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Original poster

My buyer wants to come round and conduct his own 'survey'

43 replies

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 11:53

The agent reckons its not a big deal but I think it's a bit odd. He's 'in the business' so he's doing it himself rather than paying someone to do it for him. But I'm a bit concerned that he'll use it to screw some more money out of us. We already dropped a bit of the asking price for him.

I don't really fancy anyone coming round now - I spent ages keeping the house spotless for viewings and it isn't now - not to mention we've started packing and it's chaos.

Is this normal? Or am I right to be concerned.

OP posts:

bibbitybobbityhat · 22/06/2010 11:56

95% of buyers will want a survey. Whether its carried out by the buyer themselves or a surveyor appointed by the mortgage company you still need to allow access.

If the buyer has any sort of mortgage the lender will want to do a survey too (can be quite a basic one). But if he is a cash buyer and experienced in the business then he is quite within his rights to carry out his own survey.

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 11:57

We've already had the mortgage survey done.

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NorkyButNice · 22/06/2010 11:57

Has he had a proper survey done as well, or is this the only one?

Presumably if you don't let him come, he'll organise for someone else to do it (his bank will demand one if he's getting a mortgage).

You don't have to agree to any price drops - if he does turn up any problems then you would be well within your rights to insist that an independent surveyor investigates further.

HousewifeOfOrangeCounty · 22/06/2010 11:59

I wouldn't rely on the mortgage company survey if I was buying a house, that's for them not the buyer. I always get my own surveyor to do a survey after the mortgage has been approved, so this is quite normal.

bigstripeytiger · 22/06/2010 12:01

I dont think this is that odd. How can he use it to screw more money out of you? Whatever he might say doesnt obligate you to drop the price - you will either agree a price or you wont, but he cant use a survey to force you to drop.

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 12:01

I wouldn't have a problem with him getting an independent surveyor in - it's just him doing it himself with an agenda. I just have this vision of him nosing in cupboards and finding all the little 'problems' that you get in an old house and using that as a lever to screw more money off the price.

OP posts:

NorkyButNice · 22/06/2010 12:02

x-post

Was his mortgage survey a basic valuation, or a proper buildings survey? If it was the latter and they didn't find any problems then you'd be within your rights to say that you don't want the inconvenience of another survey I think.

However, it's normal for buyers to come round a couple of times between acceptance of offer and exchange I think - if he'd just asked if he could come round to measure up for curtains etc then you'd probably not be as worried (even if he then had a good look round).

GooseyLoosey · 22/06/2010 12:03

I would allow him to do it, but I would not re-negotiate the price based on it and I would make it clear to the agent that if he discovers any significant problems which go to price, you would expect them to be independently confirmed.

jeee · 22/06/2010 12:05

I think that if you don't allow it, there's a significant likelihood he'll pull out.

Merrylegs · 22/06/2010 12:05

We--ll. It is usual if a survey throws something major up to go back and re-negotiate the price. Of course you can say no!

When I bought my house we didn't have a full structural survey (had a mortgage one but that just tells you if the house is worth the price). But I took my builder round and the vendors were fine with that. Similarly the woman who bought my house came round with her builder as there were issues (like rotting windows) she wanted to see how much it would all cost her. They stayed for ages and his defects list grew longer and longer. I thought she would pull out for sure, but she didn't.

It is normal when you buy a house to check what extra work you may have to do on it. It doesn't mean your buyer is going to freak out. I think to deny him access would make him suspicious actually, and he is allowed a structural survey!

Also, his 'agenda' is he wants to know how much your house is going to cost him down the line. He's not going to pull out if he sees a cupboard door off its hinges. If he is in the business it makes sense he wants to keep control of this aspect.

I know it's hard when you have a buyer - you just want them to go away until exchange!

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 12:10

OK. I am being too nervous I guess. I am still reeling from having sold so quick compared to everyone else round here and waiting for it all to go tits up.

Does this mean it would be OK for me to ask to have a look at the house we're buying too? I could do with assessing the fitted cupboards in the bedrooms to see whether we can do without a few chests of drawers and measuring for curtains etc. I just thought it was unfair to ask as they will be going through the same sort of hell as us atm Clearly I shouldn't be so considerate.

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theyoungvisiter · 22/06/2010 12:14

"I wouldn't have a problem with him getting an independent surveyor in - it's just him doing it himself with an agenda. I just have this vision of him nosing in cupboards and finding all the little 'problems' that you get in an old house and using that as a lever to screw more money off the price."

The thing is, a good surveyor will do that anyway. Poke in the cupboards and nitpick over tiny issues I mean.

