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Original poster

Surveyor/cheeky first time buyers

21 replies

Whitehawk · 07/07/2020 05:01

We are selling our house to a first time buyer.
She had a survey done by an independent surveyor
Surveyor says "purlin is inserted into original wall and does not believe this to be adequate support." We will possibly have to get a structural engineer around. There is no sagging or spreading of the roof, no rotting, no bowing, no split purlin. But they act as thought the house will fall down. It js a Victorian house, the purlin has possibly been replaced.

The buyer asked for the money for the survey back as she felt this was hidden and need another survey buy.a structural engineer... NO.... first time buyers are such amateurs.

What would you suggest we do. The roof has never been a problem. Ive put all my weight on the purlin and it is structurally sound. Has lasted decades.

Thanks

OP posts:

ArriettyJones · 07/07/2020 05:08

The buyer asked for the money for the survey back as she felt this was hidden and need another survey buy.a structural engineer... NO.... first time buyers are such amateurs.

We’re all FTBs, virgins and learner drivers to start with.

If it’s going to keep cropping up, it might be worth getting your own structural surveyor to take a look, maybe get your own report. It depends really, where you are, if you’re in a hurry or chain and how fragile the market might get.

walksen · 07/07/2020 05:19

Being a first time buyer they will have no experience of the process will have never been responsible for maintenance of a property and will be totally reliant on advice they have been given. They may well be nervous about the biggest purchase they have ever made and be nervous about a big bill to repair. I don't think I'd consider them cheeky. A qualified professional has raised a concern and as you are well aware property law in the UK specifies buyer beware.

Did your survey highlight this issue and how was it resolved in your case?

littlecontis · 07/07/2020 06:52

Thanks for the PPs helpful posts. As a FTB myself, I would rely on qualified professionals' advice and not the sellers. Yes it had lasted for decades and who knows whether it will last forever? If you can't deal with FTBs then simply sell your house to someone else.

Neron · 07/07/2020 07:44

Who do you think any buyer is going to listen to? The OP, who says it isn't an issue because they can put their whole weight on it or a professional who says it is?

Original poster

Whitehawk · 07/07/2020 15:54

Thanks for your replies. Obviously they are going to listen to a professional surveyor, but they pick out every little thing.

Considering how long it was built and the fact that we renovated to perfect downstairs, they expect everything to be perfect upstairs.

On buying previous houses we have had surveys bring up different things and you just expect things are going to come up, don't you, nothing is perfect. they have nothing else to do in the house and got 10 grand off already. But no one asks a seller for the survey money back, do they, that is why you get a survey - to find things that you may be unaware of?

ArriettyJones - Well, I am hoping they will look into how much it is to repair, doing some searches looks less than £1000. I would be happy to look into it, if the surveyor hasn't scare her off. Personally, if I had a survey done and it brought something up after I had got a good chunk of money off the asking price then I would get it fixed upon moving in.

Littlecontis - nothing lasts forever but considering it is showing no sign of 'falling down' which is what they are suggesting. A roof needs to show signs of sagging, bowing, cracking etc before it falls down. None of this is happening, after decades.

Neron - I am saying it isn't an issue because it hasn't been an issue, there is no spreading, no sagging, no breaks, splits or rot? Of course I understand her concern. Asking for survey money back is a bit of a piss take..? Ideally we would want to rectify the building. She even suggested that we pay to replace all windows since one had lost its seal...

Thanks for all your help. Open to more suggestions... Hopefully they figure it out.

OP posts:

Auntydarah · 07/07/2020 15:57

Your attitude comes across as poor, if you have such an issue with ftb don't sell to them. But don't complain when they rely on the advice of a qualified professional. I'm not sure this is unique to ftb. You actually just sound bitter the survey has picked up a structural issue.

OliviaBenson · 07/07/2020 15:59

I'd be telling them no to be honest- they chose to have that level of survey. Surveyors often do cover themselves but it's hard to tell.

Could you get a roofer around or offer for them to pick a roofer to take a look?

canigooutyet · 07/07/2020 16:00

So you have professionally looked at the property yourself other than applying your unknown weight?

OliviaBenson · 07/07/2020 16:01

And often survivors don't particularly know about old buildings and apply modern standards to them which is unhelpful.

OliviaBenson · 07/07/2020 16:01

Doh, surveyors!

