Do you upper - What questions should I be asking?

[kiely32]

I am interested in buying a 5 bed that needs a lot of work. The front part of the house is arould 100 years old and the double height extention around 50 years old. It has been on the market for nearly a year and is, in my opinion, over priced. It doesn't feel like the current owners of 35 years have spent much on it - though they did say they have a new boiler. What kind of questions should I be looking to ask, I'm thinking things like when were the electrics last tested... I am looking to get as much info as possible then go in with a cheeky offer because space and location wise it is perfect for us.

I'd say ask when the wiring was re-done. And how energy efficient the house is (have they put cavity wall insulation in and insulated the loft for example)? Do you know how old the kitchen / bathroom is? Also how is it cosmetically - does it need re-painting / new carpet etc.

If you do want to put in an offer, it may be worth bearing in mind that you may have more negotiating power post-survey if that shows up any issues.

Great thanks.

The house needs gutting - every room floor to ceiling! Literally the only things I will keep are the 2 original fire places.

That's a good point about the survey, so I don't really need to factor in the big 'what if's' in the offer price but look to get it knocked off later, if need be.

By the sound of it, you need to assume that everything will need doing and you won't be able to live in the property. I wouldn't bother asking about checks on electrics etc as it's unlikely to have been rewired in the last 15 years. Are you aware of the costs involved with such projects?

Not really but we have a budget of 100,000. This will need to include windows, doors, kitchen and 2 bathrooms.

I'd put in a nearish asking price offer, then have a full structural survey done and then renegotiate down based on it. A cheeky offer might well get turned down (they may have been on the market for a year because they are holding out for a near asking price offer), but if you have the survey back, you can well argue that if they don't reduce due to these things showing up for you, any other subsequent purchaser's survey will show the same things.

I have bought a tip instead of a house...it seemed like a good idea at the time. What I would say I didn't factor in enough was the sheer amount of emotional and mental headspace it takes as well as the money.

Eg taking a day off work for a builder to come round and price up two new bathrooms and knocking a wall through, builder doesn't turn up. Taking another day off, builder does turn up. Builder doesn't send quote for 6 weeks. How many times to chase? Do I give up and get another builder to quote etc etc.

By the sound of it, you've got a reasonable budget but you'll need to be frugal and shop around. I think I'd offer at the most 150-200k less than the house would be worth when done up. That way you'll at least break even with a little of a buffer. However, no negotiation skill will make them sell at a reasonable price... If the house has been on the market for a year then there's a good chance that they are deluded about how much it's worth...

The long and short of it is that you need to know if it is watertight and the rest is cosmetic .
So ask about
When the roof was done and state of lead flashings.
Loft insulation
Damp proofing
Damp and dry rot certificates
Plumbing (old propertie may have lead pipes)
Drainage

If you feel that in your opinion that they can't answer these questions then when you employ a surveyor get him /her to investigate more fully and highlight it in their report.

I've been watching too many episodes of homes under the hammer

You need to look a thing the big ticket items

Subsidence
Woodworm or rotting timbers
Does it have wooden laths in he walls
Is the roof ok
Is the plumbing and drainage acceptable

Get a solid survey including electrics damp and plumbing and roof

On this scale bathrooms and kitchens are fairly cheap

Thanks everyone - a lot to work with there.

It went on September 16 at 350,000. They dropped in Feb to 340,000 and again in June to 325,000. All of the houses on the road are very unique but I would say the ceiling is around 400,000. My intention is to start at 285,000 as I know they have never had an offer!

Are you that desperately in love with the house? It looks like a few months/a year of stress and hassle only to break even...

A new roof for a five bed house may be up to £40k. You need to assume the worst and get a full structural survey. We didn't and regretted it!!!