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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Calling our buyers surveyor

19 replies

Sunday89 · 17/08/2018 14:19

Is it a complete no no?
They are demanding money off based on a survey report they won’t share and refuse to even copy and paste sections for us to see.
I have the surveyors number as he left a business card - so I call him and will he give me any info!? He told me verbally that the thing they want us to give money off for was fine so I just want him to confirm that was in the report and our buyers are basically lying!

OP posts:

Original poster

Sunday89 · 17/08/2018 14:19

Sorry do I call him not so I call him

OP posts:

MissBartlettsconscience · 17/08/2018 14:26

No, you can't call him and he can't disclose anything to you anyway.

Call your EA and say you're not prepared to negotiate unless the relevant sections of the report are disclosed to you. If the buyers are being CFs you're better off knowing at this stage.

specialsubject · 17/08/2018 14:33

the survey is confidential. dont waste effort. either accept or refuse their offer.

Original poster

Sunday89 · 17/08/2018 14:35

They are definitely being CFs. Already had 10k knocked off the price. How long would be reasonable to allow them to get a builder round for a quote for the imaginary issue before we say we’re going back on the market?

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FawnDrench · 17/08/2018 14:48

Don't waste your time with them.
Just not worth it - if they're like this now, what will they be like by moving day??

Ridiculous situation and they're holding you to ransom.

Hope you get a decent offer soon.

AJPTaylor · 17/08/2018 14:50

I would put it back on the market today

TheFaerieQueene · 17/08/2018 14:54

They are the sort to demand another price drop hours before exchange as well. Put your Home back on the market.

Spickle · 17/08/2018 15:00

Unless they disclose extracts from the survey to the EA or their solicitor, do not engage in direct discussions regarding any price reduction.

Unless the survey reveals serious problems needing immediate action, or were not generally visible when they came to view, tell them to take a running jump.

A price reduction may result in the mortgage lender having to reissue the mortgage offer. If they are borrowing the maximum and LTV is tight, then this could affect how much the lender will lend.

Original poster

Sunday89 · 17/08/2018 15:06

Thanks all that’s my gut feeling too, what else will they pull out the bag if we ‘win’ on this issue. Think I’ll give them until Monday to either proceed as agreed or we’re back on Rightmove Monday afternoon ☹️

OP posts:

AdoreTheBeach · 17/08/2018 15:22

I’d talk to the estate agent. If it’s a real issue, you need to know as it would come up in any future survey too.

In our current house, the survey showed up an issue and we shared the entire survey to the sellers to illustrate why we were reducing our offer. Even shared the quote of tradesmen to correct issue. The tradesman was recommended by the estate agent too. All was above board to all parties as it’s relevant information to all parties.

If your buyers are refusing to share the survey, how do you know there is really even an issue? Or if there is, how much it is the fix?

Original poster

Sunday89 · 17/08/2018 15:38

Exactly! It’s the roof, the surveyor told me while he was in the house that the felt lining (or whatever it is) is coming apart in places but ‘the roof is good for 10-15 years at least’. Guess what the buyers want us to pay for a whole new roof

OP posts:

Spickle · 17/08/2018 16:00

I actually believe all surveys mention the roof and felt linings!!

I wouldn't engage with this at all (unless the house was only built two years ago of course.....)

FanSpamTastic · 17/08/2018 16:16

We negotiated a reduction for work identified in a survey when we bought our first house. But we gave a copy of the report to the seller and followed up with getting quotes from electricians for said work (out of date electrics). All fully disclosed.

It was an issue they would have likely had with any buyer that came along. We had made a fair offer on basis only cosmetic changes would be needed to the house. The electrics has not been updated since the 70s.

NicoAndTheNiners · 17/08/2018 16:24

I suppose from their point of view maybe they think having a roof which is only good enough for another ten years when it’s such a big expense isn’t good enough.

Whether you feel their concern is valid or not is up to you.

Original poster

Sunday89 · 17/08/2018 17:12

It’s a 50s house - surely you understand that it won’t be in perfect new build condition when buying? We’re buying an even older house and wouldn’t dream of renegotiating unless there’s genuinely a big issue that needs urgent attention. Why do buyers do this?

OP posts:

Spickle · 17/08/2018 17:19

You're absolutely right. Your buyers are buying a property approximately 70 years old. What did they expect?? I would hold firm.

NicoAndTheNiners · 17/08/2018 17:27

I suppose the problem is if they think they have to spend 10k on a roof in the next ten years they may just prefer to increase their budget and look at houses 10k more which don’t need a new roof?

On the other hand they may just be trying it on.

When we bought our 100yr plus House we new the roof would need sorting at some point but didn’t negotiate on that. The surveyor said that boiler was ancient and on its last legs and that the patio doors were single non safety glass and he felt were unsafe.

We asked for 2k off in view of this which I thought was fair seeing as it would cost more than 2k to sort. Seller wasn’t happy and came back and said it was normal “wear and tear” which I thought was an odd phrase but as I said to the estate agent other houses we’d seen had had more spent on them and were in general better upkeep (not saying the upkeep on yours isn’t good). We agreed on 1k off in the end.....mainly because I’d fallen in love with it just from a character point of view.

TheMotherChip · 17/08/2018 17:28

The buyers are either crazy, greedy or cautious to the absolute extreme. It doesn’t sound as though the surveyor mentioned anything wrong with the roof joists or the tiles. Therefore even if some of the roofing felt needs repair you don’t replace the whole roof! Just need to lift off the tiles and put down new felt either in damaged patches or in more extreme cases the whole roof. You can reuse the tiles, older ones are generally nicer than new ones anyway. Also the surveyor is just covering himself by saying this might need to be replaced in 10-15 years. Any part of a house could need repairing that far off, it’s impossible to tell now what state it will be in by then. If there was anything immediately wrong with the roof such as leaking then the surveyor would say it needs repairing now.

NicoAndTheNiners · 17/08/2018 17:31

the surveyor is just covering himself by saying this might need to be replaced in 10-15 years. Any part of a house could need repairing that far off, it’s impossible to tell now what state it will be in by the

That’s true, the surveyors report we had done was a major example of arse covering which was blatantly obvious to me. There may or may not be damp, there may or may not be woodworm,etc, etc.

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