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Original poster

Nervous about survey

20 replies

Worriedmum40284 · 25/05/2024 17:01

Our buyer has received their mortgage offer and searches are in - enquiries being raised at present.

We've just found out that they want to do a L3 survey. Our house is only 12 or so years old on a large development of houses all built at the same time.

This has made me really nervous and I'm not sure why. They seem committed due to the steps they've taken that I've mentioned above, and are obviously taking it seriously with wanting the highest level of survey.

As far as I know, the house is fine apart from fairly cosmetic issues e.g carpet a bit old now and paintwork needs redoing in places. One fence is leaning and a few taps and door handles could do with being replaced.

They are FTB so just concerned they will be easily spooked and pull out. We're a far way into our purchase so would lose a fair amount if things did fall through.

Any word of wisdom, advice or reassurance?!

OP posts:
Cantthinkofone123 · 25/05/2024 17:08

There is nothing you can do at this stage. It depends what the surveyor highlights, and if something serious comes up you may have to re-negotiate the price or lose your buyers.

DrySherry · 25/05/2024 18:39

If its only 12 years old and was well built you shouldn't have any major problem. I think your buyer is sensible to check thoroughly.

OhFensa · 25/05/2024 19:36

I've had the same recently, but on an older house. I was stressing big time. It was fine. Just make sure your estate agent checks in with them by phone after they've had the results, in case they need talking down.

fromtheshires · 25/05/2024 19:52

Don't be worried about things you cannot change. It will only make you ill.

A L3 on a new build though.... a tad extreme

Twiglets1 · 25/05/2024 22:09

It’s a bit OTT on a 12 year old house, bit of a waste of money as a L2 survey would suffice. Still, a 12 year old house shouldn’t throw up any nasty surprises so hopefully it will be ok.

Original poster
Worriedmum40284 · 25/05/2024 22:24

Thanks all. Our EA has suggested that a L2 should be sufficient considering the age of the property so we'll see what happens.

I suppose it concerns me that they might be overly nervous to go L3 in the first place and anything the survey finds will be enough to put them off!

Will it touch upon things like condition of carpets/flooring/paintwork? None are awful but all probably due an upgrade which we've held off on due to planning to move.

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 25/05/2024 22:26

Worriedmum40284 · 25/05/2024 22:24

Thanks all. Our EA has suggested that a L2 should be sufficient considering the age of the property so we'll see what happens.

I suppose it concerns me that they might be overly nervous to go L3 in the first place and anything the survey finds will be enough to put them off!

Will it touch upon things like condition of carpets/flooring/paintwork? None are awful but all probably due an upgrade which we've held off on due to planning to move.

No it shouldn’t comment on those only structural stuff.

fromtheshires · 25/05/2024 22:33

Worriedmum40284 · 25/05/2024 22:24

Thanks all. Our EA has suggested that a L2 should be sufficient considering the age of the property so we'll see what happens.

I suppose it concerns me that they might be overly nervous to go L3 in the first place and anything the survey finds will be enough to put them off!

Will it touch upon things like condition of carpets/flooring/paintwork? None are awful but all probably due an upgrade which we've held off on due to planning to move.

Even if it does comment on that stuff (it wont or at least shouldn't as a level 3 should be building/structural focussed) and regardless the buyer will have been expected to notice these 'defects' upon viewing.

Sunnyday89 · 26/05/2024 09:35

It should be fine but also as others say, there isn’t much you can do. I previously bought as. FTB and had a level 3 survey and it read AWFUL, however I loved the property and it didn’t scare me off. Depends so much on the buyer, how much they like the property etc. It might come out reading very well and won’t be an issue, and as there isn’t anything you can do (except make sure it’s clean, warm, well presented for survey), I’d try not to worry

MovingToPlan · 26/05/2024 09:58

Maybe they got a discount on the L3 and thought they might as well buy the dearer survey. I understand your concern but try not to borrow worries just yet. I'm trying to follow my own advice at the moment with this, our purchase has mysteriously stalled at the point of exchange and the chain may well fall apart as a result. It's a nerve wracking business for sure.

Original poster
Worriedmum40284 · 26/05/2024 15:43

Thanks all, you're right that there's only so much you can do in these situations. It is a long and nerve wracking process isn't it!

Good point re the offer on a L3, I suppose any level of survey will likely turn things up anyway.

Will just have to keep fingers crossed for the best!

Good luck @MovingToPlan, I hope you get some good news soon and things move onwards.

OP posts:
MovingToPlan · 26/05/2024 16:35

Thank you @Worriedmum40284 😊

MumofSpud · 26/05/2024 17:48

Are you me?
My 12 year old house is also getting a survey v soon - I haven't been told if it's L2 or L3 though.
I assume either way it's just structural things they are interested in and not decoration !

Original poster
Worriedmum40284 · 30/05/2024 13:43

Just spotted this @MumofSpud - ours has confirmed as a L3 now, booked for the week after next.

Wish you all the best with yours - has it been booked in yet?

OP posts:
Tupster · 30/05/2024 14:24

When I had an L3 done on my property it definitely made comments about decorative condition - needlessly in my opinion. Even photos of minor faults.

ThePassageOfTime · 30/05/2024 14:30

Or maybe they have a father in law like mine who nagged us into getting an L3 on our first purchase just because he's overly anxious and controlling.

We largely ignored all the waffle about airbricks. We just needed to shut him up!

fromtheshires · 03/06/2024 19:30

So our buyers decided to have a level 3 on a 9 year old house today. I was expecting the survey but he was anal to the point of winding me up by looking under the cars on the drive, taking a million photos, demanding I open the manhole for him etc.

To make things worse I worry about his competency as he couldn't shut a set of doors that had to be shut in a certain way due to their design (one door has a longer edge that flaps over the other if that makes sense), calling me to shut them and then asking me questions about the heating/hot water like I am a heating engineer. I have no idea; turn on a tap and i get hot water, i dint know about the kw size etc.

If he cant get these right then what else has he got wrong?

IhateJan22 · 04/06/2024 21:46

Our buyers are opting for a level 3 survey, granted ours is about 50years old but I can’t see any structural issues coming up. It’s nerve wracking and I can’t stop worrying they just want to knock us down.

fromtheshires · 04/06/2024 22:09

Same here @IhateJan22

Thats the only reason i can think mine did a L3. The estate agent said they were picking out non issues during the viewing (a slightly wonky slab, bit of 'messy' cement work) so we have a book on the family WhatsApp how much they are going to try and knock us down by.

Jokes on them if they try as they were told when they offered we would accept their low ball offer but there would be no more negotiation on price as it was the lowest we could accept to afford the onward purchase. Not sure if they thought we were bluffing or not but we aren't - their low offer took our wriggle room completely. Our previous buyers had a l2 survey and no issues were raised.

The estate agent is also aware that if this purchase falls through we are taking it off the market as it would have been three times it sold and fell through and we arent going to keep wasting money

IhateJan22 · 05/06/2024 22:30

It is such a nerve wracking process @fromtheshires

Our buyers offered full asking so we do have some wiggle room but not a huge amount. We’re really stretching ourselves with the onward purchase.

Good Luck!

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