House buying.

[Fastpedaller]

Many years ago I asked a surveyor's office the following to decide whether it was worth getting the survey done:-
Q1) there is a tree in the garden about 20 ft from the building, are you able to advise as part of your survey?
A. You would need a tree expert to tell you if that was likely to be a problem.
Q2) The consumer unit looks like a museum exhibit, so do you advise on this and wiring.
A. We can tell you roughly the age of the consumer unit.
These answers confirmed the doubts I had about the worth of (at the time, 30 years ago) £600 for a survey.

 

[Jameshow]

Many years ago I asked a surveyor's office the following to decide whether it was worth getting the survey done:-
Q1) there is a tree in the garden about 20 ft from the building, are you able to advise as part of your survey?
A. You would need a tree expert to tell you if that was likely to be a problem.
Q2) The consumer unit looks like a museum exhibit, so do you advise on this and wiring.
A. We can tell you roughly the age of the consumer unit.
These answers confirmed the doubts I had about the worth of (at the time, 30 years ago) £600 for a survey.

That's probably one thing that concerns me the neighbours have some large (roof height) leylandi.
I wonder if they will be an issue come survey time?

 

[Jameshow]

Going for a second visit today 1pm - meeting the vendor what questions should I ask???

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Going for a second visit today 1pm - meeting the vendor what questions should I ask???

WHat are you planning on leaving?
what problems do you know of? (They may or may not lie!)

what are the neighbours like (again - they may lie - who knows?)
how old is the boiler etc etc

What are the energy bills like?

that's a starter anyway

 

[Electric_Andy]

Going for a second visit today 1pm - meeting the vendor what questions should I ask???

We had loads of things leak/break/become unusable in our first 12 months of moving in. But they were not things you could necessarily check during a viewing. Also some things looked fine when we viewed but soon deteriorated. Those tpyes of things can be fixed though, and are not usually something you can haggle over.

The big things are structural (cracks/signs of repair) and damp (mould or musty smells). This often happens on the most exposed corner or side of a house i.e. where the weather usually blows in from. I would also check the damp proof course around the house and any out buildings - driveways and paths often get concreted in and can intrude into the damp proof course. Some people also screw pipes and fittings into DPC as well, so check that. Look at drainage - any signs of pooled water, especially dried up mud which indicates regular and pooling rain water.

Try visiting the property during rush hour, and see how long it might take you to get in and out. Some places around here are terrible (if you own a vehicle).

The loft is also worth a look, mostly for damp and any cracking of the beams or brickwork

 

[DRM]

in my experience they’ll always find something, it’s like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.

Not this one, he's done work for us, and never ripped us off, he said to walk away from this one, so not even after the work

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Not this one, he's done work for us, and never ripped us off, he said to walk away from this one, so not even after the work

As always - it is finding an honest one that is the problem - looks like you have!

 

[Profpointy]

Another thought is if you know a builder. You'd have to know them quite well, as a builder would likely not want to "do a survey" on a professional basis, but might be willing to give you a list of jobs-to-be-done on a more informal basis, perhaps for a day's pay.

You'd need a mortgage valuation as well in this instance

 

[Gunk]

As always - it is finding an honest one that is the problem - looks like you have!

Ideally a roofing contractor you know personally

 

[Jameshow]

Survey showed up roof slates and pointing.

Higher damp level in the dining room.

Large Leylandi are a concern both light and in terms of the foundations.

Should I be concerned.

 

[Drago]

Survey showed up roof slates and pointing.

Higher damp level in the dining room.

Large Leylandi are a concern both light and in terms of the foundations.

Should I be concerned.

I'd be moving on to the next one, but it's your call.

 

[Jameshow]

I'm fine with the state of the building it's the neighbours trees that slightly worry me, which the surveyor didn't mention.

I've emailed for clarification but I doubt he will respond affirmatively rather wanting a tree report it sometime.

They are going to damage the neighbours property before mine and it's not like they are recluses or anything so they should get it sorted if there was an issue..

 

[Drago]

Even the nicest people don't always behave rationally. I wouldn't want to be in a position where I was reliant on the diligence and good sense of another person. There is no shortage of houses without leylandi on the boundary, I'd go look at one of them.

 

[CXRAndy]

Survey showed up roof slates and pointing.

Higher damp level in the dining room.

Large Leylandi are a concern both light and in terms of the foundations.

Should I be concerned.

Where is the damp, outside wall near drains or leaking gutters.

Leylandii grow rapidly and require constant pruning to maintain at manageable height. If near the house less than 10 metres, get them removed. I've just paid £800 notes to have tree taken down as it's got out of hand near a property I own.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Where is the damp, outside wall near drains or leaking gutters.

Leylandii grow rapidly and require constant pruning to maintain at manageable height. If near the house less than 10 metres, get them removed. I've just paid £800 notes to have tree taken down as it's got out of hand near a property I own.

I used to have some - I was advised that they were great as a bourdary

but, from my experience, you need to keep them low enough for you to trim yourself as they will need doing twice a year
and if you miss a year then you are stuffed!

I would keep them just below head height so you can get a trimmer over the top easily

or - better still - not have them at all!