We finally viewed a property which was as described, and liked it very much. We offered and were accepted. Hours later we found out that last week's survey was so damning that we didn't even recognize our house from it. The only redeeming feature was that there were no structural problems and the roof appeared sound. Everything else, from plaster, to doors, windows, ceilings, floors needed replacing according to him (everything in fact which has been the work of half a lifetime to improve and replace as necessary). We are so gutted it is unbelievable. When we think of the time and MONEY that has been spent bringing our lovely home back from the wreck it was when we bought it (and yet we got a mortgage on it all those years ago despite the work that needed doing then, with just a "put a damp proof course in" (utter waste of time when your walls are 3 feet thick and filled with rubble) and get woodworm treated (which we did and have done with every beam, joist and floorboard we have ever uncovered.) All to make sure they never have to pay out on a possible problem in the future. It wasn't worth the paper it was written on.
We are fighting back with a long detailed email and supporting documentation for works done (but as my husband said, who keeps paperwork for more than 20 years on work done on a property, so we don't have the weekly chits for work done - paid by the hour not a quote for the entire job .) There were many innacuracies and he couldn't even get the orientation of the house right! We can only hope that this doesn't all fall through but right now it is hard to be cheerful.
Here's a picture of our river from this week, taken late afternoon.
Bum. I thought I had problems. I so hope this gets sorted. What does your solicitor think of all this? Appalling. xxx
ReplyDeleteOne step forward - two back! I hope it gets sorted too. Haven't thought to approach our Solicitor tbh, but have had words with our Agent.
DeleteHugs BB, we know that you have kept up with the maintenance on the house all the way through. Sounds as though you had a jobsworth look at the property. Out of curiousity would you be able to arrange for your own report to fend off any loss of proposed sale. Just a thought. Building society surveyors tend to be ten a penny. However it does sound as though he has got his information wrong from what you say so I would be inclined to challenge it too. Take care sweetie. Still chucking down with rain here it has not stopped all day. Beginning to feel like Noah! Take care honey xx
ReplyDeleteIt has been a Very Big MONEYPIT. We have spent well over £100K doing it up down the years, so this is all the more galling as his write up makes our house sound like it's derelict! The cost of having a report done on this is prohibitive and any buyer might be suspicious anyway -tbh, I think all surveyors try to cover their backs so it would probably be no different.
DeleteI hope you don't float away today!
It sounds like a scam to me.
ReplyDeleteI think this is just the way that surveyors work Tom. We are beginning to wonder if it's worth having one done on the house we are buying - knowing old properties and their faults as we do, we are more inclined just to trust our own judgement right now!!
DeleteA friend was selling her geriatric aunty's house, again, well maintained down the years, but no fripperies and the surveyor suggested that the wallpaper might have arsenic in it!!! (It didn't!)
Yes that happens, it is almost as if the surveyor is bribed by the purchasers so that you will come down in price. Receipts or proof of work will help a lot Best of Luck !!!
ReplyDeleteWell, it backfired as he has just thoroughly put the wind up our buyers. Our smallholding neighbour lost her sale after a "local surveyor" (one and the same she thinks) slated her farmhouse so much. It had been totally and completely renovated from a wreck only 20 years ago now - so it would have been 15 or so years when surveyed.
DeleteA nightmare, so upsetting~ Not meaning to be intrusive, but I'm new to your blog and am unclear why you must move to a new house?
ReplyDeletelizzy gone to the beach.
Lizzy - this is a huge house and we need to downsize - we have 8 bedrooms for starters! 4,500 square feet. That's a lot of housework!
DeleteSo sorry to hear this and I hope your appeal will be heard.
ReplyDeleteMe too Mary. We can but hope.
DeleteHow gut wrenching, I do hope you can get things straightened out.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I'm not sleeping too well either Jackie, and keep having panic attacks over it.
DeleteOh Belle - structurally sound is the best thing the report could have in it. The rest is aesthetics. The aesthetic didn't appeal to that surveyor. Buyers always change things to put their stamp on their new home anyway. The surveyor is just making sure he can't later be accused of missing something crucial. In the industry i work in i see that all the time. We read a lot of fluff to get to the important stuff. Wait till you see the survey on the one you are buying! Perspective. Anyway congratulations on finding and getting something you like. Here's to both sales going without hitch!!!
ReplyDeleteI shall hang onto that frail hope Tigger. You're completely right and he has covered everything that might have a problem in the future - a complete whitewashs and not worth the paper it is written on. I hope they can see through the dross.
DeleteKeep being positive, wretched surveyor is obviously covering his own back. Maybe it pays him to be so destructive?
ReplyDeleteAll to cover his back.
ReplyDeleteHope it doesn't make the buyers offer a much lower price or worse pull out.
I'll keep on keeping my fingers crossed
Oh how awful - so sorry to hear of this nightmare. Pleased to see you have kept receipts etc. of all work done. Perhaps surveyors just cover themselves by reporting everything possible or potential? I know when I sold my mum's house there were things picked up which the buyer then used to get me to lower the price :( Hope that doesn't happe with you. Sending positive thoughts your way and I do hope the sale goes through now you have found a property you like. Never give up hope.
ReplyDeleteNo platitudes -I'm just so sorry you are having to go through this.
ReplyDeleteI would ask for a second opinion of someone else that is more trustworthy. This does sound like a scam as one other reader wrote above. It is disgusting what lengths people will go to sometimes to buy something for less than it is worth. so don't give up. I will pray this works out as it should. Take care and Be SAFE from Iowa
ReplyDeleteAm now au fait with whats happening. Sorry but ignore my last comment. x
ReplyDeleteMy experience of these reports is, as you say, they are not worth they paper they are written on.
ReplyDeleteThe same kind of thing is happening over the Pond. Neighbors had fixed every conceivable thing in the house and the appraiser was a total jerk--finding all sorts of nonsensical things. They had to cut down a 30m tree to accommodate a new and larger septic system and drain field, too (a special kind because we live near the Chesapeake Bay). Had to have cost them more than £15-20,000--all deducted from their profits. I've heard of others in our area fighting back against some outrageous appraisers. Best of luck with getting a new one.
ReplyDelete