We've had full structural surveys done in the past and they literally point up EVERYTHING from ricketty gutters to dodgy decor. Ours flagged up little leaks in the windows, invisible damp, hairline cracks - this is what they SHOULD be doing, and a canny buyer will negotiate on this whether it's an outside surveyor or not.

There is nothing to stop you getting an independent opinion before you agree to negotiate. The surveyor is acting for the buyer, they are not "independent" as such.

theyoungvisiter · 22/06/2010 12:16

and yes - absolutely ask to go back and see the house you are buying. You are proposing to give them a hell of a lot of money - the least they can do is spare half an our of their time!

theyoungvisiter · 22/06/2010 12:17

half an our?!

half an hour

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 12:18

It won't do him any good to 'negotiate' anyway. We sold way under what we could have asked and cannot take any less

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Fizzylemonade · 22/06/2010 12:32

Re the house you are buying, just try to get everything done in one visit, so measure up, take photos, make lots of notes etc.

Our buyers wanted to come back for a 5th visit and I drew the line, I had had enough, 4 visits from them plus a surveyor's visit was my personal limit. I couldn't handle what would have technically been a 6th visit. And no it wasn't a viewing after the surveyor had been they had already done that one.

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 12:34

5 visits!

Nooo......

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NorkyButNice · 22/06/2010 12:38

Presumably you know whether there are any "dodgy" areas to worry about - unsafe electrics or central heating, major roofing issues, damp...

If he DOES turn up any of the big things then you probably will end up with him wanting a reduction in price. If the only issues are cosmetic then he wouldn't want any reason to ask for money off.

Is he a developer? If so, I would expect that his offer would have taken into account cosmetic works that he thought needed doing.

theyoungvisiter · 22/06/2010 12:44

"If he DOES turn up any of the big things then you probably will end up with him wanting a reduction in price. If the only issues are cosmetic then he wouldn't want any reason to ask for money off."

But not if the property has been priced accordingly. Yes, if you're charging for a pristine house and it turns up massive damp then you have to reprice accordingly.

But if you've priced it in line with the state of the property then you don't have to reduce. They can ask, but if they have any sense they will realise that you aren't going to reduce an already underpriced property further.

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 12:45

He's buying it for his DD. She loved it, he was ambivalent. So I am concerned that because they chose this over the cheaper one they were considering on the other side of town that he wants to recoup some of extra cost.

The roof isn't felted - many of the houses in this street aren't. There are no problems with leaks though.

Wiring OK. Brand new CH boiler. No major problems that we know of but it is a bit messy and there are some creaking floorboards in the main bedroom. Nothing IMO requires a drop in price but it's no MO that counts is it?

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Original poster

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 12:46

Thanks.

I am just a bag of nerves. I am hating every minute of this process. Can't sleep atm and I had tears from my eldest last night about not wanting to move at all

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theyoungvisiter · 22/06/2010 12:50

Weirdly, I think mess and creaking floorboards may count in your favour. I think surveyors are often more suspicious of an obviously tarted-up property, because brand new decor can hide a multitude of sins.

If they've obviously repapered weeks before putting it on the market, you have to wonder why, and what was underneath?

Whereas if the property hasn't been redecorated for a few years then at least you know that what you are seeing is its true state.

Try not to worry - if he's a professional he probably knows how many beans make 5 and will recognise that the property is basically sound - it tends to be first timers who get freaked out by a 20 page report listing every cracked flagstone in the garden, and don't actually look at the bigger picture.

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 22/06/2010 14:38

Good! Should be OK then

Feeling a bit calmer. Went out in my lunch hour and took some toys and books to Oxfam so there is a bit less clutter in the kitchen now. Funnily enough it made me a bit weepy too - books that mum had given DS~1 when he was struggling to get a handle on reading. I need a good night's sleep and to seriously get a grip.

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Original poster

OrmRenewed · 23/06/2010 11:59

Gaarrggghh

Mortgage chap as supposed to come to see us on Monday - got a call to say he couldn't make it but would be there last night. Didn't appear. We know we have the mortgage in principle so not too worried but he told us we might have to use a specific conveyancer that the bank appointed. But he wasn't sure. I need to know so that I can send on our documents to either the one we chose or the one they want!

I feel like I'm stranded.

can't get hold of the bugger atm.

OP posts:

NorkyButNice · 23/06/2010 12:04

The bank can't force you to use a specific conveyancer (I assume you mean the solicitor who will handle all te paperwork, do searches etc?).

They often have certain surveyors they use though, if that's what you mean?

Not good that you can't get hold of anyone though - doesn't bode well for a smooth transaction.

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