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Original poster

First Time Buyer Help!

13 replies

CupofMek · 27/09/2023 21:26

Hi All

Long time lurker but first time poster, so please be kind and send plenty of 💐

I'm a first time buyer and would really appreciate any advice you can give! Basically our surveyor has identified a number of urgent building repairs related to the roof and also a patch of penetrative damp. Surveyor has estimated these will cost around £15000. EA and seller want us to get building quotes for renegotiations as survey is less accurate.

We've been trying for 3 weeks to get a builder's quote with no luck. No one is interested in doing a quote like this for a sale even though we've agreed to the charges they've asked for. On top of this we're really running out of time for the purchase so this is adding to the stress! (We have managed to get a damp specialist booked in though with no bother)

Is this normal and is there any alternative options we're missing?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

OP posts:
thaisweetchill · 27/09/2023 21:42

I would persist on getting quotes and not be pressured in to buying a house that could potentially cost you a lot of money.

Summer2424 · 27/09/2023 21:43

Hi @CupofMek
Just read your post hun, omg no builders have come out to see the work, that's so bad. Ok, my suggestion is to drive around and see if any houses in the area have building work going on, pop in and ask could they give you a quote. Builders can't get away from a face to face conversation! We've done this loads of times and got work done in our house. Really hope you find someone and everything gets sorted xx

66rabbits · 27/09/2023 21:44

If you're willing to walk away then I would adjust your offer and they can take it or leave it.

Frecklespy · 27/09/2023 21:49

It might be best to renegotiate the purchase price and do the work yourselves after completion, but you will need to send extracts from your survey to prove that these works are urgent and necessary rather than something that could be done in a couple of years. Be prepared for the vendor to refuse though.

Is the property very old? Older properties are not perfect and they do need maintaining regularly. You cannot expect to purchase a perfect property unless it is a new build (and even they are not perfect).

It is not easy to get building quotes on a property that you don't own and I wouldn't trust the vendor to fix the problems to a good standard when they are looking to sell.

Original poster
CupofMek · 27/09/2023 22:02

Thanks so much for all the replies I really appreciate all the suggestions!

Yes we would be happy to renegotiate and do the works ourselves but they have asked for a builder's quote for the renegotiations.

We initially asked to renegotiate based on the survey (due to the issue finding a builder and the extra expense) but EA and seller didn't want to do this as they said surveyors can give excessive quotes and are less accurate. We sent the summary of only the urgent repairs to the EA with the quotes from the surveyor at the time.

Yes it's about a 100 years old so I appreciate some maintenance is to be expected. However there is quite a list of urgent issues and this is based on a homebuyer survey. So concerned it could end up costing a lot more in the end.

We were thinking if we can't get a builder in next week that we could offer for a reduction of say 10k (surveyor estimate is 15k) and take it or leave it. Is this sort of what you meant?

OP posts:
Original poster
CupofMek · 27/09/2023 22:07

Thank you, that's really kind of you! I hadn't thought of that. Unfortunately I don't drive but I have been keeping an eye out for any current building work around me. So I could still try if I am passing by!

I think with a recent storm the roofers are really busy and they said they are getting a lot of quotes for sales that people then don't follow through on. Such a tricky situation all round really.

OP posts:
Newhousecrying · 27/09/2023 22:22

GET QUOTES OR WALK AWAY!

Our surveyor massively under quoted. and it’s costed us twice what we negotiated off and that’s just for the stuff that wasn’t covered up!

Original poster
CupofMek · 27/09/2023 22:30

Thanks for your advice @Newhousecrying and I'm really sorry that was your experience. I really hope that you can still make your new house a home and that it is worth the stress and extra expense in the long run!

OP posts:
KievLoverTwo · 27/09/2023 22:33

Off subject but for relevant reasons. How many other offers had your sellers received before accepting yours, and what percentage of the asking price are you paying?

Original poster
CupofMek · 27/09/2023 22:42

Sorry just realised I should be quoting or including individual handles in my replies! @KievLoverTwo

We didn't get an exact number of other bidders but more than one. It actually went to best and final offers and we went over the asking price by roughly 3%. The price was an 'offers over' format. The surveyor has valued the property at roughly 10k less than this but that is taking into account the repairs needed.

OP posts:
Newhousecrying · 27/09/2023 22:57

CupofMek · 27/09/2023 22:30

Thanks for your advice @Newhousecrying and I'm really sorry that was your experience. I really hope that you can still make your new house a home and that it is worth the stress and extra expense in the long run!

Thanks. It’s fine now and we’ve been able to settle comfortably. it feels much more like our home. Which was unbelievable last year when we were on the repairs. It’s not the fanciest but it’s comfortable and warm and affordable. Now we’re thinking we’ll stay a while (which is handy because we bought when prices were crazy so we’d lose a bit if we had to move!)

Flubadubba · 28/09/2023 04:33

Ask on local Facebook groups, as it's likely you'll get recommendations.

whyisitallsohard · 28/09/2023 15:22

sounds like a pain. tbh, if you love the house then def keep pursuing for quotes, but I think they may just be making you do the hard work to see what the price comes up as with a chance that they may not even go forward with the sale for you. i.e. wasting your time. are they even motivated sellers?

personally, if you can't get quotes, then tell them take it or leave it at £15k reduction. currently, work on homes is costing a lot and you should really expect it to cost more than £15k. there's a few youtube channels that go into this, some even say have 20% aside for "what ifs and unknowns".

good luck

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