Prospective house purchase - sloping floor?

[Nish]

Hi All,

Saw a house on the weekend which fits my requirements and would be happy ot make an offer.

However, the floor in the living room has a slope. It is largely level but over the last two feet from the external wall it slopes downwards.

What would be the best way to proceed?

Leave it to the survey done as part of mortgage process? I am keen to get an opinion prior to this rather then go down that road to have it fall apart.

The vendor is ok with lifting the carpet but not the floorboards.

[Nish]

Sounds like surveyor is the way to go

Will get one in and get an idea of what is going on.

Thanks guys

[Nish]

GreenDog said:

Which survey are you having done ? Valuation, home buyer's, building survey ?
I'm not sure if the first would report on that or not so might be worth paying considering one of the others. From a few months ago when we were moving I found that a full survey can now be had quite cheaply if you hunt round a bit.

I guess I am stuck in the middle.

I have two options:

1) Make an offer, get to the point of acceptance. Arrange mortgage etc, get surveyor in - adjust offer price if neccessary according to report.

2) Get a surveyor in now.

Option 2 seems sensible, but is it jumping the gun? I have not made a formal offer yet let alone had it accepted.

Would it make more sense to get a price agreed and then proceed? I guess I could be wasting my time entirely if we cannot agree a price anyway.

Perhaps a formal survey at this stage is overkill, perhaps take in a builder who can give an opinion?

[Nish]

GreenDog said:

If you have someone who has a bit of knowledge on the subject it'd probably be a good move before you shell out on a survey.
Bear in mind that many lenders wont lend on a house that has or has had subsidence and also you'll find it harder to get house insurance and will pay more for it.

If the issue is serious i have no intention of buying.

From what I can see online, its possible its a non issue, but also possible the place is falling apart!

I think the informal builder/professional for an intial visit is the way to go ahead of a full survey at a later stage if it gets that far.

[Nish]

Zod said:

How old is the house? If it's Georgian, it's perfectly normal.

No idea, although the interior would suggest something very old to me:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

[Nish]

russ_a said:

I have just fixed a slopping floor which was due to rotten floor joists.

We had two full surveys and neither surveyor would lift the floorboards.

How did you diagnose the rotting joists? Post purchase?

Can i ask what the ballpark cost was?

[Nish]

Deva Link said:

If it's obvious and the seller is keen to sell, then perhaps they would fund an independant survey?

Otherwise you could only proceed on a worst case basis.

The vendor has apparently had it checked (unclear who by) and been advised it is not subsidence.

I have asked the agent to try and get a copy of the report.