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Original poster

Survey came back not what we need to hear

78 replies

Themadcatparade · 05/07/2022 19:05

We are in the middle of buying our dream home, first home also, we have been looking for over two years now so we finally have somewhere we are 100% for and this has been a super anxious time.

High interest in this property amongst viewers. We offered over asking and after a little bit of bidding our offer got accepted at 12k over. Luckily for us, the bank valued it at what we offered so we didn’t have to make the difference up. Happy days.

The sellers wanted to exchange within 4 weeks which was ambitious, they have a property ready to move in to and wanted the sale completed as smoothly and as quick as possible. This raised red flags for us, as they only bought it last year but their story seemed straight enough.

It took 3 weeks for our mortgage offer to come though, we had previously asked if they had done a survey last year and they said no. So we went ahead to arrange a building survey only to find that the sellers tried blocking the surveyors even making an appointment.

Again this raised red flags for us, so we persisted. It took three back and forth phone calls for us to push having this survey as the seller was insisting a ‘no’ to a survey being done.

Anyway the survey has come back and basically there are a handful of issues that are going to be very expensive structurally to sort. It’s going to need the whole roof redoing for one, and we have been advised to do it sooner rather than later. There are other issues also which have had us worried but can be fixed but again this will be at a cost to us.

The EA and sellers have told us repeatedly that they will not budge on the sale price before now. I spoke to my partner today and said the best thing to do would be to get a quote for redoing the roof and see if they can take this (or a sum of it) off the sale price. He seems to think that they won’t budge (and I think he’s right they have been arsey from the start) but I feel like we have solid reasons for asking.

So far, we have been blocked from using our own solicitor (EA told us that they would have to drop out of the sale if we used the first person we chose) so we backed down, and then we got blocked from doing a survey which was bizarre in itself, and now we have this outcome I feel like it will be the same story again - take it or leave it.

Can anyone offer any advice? I’m going to be so heartbroken if we have to drop out of this house, but I’ve said to my partner we are at risk of potentially having thousands of pounds that we do not have fixing our house up.

Also - can a surveys result affect the value of the sale or potentially decrease the amount the bank has offered to loan?

OP posts:

mummypigoink · 05/07/2022 19:07

You should have ran at them not letting you use your own solicitor. And then faster when they blocked your surveyor.

This will not be your dream home.

CaptainBeakyandhisband · 05/07/2022 19:09

Run away! And I do not say that lightly.

Whatshisface · 05/07/2022 19:10

Bloody hell, so many red flags!

I know it's so hard when you've fallen in love with the house, but the best solution would be to pull out.

They've left you no other option.

I promise, a better house will come along!

Heretochill · 05/07/2022 19:11

Please pull out. So many red flags there. EAs have absolutely no say in what solicitor you use, they sound as shady as the sellers.

I’ve had to walk away from homes myself, it sucks!! But not forever, and nowhere near as much as getting into debt due to a bad purchase.

good luck!

Cherclueless · 05/07/2022 19:11

Well the vendor and agent sound like total chancers and arseholes. As your valuation was ok though, and presumably that was taken into account, they probably won’t budge.

What were the other issues? Are they all 3s, as in needing repairs now? Have you spoken to the surveyor?

User0ne · 05/07/2022 19:18

I can't imagine that a dream house would come with decades of foreseeable financial hardship. Unless by "dream" you mean "nightmare"

Run away

Oceanus · 05/07/2022 19:20

I think your instinct is telling you to run? Can't you listen?

hatchyu · 05/07/2022 19:24

Walk away quickly!

bellac11 · 05/07/2022 19:26

What estate agent is this, surely this is illegal, its nothing to do with them what solicitor you use.

Original poster

Themadcatparade · 05/07/2022 19:28

It’s an old property, quite high up in a secluded area (but mid terrace) so we were expecting issues if not from the age of the property itself but from the weather of being high up!

The three main issues were the roof, there are tiles lifting and needing resetting, the roof is actually dipping (I didn’t notice this when viewing it myself).

There is decking to the front of the property which is a gorgeous feature point of it. They have said that the retaining wall to the front of the property is starting to show evidence of giving way, what the decking is supported by isn’t the worst but isn’t ideal and will need addressing eventually.

The loft underfelt is also on its last legs so will need replacing over the next 12 months which will be a cost.

There are other issues too which weren’t urgent but we needed to be wary of.

I haven’t had the full report back yet just a phone call off the surveyor so I’m not too smart on the categories and the full urgency of them all. Typing it all down here it seems like a lot and I feel so disheartened!

When they mentioned them not wanting the survey we was adamant over getting it done and not budging on it, my partner even told them it feels like we are being bullied as it’s not just their sale there are two parties involved in this. I was hoping there wasn’t going to be anything with too much issue but it seems it’s not the case 😭

OP posts:

maeveiscurious · 05/07/2022 19:34

I think asking for them to replace the roof and felt or to reduce by the reasonable amount to compensate you.

