getting a house looked at before possibly buying it

[Calla]

Hello all. I'm looking to move house and one of the front runners at the moment is a bit of a doer upper. It's obviously the structural side I'm most concerened about. There's a small patch of damp in one corner of a bedroom so I'm wondering if this might be a problem with the roof. There's also a crack down the corner of the front bay window in another bedroom presumably from the double glazing that's been put in. Don't worry, I'm not stupid enough to buy the place without getting it checked out, or thinking I can do any of the work myself. I will get a surveyor in to have a good look but since a thorough survey isn't likely to be cheap, do you think it would be a good idea to get a builder or something in to suck their teeth over it? I'm thinking it might save me a bit of money if the builder just says "walk away". If he reckons it's worth a closer look, then get a surveyor in, or has anyone any other thoughts? Thanks all. Andy.

[Andrew Mawson]

There's

I'm afraid my experience with surveyors is that in the main they are a waste of space. This is based on surveys of houses I have sold, knowing what they should have spotted and didn't, and houses that I have bought, knowing what they missed! Apparently my current house has two Leylandii in the garden, where I'm sure I've seen Spruces, and the original Edwardian fireplaces are, I'm told, cast aluminium depite the fact that they attract a magnet and are actually cast iron. One house's 'relatively new central heating boiler' was put in by me 23 years ago, and in another the fact that the back wall leaned outwards by over 4" was totally missed on a full structural survey done for the purchasers, but he made up for it by spotting 12" of pointing needed on a chimney stack !

AWEM

[dom]

Likewise, my experience of surveyors equally poor.

If you do ask an experienced builder to look it over (which I think is more useful than a survey) - be completely honest with him, that you are only thinking about buying and offer to pay for his advice.

[Mary Fisher]

I have no first hand experience of surveyors but I'm not at all surprised by what you say, Andrew.

Mary

[Calla]

looks like this is certainly the way to go then. I would pay the builder - my dad's a plumber so I'm used to hearing about 'customers' trying it on. Interesting to see nobody's said RUN AWAY!!! I've put a new kitchen and bathroom in my current house but this stuff's out of my league and the thought of it's making my nipsy squeak. Thanks again.

[meow2222]

My experience with builder's diagnoses is about the same as mentioned for surveyors. I wouldnt go that route.

A damp patch isnt much of a reason to run away, damp is fixable if you take the time to understand how it works properly first. Ask on

[Mike the unimaginative]

" [e-mail]" wrote in news:1188801966.910724.206950 @k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com:

My lad is in the same sort of boat - he's looking at a terraced house that is structurally OK as far as I can tell, but needs a fair bit of tidying up (including demolishing the rear extension and rebuilding with something that's at least true and watertight!) - he doesn't need a surveyor to tell him this, he needs a builder to tell him how much it will cost. How much is a builder likely to charge for a look and estimate? / How much is it worth offering?

[Andrew Mawson]

think is

house that

something

You'll be paying 'opportunity cost' ie for what he could be earning if he's not with you - so what is the going rate for a builder in your area - £150 or so I'd imagine

AWEM

[mail]

Dear Andy, First of all let me come clean and declare myself a surveyor (of sorts) NOT chartered or structural. I have surveyed several thousand houses in my particular field (damp and decay) and have compared my assessment with that of structural surveyors and on the whole tend to agree with elements of the opinions expressed on surveyors. I have on my list about 5 surveyors that I regard as good and would pay to survey any prospective purchase and that is gained over the last 30 plus years from a population of several hundred. My advice is to select your suveyor carefully. Horses for courses. ~What is the type and age of the house? is it listed? You need different surveyors and expertise for different houses. The principle I would apply is that you need to ask for someone with

20 plus years of experience in surveying the type of house you want to buy. Ask him out right. Is he competent and experienced in this type of house? Say to him you want to pay for an hour or two of his time to "screen" the house for major defects and walk round with him and ask him to talk to you of his thinking process. You can state to him that you absolve him of liability for an oral report if it is considered too defective to proceed with (ie you indemnify him for action against him if he says the house is bad when in fact it is ok and thus your "prospective" loss. If, on looking at it for an hour it looks like a goer then ask him to go on the record and proceed either with a full structural or a homebuyers report and valuation - agree the price before the visit. I have worked with builders all my life and have yet to find one that is competent to conduct a survey. I would wholly distrust any builders' opinion prior to opening up unless I had had personal experience of him over a good number of years and only then would I trust him on matters within his expertise - which of course is difficult UNLESS he is a qualifed MCIOB in which case I would have a lot of reliance as that is a very good qualification - but somewhat rare. If you tell me where the house is and what type of house I can possibly help more Chris George

[Mary Fisher]

What an excellent and helpful post - thank you.

I'm unlikely ever to need a surveyor but shall keep your advice for the benefit of others.

Mary

[tinnews]

Why would I want to ask him out? .... oh, you mean outright!

[mail]

Very tired and, when giving free advice, I tend not to bother to check my work but, thinking about it, not a bad idea to ask him if you want to get him on your side! you never know where it might lead! nuff said.... c BTW -thanks Mary

[Calla]

The house is a fairly average semi - 1930s I reckon. It's not listed. It looks like it's been lived in by an old couple who may not have had the get up & go to keep up to it. It has very 1960s looking fireplaces. The fuse box looks recentish but who knows about the wiring itself - another thing that'll have to be checked (I've got a mate that's an electrician so at least I can get this on the cheap). Generally, apart from the double glazing (which doesn't look exactly new either), nothing looks like it's been updated in years. I'm wondering if this applies to everything. I'm starting to talk myself out of it now. Anyway, I'll probably get a builder in in the first instance. The =A3150 quid or whatever isn't making much difference to the grand total. I won't take their word as gospel though and will follow Chris's advice with regard to the surveyor (not the coming on to them bit - I've been trying this with the estate agents and it's going nowhere). Thanks again. Andy.

[meow2222]

You think any of them are going to answer 'no'? (to the general public.)

NT

[Anna Kettle]

I'd call that a plus point. The houses I have been very suspicious of are the ones where there is lots of fresh paint around and I start to wonder just what they are trying to hide. If nothing has been done for years then the defects will be clear to see if you or your adviser know what to look for

Mind you, I do like DIY and it sounds as if you buy this house then you will have to start liking it too

Anna

[Andrew Mawson]

...ooh ... got any spare time, I'm sure I can find to you lots of DIY to enjoy! Might even throw in a bit of pargetting

AWEM

[Anna Kettle]

Lol!

Spare time what is that? Actually I am feeling very pleased cos the structural work at Pips is just about finished, the services are in place and I am just starting the decorating, so in a few years time I will no longer be living on a building site and I shall be at a loose end ...

... and when that happens I am planning become a lady and take up tapestry

Anna

[Mary Fisher]

I intend taking up flower arranging or lampshade making ... I think we should get together.

We we both have time :-)

Mary

[Andrew Mawson]

loose

By then your fingers will be all wizzend up from the lime plaster and you won't be able to hold the needle

AWEM