Still house hunting three years on

[Bayliss]

After all this time you may have thought that a period property home could have been found. But no, still looking, for various reasons the right home or circumstances have not yet gelled. Now a home which we had previously looked at and rejected has re-appeared on the market, it has had various work to bring it to a living state but I am wary.

When we previously looked at this property I couldn't help but notice that the main tie beam appeared to have been severed. Now this tie also carries the crown post, therefore a vital structural part of the building. My question is :

Can this tie beam be correctly repaired and would it be a huge cost ( in excess of 5K for example)

I cannot link the property as I do not think it fair on the current owners, however it's on RIGHTMOVE and situated in Bildeston, Suffolk priced at £395k.
I would be very interested in your advise or comments.

 

[Flyfisher]

Looks like it's been painted since Google's streetview was last updated.

Is the tie-beam issue the reason you rejected it last time, or was there something else about it?

Without seeing the actual beam in question it's hard to estimate a repair cost, but I'd be very surprised if a proper and sympathetic repair could not be carried out.

If I was seriously interested in the property and this was the only issue preventing me from proceeding with an offer then I'd seek a repair quotation from a reputable firm and deduct that amount from my offer price.

 

[Bayliss]

Thank you for reply.

The tie beam is of major concern, especially as it forms with the middle cruck. Quite how it is still apparently in situ seems to me quite surprising. I may pluck up courage and ask the next door neighbour if they have any knowledge about the tie as it is inbetween both homes. Also if we progress we would certainly need party wall agreement for repair works to proceed.
As you mention a sympathetic repair is the order of the day by an expert company and I would need LB permission as well I would imagine.
Yes the house has been painted since we last viewed several years ago. The interior has also been smartened up, sadly it looks like modern plaster has been used extensively.

 

[Flyfisher]

Strictly speaking, LBC is only needed for alterations and not like-for-like repairs. However, I'd recommend talking to the responsible CO in any case because they are likely to be able offer expert advice and possibly point you towards some known competent professional restorers. It might also be very helpful to have the CO look over the property before you buy it, just in case there have been any other unauthorised alterations of the property (for which you become responsible for fixing, if necessary, as the new owner). If the vendors are not happy to let any professionals visit before you make an offer then that might suggest they have other things to hide. There is, of course, very little that cannot be properly rectified, but the trick is to fully understand how much would be needed before committing to a purchase and then use the figure during negotiations. I understand it must be frustrating to have been house hunting for three years but be wary of making a compromise you couldn't be happy about in years to come. Moving house is an expensive business! But I'm sure you know all that anyway.

 

[Bayliss]

Thank you again, some very good advisory assistance. I will post back if we progress and reach purchase complete.

 

[Pennyviz]

Do you have a good friendly builder you could ask?

 

[Bayliss]

^^^^^

Unfortunately not, I will have a chat with the council if we decide to proceed. Thanks for input.

 

[skier-hughes]

The interior has also been smartened up, sadly it looks like modern plaster has been used extensively.

This is the price you pay for not taking it in a poor state of repair, it's been tarted up to sell, now more work is required to get it back right, removal of all tarting up.

 

[Bayliss]

The interior has also been smartened up, sadly it looks like modern plaster has been used extensively.

This is the price you pay for not taking it in a poor state of repair, it's been tarted up to sell, now more work is required to get it back right, removal of all tarting up.

Yes that's very true, It was priced around 250k when we looked at it three years ago, maybe four years and apparently it sold for 220k. Now priced at a overly optimistic 395k, same oil boiler gives a clue that it has just been tarted up for a profit sale. Noticed on the sales sheet that no mention is made of refurbishment, therefore I expect it will be, in terms of maintenance and repair, no further forward to our last viewing. Well other than plaster and paint, kitchen cupboards, new bathroom suite.
On the other hand it is a nice old house deserving of some sympathetic work.

 

[Zebra]

It's super pretty. Sorry if I've missed something, how do you know they haven't repaired the tie beam already? What sort of a conversation have you had with the vendors about structural issues?