They may walk away but at least you will know

Cherclueless · 05/07/2022 19:40

Sounds like it needs a new roof within the next 12 months. You wouldn’t be unreasonable to reduce your offer to recover some of the costs. If you really want the property then I’d start getting some roofers out to give their opinion and get some costs. If they vendors will allow obviously. They sound like idiots but IME a lot of that will be being driven by the estate agents who are generally complete and utter arseholes who will say anything to get their commission.

Surveys often sound awful but a lot of it will be surveyors covering their arses.

NoSquirrels · 05/07/2022 19:43

Can anyone offer any advice? I’m going to be so heartbroken if we have to drop out of this house

Break your own heart now, in preference to having it broken repeatedly by every wrong thing that will cost you money as soon as you open the door.

They bought it 12 months ago, are desperate to sell, won’t let you choose your solicitor or surveyor… seriously, you will find a better, nicer ‘dream house’ because this one sounds like a nightmare in the making.

Cervinia · 05/07/2022 19:43

The roof wouldn’t bother me as much as the retaining wall. That said if you don’t have 8k or whatever for a new roof it’s a nightmare on its own.

the retaining wall though is terrifying depending upon what it’s holding up. A friend in the last few years had to pay 40k to replace a retaining wall between him and his neighbours, insurance didn’t cover it, he had to remortgage. The retaining wall between us and the school next door, 12 foot high, had bulged and started to fall. I’ve been in discussion with the school for seven months, they’ve finally agreed to repair it but the finish (currently dry stone) will be dependent on budget so may end up being brick which will look shit.

i would walk away, I think they know all this.

FriendlyPineapple · 05/07/2022 19:46

My new roof just cost me £19k.

Run run run away!

Oceanus · 05/07/2022 19:48

Bloody heck, a retaining wall. You know you need an engineer to do the maths on that?...

Original poster

Themadcatparade · 05/07/2022 19:49

The sellers used to work for the estate agents in question so that speaks volumes really doesn’t it.

My intuition is telling me we need to pull out if they refuse to reduce the offer price. I was expecting some work on it but not that much. We simply do not have the funds to fix all that out of our own pocket not at all I think I’m going to take a hard stance on that one.

My partner doesn’t want to risk losing the house but I know he’s speaking from his heart not his head.

How much of the repair costs could we ideally ask to reduce it by - it is common and acceptable to ask for close to the full amount?

I know they will not do the work themselves before the sale is complete, they are in the process of moving themselves in to their new home.

Also - is negotiating the price a job for our solicitor? I do not want to deal directly with the EA’s again if I can help not!

OP posts:

Original poster

Themadcatparade · 05/07/2022 19:52

Thank you for sharing your experiences - I have a bit more of an idea of how much this is actually going to be an issue for us now.

My partner works in trade himself so he knows a little more than I do regarding structural engineers, costs of things etc etc but saying that he is a very optimistic person who tries to see the good in everyone, luckily I’m the opposite!

OP posts:

Hairyeleri · 05/07/2022 19:52

Our new roof just cost us 8k for an end terrace. Get some quotes. If they won’t let you then walk away.

The retaining wall, you’d need a structural engineer ideally. Did the surveyor not suggest that on the phone?

dubyalass · 05/07/2022 19:57

Another one saying walk away. More red flags than a Soviet parade! I would speak to the surveyor by phone to get their advice but refusing to allow a surveyor in would make me deeply suspicious and that coupled with the solicitor issue would be an instant no. I would also be reporting the EA to any professional body they're signed up to.

Honestly, another house will come on. Let this one go to someone else.

Original poster

Themadcatparade · 05/07/2022 19:58

Yes he mentioned it @Hairyeleri

and thank you, I was thinking in excess of 8k myself for a new roof!

OP posts:

Oceanus · 05/07/2022 19:58

Honestly I would try to get a professional to give me a rough estimate on all the work that needs to be done, then I would add that to the purchase price and think to my buttons "Right, if I put this house on the market tomorrow or in a couple of years, can I get back all or most of what I've put in?".
Unless the price is such that you can afford to hold on to the house for a while, if need be to get all the $$ back, and move away without having to sell it. Then go for it regardless but keep in mind if they worked as estate agents they're looking at this as an investment, if they're getting rid of it (and they're pros), that's your answer right there.

LoudingVoice · 05/07/2022 19:58

Forget trying to renegotiate on price, it’s not worth it whatever the price.

There’s probably more the survey hasn’t even found and refusing the survey & demanding you use their solicitor is insane, don’t trust any of them & is there a estate agent official body you can report them to?

MissConductUS · 05/07/2022 20:01

How much of the repair costs could we ideally ask to reduce it by - it is common and acceptable to ask for close to the full amount?

Yes, if the property was marketed as being in good condition. If it was sold as a fixer upper, no.

Just walk away. There are always other houses, and this one may be back on the market at a lower price in a few months.

RandomMess · 05/07/2022 20:06

Our garden retaining wall quote was £10k 6 months ago, will be more now!

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