Late survey

[Webb27]

I accepted an offer on my property in September. It was 15K below asking price and I accepted due to them being cash buyers. Searches are done and we are moving towards exchange but now vendors have asked for a structural survey. I expected them to do this much earlier. It is an old house and in a bad state of repair but I think structurally ok. I’m no expert but my dad ( an architect ) thinks this. I’m now worried that they are planning to pull out. I do know that they are planning to stay in rented whilst they do the house up. Any experiences of a late survey ?

I’m not sure I’m actually helpful with this but last year I sold and bought and because of a backlog of work and a planned holiday my survey was on , he surveyed the Monday of the week I exchanged ( Friday ) I met my surveyor at the property after he had done the survey and he talked me through the more pressing findings ( there weren’t any really but I needed a chat about possible future alterations I had in mind being possible - we regularly chat before and after surveys )
Like mine it could be purely the only time the surveyor could get to do it , I don’t know if there are currently delays or staff shortages ?

I made an offer which was accepted early October, the soonest the survey can be done is mid December!

If your buyers were wanting to pull out, they wouldn't be paying ££££ for a full survey. I would take it as a good sign and you're not far from the finish line!

My buyers did this last year. Accepted offer mid December and they arranged the survey as we were arranging exchange/completion in early March.

They then wanted £20k off after survey and were hoping we’d accept as we were so far into our purchase. Estate agent said it was quite common. I really hope you’re not in for the same.

I wouldn't think of an offer as final until the buyer had had a survey done and we'd settled the (possibly revised) offer.
I hope they don't try to pull a fast one on you- if they wanted/needed a survey they should have ordered one as soon as you accepted their initial offer. I'd generally assume an offer wasn't really serious until a surveyor and a solicitor had been instructed.

Thank for all your replies. Survey is Tuesday so I’m going to cross my fingers and hope for the best.