GreyGardens88 · 07/07/2020 16:01

The buyer was wrong asking you to pay her back for the survey she has had done. However the classy thing for you to do would be to pay for a structural engineer to come round to do their own survey to confirm it is not a problem, as a gesture of goodwill. This issue will probably come to light again if you try to sell it to someone else anyway

canigooutyet · 07/07/2020 16:04

I'm not surprised people listen to them. How many people have found themselves lumbered with a money pit because of a "cheap" and/or "easy" repair.

I always wonder if it's so easy then instead of dropping the price, why not spend out that little bit instead.

ScottishStottie · 07/07/2020 16:04

You seem to be taking this very personally.

Getting the survey and finding an issue isnt a personal attack at you. Its a sensible thing for a ftb to do before they part with a lot of money.

Theyve asked for money back as they are potentially going to be more out of pocket than they thought. And may believe you knew about this potential issue but hid it from them.

I imagine they will be deciding whether or not to walk away, whether you could have potentially not mentioned anything else that might cause issues.

How would your situation be if they pulled out, are you in a chain?

BabyMoonPie · 07/07/2020 16:07

@Whitehawk is it the cost of the survey that has already been carried out they want you to pay or the cost of the structural survey they think is needed?

HardAsSnails · 07/07/2020 16:09

We sold our last house to a FTB, the checks and questions were endless and mostly irrelevant, he did apologise after for being such a twat though.

Do not refund the survey, chances are they'll back out anyway and this is a risk you take as part of buying a house.

tentative3 · 07/07/2020 16:10

Leaving aside the rest of the issues I agree that the ftb is unreasonable to want the cost of the survey back. It's their due diligence, and arguably they've have their money's worth since an issue has been picked up; the whole reason for having a survey.

Don't know where you go from here though. Do they want to proceed?

RaspberryToupee · 07/07/2020 16:12

Well the FTB isn’t being unreasonable to listen to a professional rather than the seller who says it’s not a problem. She’s asked for the refund but she doesn’t know what the etiquette is and it doesn’t mean you have to say yes to her.

If you’re so sure that it it’s not a problem though you should get your own professional to verify. If she gets her own structural survey and it comes back with more damage than you can see, then a price reduction will probably be requested. Your own survey will either prepare you for the worst or give you evidence that it isn’t a problem as you believe.

The £10K she knocked off before was for the house in a state that assumed no repairs. You accepted that price, again you didn’t have to. They wouldn’t be unreasonable to lower the price should it require replacing or ask you to do so. It might only cost £1,000 to repair based on your googling but FTB are cash short when they first buy and will be for a little while.

youhave4substitutes · 07/07/2020 16:18

You've answered your own question.

If the answer is no then the answer is no. If they pull out then they pull out.

Africa2go · 07/07/2020 16:39

I think you need to see the bigger picture OP.

Its not for you (as the seller) to say its structurally sound. All you can say is that no issues were found on your own report when you bought (if that's the case) and there have been no issues whilst you've lived there. The buyers absolutely have a right to question that.
That's entirely different however than expecting you to pay for it.

Ultimately though, the question is, would you be massively inconvenienced / out of pocket if they walked away? Would you lose your onward sale?

If the answer is "no" to those questions, then you've got nothing to lose by maintaining the attitude and telling them you're not paying. If however any of those answers is a yes, then you might consider being a bit more understanding of their nervousness, particularly about a structural issue / something which has potential to be a significant cost and be a bit more constructive in your solution (offer to pay half maybe for a structural engineer's report)?

penberrh · 07/07/2020 18:35

This is probably the biggest financial decision the buyer will ever make. The English/welsh legal system is based on a doctrine, amongst others, of buyer beware.

If you’re so sure that it’s not a problem then just offer to give them an indemnity in respect of it in the sale contract.

Original poster

Whitehawk · 07/07/2020 18:49

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your replies, sorry if I sound bitter and frustrated. It just sounds like a big issue when if it was a really big imminent problem then the roof would be sagging, spreading, dipping, and the rafters would be broken but they aren't. I do appreciate that it could be an issue in the future. I have had builders and roofer up before and they said nothing about it.

I was a bit confused as to why they would ask for us to pay for a survey. Anyway, suddenly they will pay for structural engineer, which is good. We would have liked to contribute or get our own but I guess they will trust their own and not ours.

We just hope it will get sorted.

OP posts:

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