I am I being unreasonable?

[Anonymous]

It isn't so straightforward - the training of surveyors, which we have discussed before on this forum, doesn't in general cover appropriate approaches to the repair of historic buildings. It's why there is a RICS cosnservation forum, why Stephen (PPUK's Agony Uncle) is involved with the RICS conservation summer school for students, and why there are extra RICS qualifications for conservation. I'm sure some surveyors do have sympathy with traditional buildings, but you do need to be sure.

At the top right of the forum there is a 'revolving' link - every now and again it revolves to a link to RICS conservation surveyors.

 

[Anonymous]

Update: The buyer has been in touch. It turns out that the survey said 'inadequate sub-floor ventilation. Additional airbricks are required while at the same time an inspection of the sub-floor should be carried out'. A bit different - does this mean they would look at the floor through the air brick spaces? If so I don't mind them removing those, but it was obviously not what their builder had in mind. I advised them to go to the yellow pages and find an independent RICS surveyor, explain exactly what was said on their survey, what it meant and exactly what kind of access would be required, whether an initial bounce on the floor and poke through of the airbricks would decide things one way or the other.

By the way, the builder came from OUR estate agents!

 

[Anonymous]

Your buyers are trying a well-known trick - you agree to buy the house, wait until the vendor has found one that they want to to purchase, then hit them with some problem and a demand for a price reduction. The idea is that, rather than lose your purchase, you'll cave in.
If I were you, I would tell them flatly that the demand to inspect the joists is unreasonable because of the damage it will cause, and there is no evidence whatsoever of any problem that warrants a £1000 price reduction. They must exchange contracts at the already agreed price within 48 hours or you will put the property straight back on the market.
I've done this in the past, and the purchasers gave in.
Good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

I agree - tell them they can remove the airbricks and inspect with a torch! Or they can have the flooring uprooted if they wish, but it's at their expense they put it right if they then pull out...

 

[Anonymous]

I agree 100% with David
They are trying it on...
Our buyer's have just had a survey on our house and I am awaiting the results
As far as we are concerned the house is their, warts and all.
That's the price. Do you want it, yes or no.
No messing about
I'd put it back on the market if there is...

I think that right now, I would prefer to be up to my arms in muck and bullets, than this bl**dy pain in the ar*se nonsense
I hate to say it.... but there might be something to be said for that buyers pack when it comes in....

What a load of hassle this selling is..
(I need a drink!!)

 

[Anonymous]

David, Jake, I understand where you are coming from, but there surely has to be some room for negotiation in price, post offer-acceptance, at times. And it needn't be the buyer trying to pull a fast one. We obviously want any house we offer on, but hidden 'warts' could make buying it unviable.

We're waiting on survey results at the moment, we know that work is required and have a budget for that work. Now if the survey throws up more work than we anticipated, somethings gonna have to give. We still want the house, so first step would be to see if the vendors will entertain dropping the price by the cost of the additional work. It's as much their prerogative to stick to their asking price, just as it ours not to pay it, and we can all play the 'I'm pulling out the deal then...' card, but ultimately buyers want to buy, and vendors being too hard-nosed isn't gonna help anyone.

This is the fourth house in six months we've come close to buying, on two of the previous three occasions it's been the vendor who has upped their selling price post offer-acceptance. House buying/selling can be sh1tty for both parties involved, so spare a thought for the buyer too!

Pete

Completely off topic: There are three red kites currently circling to within about 15 ft of my window at the moment—how cool is that!

 

[Anonymous]

Yup - buying and selling is pretty nightmarish for all concerned I agree, and I don't think the sellers' pack is going to make things a great deal better. One set of problems will be replced by another.

But the red kites - that's good!

 

[Anonymous]

Like this 24 hour drink thing.
We will all have to wait and see.
It may be a good thing or it may go T**s up
A bit like when they decided not to put the clocks back one hour all those years ago. or the poll tax

 

[Anonymous]

I've given in.

I've instructed my solicitor to inform them that I will agree to the £1000 retainer on the following provisos:

It stays with my solicitor;
That a RICS independent surveyor looks at the floor, not a builder or a company specialist;
That (if required) 3 builders should quote for the work specified by the surveyor (and only that work);
That only sub-floor work will be paid for;
That any money left over will be returned; and that any works should be completed within 3 months.

We visited the cottage we are buying today, we were having our pianola delivered there, and it really put things into perspective - we just want to be out and starting afresh - and not starting again with the property on the market - think our buyers are definitely naive rather than greedy - I don't want first timers again, that's for sure!

 

[Anonymous]

Well done!

Where is (sort of vaguely... ) your new home?

 

[Anonymous]

Our new home is in one of the villages in Upper Coquetdale, Evelyn. You're not far away are you?

 

[Anonymous]

I'm quite an experienced architect, with a much better fundamental understanding of construction than most surveyors or builders. However, each time I have bought, sold or re-mortgaged a property I have had to get an survey done at the request of lenders and can honestly say that in most cases they have been complete bullshit - they have missed major issues and made huge problems out of very small ones. As for builders, most local builders really do not know what they are doing - few are proper craftsmen. The only way of really determining if joists are fine is to use a micro drill core (which gives a digital read-out of the state of the joist internally), which can only be done by specialist companies, not something your average builder will be able to do - and difficult to believe will be really required in this case. If the buyers builder does take a look under the floor then you can bet your bottom dollar he will find a problem, a big problem, of course. If you do go down this route it would be worth asking the builder to outline what he will be looking for and how he will determine the extent of any problem. I think the buyer is being totally unreasonable, but probably on the back of bad advice.