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Original poster

Fairly urgent survey question

15 replies

NorthernLurker · 18/03/2008 14:20

Our buyer is having a homebuyers report done on Thursday. I am extremely nervous about this as we are desperate to move and have found the house of our dreams I've had a letter from the surveyor today just confiming times etc and it includes a questionaire about the property which I am to fill in and sign. Is this usual practice? I've never heard of it before and every little thing just increases my stress levels! It includes a question about the original asking price of the property and the price we have agreed. He also says he will be here for three hours - it's a two bedroom terrace - will it really take that long? Also - I know he can't discuss the survey but would it be out of order to ask when he expects to send his report to his client?

OP posts:

noddyholder · 18/03/2008 15:29

Surveyors are buggers tbh they say v little and iirc a homebuyers took about 1 adn a half hours on our v large maisonette with 3 big bedrooms and a loft conversion over 3 floors so i think 3 is excessive.I think its fine to ask how long it will take to get to his client.And don't panic its never that bad and all properties have some defect or otehr hth

lalalonglegs · 18/03/2008 15:32

If you don't want to answer part of the questionnaire, just put N/A in box or put line through it. I would try to answer as much as possible about condition of house though. I don't think I have been sent questionnaire in advance but have been asked questions from obvious ticklist while they have been visiting.

Three hours does seem a long time for the size of the place but bear in mind that you have nothing to hide and be as accommodating as possible (tea and biscuits). Ask if he needs to see anything else, offer to help him move heavy furniture etc, don't behave in a shady or paranoid way (but DON'T mention your neighbours having had their cracks monitored). Try and get on with something else, even if it's just surfing Mumsnet - he won't want to be stalked around the house.

I always ask on the way out if "everything seems in order?" They will rarely lie to your face and while they may be vague about details, they will give you an idea of whether it's thumbs up or down.

I'm sure it will be fine.

LIZS · 18/03/2008 15:52

Never had to - don't think you are obliged to in the same way as to respond to a solicitor's queries. Homebuyers won't take 3 hrs

Original poster

NorthernLurker · 18/03/2008 17:57

just my luck to get a surveyor who does a homebuyers in minute detail!

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Cakehead · 19/03/2008 13:59

I think this may be all part of the new practice of selling your house. We're going through the same thing right now and spent two and a half hours doing the questionnaire and paperwork, digging out certificates and guarantees for work that was done over ten years ago, blah blah. Nightmare.

Original poster

NorthernLurker · 20/03/2008 12:41

he's just gone - it did take three hours! He was very nice but I am now quite sure we won't be going anywhere. No house could stand up to that sort of scrutiny! Plus - his damp meter thing made quite a lot of angry sounding bleeps! Oh dear

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lalalonglegs · 20/03/2008 13:40

Damp meters don't usually bleep - just flash lights, green, orange or red. Are you sure it wasn't a room measuring machine (which does bleep when you hold it against the wall and activate it)?

Original poster

NorthernLurker · 20/03/2008 13:44

oh I don't know - I asumed it was damp thing as it was just about the last thing he did and I'd been thinking where's the damp meter. Also he tried it in several places on the wall like they do for damp. Definately no flashingn lights.

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lalalonglegs · 20/03/2008 14:04

Don't know - the ones I have seen and used have lights but I suppose it might be a damp meter. It could bleep just to let you know that it has taken a reading rather than to alert you to a problem - do you think there is any possibility of damp being found on that particular wall? Is there a smell? Discoloration? Paint or paper coming away?

Original poster

NorthernLurker · 20/03/2008 14:08

It beeped loudest next to the washing machine.........? No obvious signs I don't think - definately no smell!

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PixelHerder · 20/03/2008 14:22

The surveyor found damp in our last house when we were selling it (an early Victorian terrace) but it really wasn't that big a deal. I think what usually happens is that the seller is advised to get a specialist damp firm in who will do a quote for fixing it. Our quote was £1000, which does sound horrendous but the buyer just asked for it to be knocked off the asking price which somehow doesn't feel so painful as spending money you already have!

Of course that is completely negotiable - if you're feeling confident as a seller you can just refuse to alter the price anyway and let the buyer take the hit.

I very much doubt that our buyer spent his extra £1000 on damp-proofing though - there were no obvious signs of damp so he probably spent it on beer instead!

clam · 20/03/2008 17:15

Many years ago, I had a major, MAJOR flood (i.e. waterfalls down walls and wallpaper slipping downwards, water cascading through the light fittings, 2 inches of water on downstairs floors.... all due to a defunct ballcock in the loo cistern - I'd been away) on the very day the surveyor was due round! Well, obviously I cancelled him and started the drying out/de-humidifing process etc.... and we re-scheduled for a couple of weeks later. I was nervous about telling him what had happened in case it affected his report (damage all cleared up), but came clean, and he was fine about it. Said it explained some of the readings but clearly a one-off thing, so no problem. Sale went through fine (after over a year on the market, hence stress about it)

TheFallenMadonna · 20/03/2008 17:21

Actually, our buyers' surveyor did take 2.5 hours to do a homebuyers on our tiny two bed terrace. And wouldn't accept any help at all, or any 'interference' as he called it. So he put in the survey that the patio doors couldn't be opened (because he hadn't moved the curtain to see the lock at the top ), and various other things whcih freaked out our buyers. Of course when they came back round I could show them that the patio doors could in fact be opened and it was all fine. He also scraped off some of our render and made tutting noises. But there was no mention of that in the report apparently.

Original poster

NorthernLurker · 20/03/2008 23:54

that's all quite encouraging - thanks We are happy to negotiate the price and have a bit of room with which to do so - what I dread is him pulling out altogether! Still - he's spent the best part of £500 on the report now I expect so that should cement his attachment a bit

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Original poster

NorthernLurker · 28/03/2008 18:21

Update - buyer seems happy with the report so far! Is coming around next week with a plumber - to look at the heating and consider central heating I understand. He may also want an electrical inspection - but so far so good. He certainly hasn't opened it and passed out then pulled out which was my fear. Am keeping everything crossed!

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