one done it flows things down and may show something you don't I ow about.

YelloDraw · 22/09/2016 14:00

I can't see how a five year old survey would interest him.
It gives information about the condition 5 years ago, about the type of construction etc - still worth a look.

I'm worried he'll see something that'll put him off if I'm honest.
Wouldn't you be more worried about a current survey highlighting something that will put them off? Unless the house was in bad condition and you did lots of work to it?

If you don't want to give it to him you don't have to.

Tiredandtested · 22/09/2016 14:00

I think it is cheeky.
What if your survey had flagged something that might need doing that you chose not to?
If he's got any doubts he should pay for his own, up to date one.

Original poster

lostowl · 22/09/2016 14:11

I agree tiredandtested. There was damp mentioned in the survey which we haven't done anything about and we haven't had problems with it. Obviously we can't provide proof of that. The previous owners of our house got a damp proof course with a 30 year guarantee but the survey still showed dampness. The guarantee has 18 years left on it!

OP posts:

eternalopt · 22/09/2016 15:04

Better that than him getting his own survey that you don't get to see yourself and they use to negotiate price down.

Original poster

lostowl · 22/09/2016 15:36

Mixed responses then!

OP posts:

HereIAm20 · 22/09/2016 18:40

Most surveys say that they cannot be relied upon other than by the initial person instructing the surveyor so if you do decide to show him then I would emphasise that. Personally I might say I had a look at my papers and cant find it

PikachuSayBoo · 22/09/2016 18:46

If you say no he will probably just get his own survey and the damp may have got worse! Or other problems show up.

Coughingchildren5 · 22/09/2016 18:47

I wouldn't share it. If they aren't commissioning their own up to date survey then they are reluctant to commit at this stage. Proceed with caution!

EssentialHummus · 22/09/2016 18:50

I'd share it, with big letters on the front saying that you are not making any representations about the condition of the property based on the contents of the survey.

Imperialleather2 · 22/09/2016 20:07

If you don't want t to disclose then just say you can't find it, it was done through the mortgage Co and they won't provide another as it's their valuation and for their use only.

He doesn't need to know what type of survey you got and could have got just a valuation.

Absolute tight arse - if ge can afford to buy cash he can bloody well.afford a survey!!!!!!!

Original poster

lostowl · 22/09/2016 20:15

That's what I though imperial. He's a cash buyer and I think he is not having a survey because he's already got a few buy to let properties. He's said to my agent already that he wants them to find a tenant asap. So I'm confident he's legit but it was cheeky to ask in the first place I feel.

In the end I said I didn't know where it was and he's accepted that. Let's hope it stays that way! He's getting a great price for the house because we are keen on the house were hopefully moving in to.

OP posts:

ElsieMc · 23/09/2016 11:28

Our survey mentioned damp, but the house had been empty three years. We had our own surveyor and builder round and there was a condensation issue only, no damp. Didn't argue with the survey but would not want a prospective buyer to read it either. OP, stick to your guns and I do think it is cheeky.

Original poster

lostowl · 23/09/2016 15:09

Thanks Elsie and I think that's what we have , a condensation issue, as we don't have problems if we air the house whenever possible. So the dampness on the survey is out of context. Anyway he's happy without our survey and still not having his own survey. He also wants my agent to market my property for letting as soon as it's his.

OP posts:

Pradaqueen · 24/09/2016 06:39

Op I agree with the 'sorry had a look and can't find it' route. Shut the conversation down and forget about it. It doesn't sound as if he'll pull out if he's chatting with the agent about letting and almost certainly he will try and chip you for whatever 'issue' is in your 5 yr old survey. I buy a lot of property without mortgages and some I get a full survey on (generally period or houses in known areas of subsidence) and others none. Some I just get a structural engineer in to have a look st a specific concern. If he has other properties he does sound like he has his big boy pants on so I'd say deffo he's being very cheeky. I hope the move goes well for you.

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