Want to make offer but two previous buyers have pulled out

[ssocks]

I want to make an offer on a house but wondering if the two previous buyers pulled out because of discovering something after their survey? I know it can happen for multiple reasons but it’s still got me thinking.

The vendor said one had pulled out a few years ago so they didn’t bother putting it back on the market until now and the other pulled out recently. They also slipped up by saying there’s a “few” things wrong with it but then only told me one and wouldn’t elaborate any further. It’s a beautiful house, built in the 60’s just needs are little tlc from visually looking at it. The downstairs looks newly plastered and fresh white walls compared to upstairs so wondering if that’s trying to hide something and ot also has coving on every ceiling even in the bathroom which I think is a bit odd. Could this be hiding cracks or damp? Is there a way to obtain previous surveys?

You know what I would do in this situation, I'd book a second viewing and get someone very knowledgeable about houses to come with me to give me an off the record opinion. Just to see if I could get more idea of the risk that I might be taking committing money to a survey.

No guarantees they'd spot anything but there's a chance they'd have an idea of what could be being hidden.

Sorry I meant to add do you know anyone who could do that? Your dad or someone, or a builder friend?

Is there a way to obtain previous surveys?

You can ask if they would be willing to share the survey with you but they'll probably charge you 50% of what they paid for it.

Newly plastered downstairs could suggest a serious damp problem... or worse, subsidence. Coving more likely decorative.

I believe the estate agent needs to disclose if they know about significant problems so you can ask and see what they say.

Ask the agent, it's not in their interest to lose any more buyers