Prospective house purchase - sloping floor?
Discussion
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.
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.
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'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.
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'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 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 said:
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?
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.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?
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.
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. 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.
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.
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 said:
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 said:
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.
If there aren't any cracks/distortions in the external wall then it's probablyruss_a said:
I have just fixed a slopping floor which was due to rotten floor joists.
Nish said:
What would be the best way to proceed?
Well, if it's rotting floorboards then a good surveyor will pick it up in a thorough survey. If it's due to movement in the wall then you'll need a structural engineer's report. If you're struggling to see any cracks/distortions in the outer walls then you're probably OK to go for the surveyor; if you've missed the defects in the wall he'll recommend a structural engineer's report.Sometimes these decisions aren't easy.
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. Otherwise you could only proceed on a worst case basis.
I have asked the agent to try and get a copy of the report.
I personally took the initially pricey approach, but it paid back:
1) Hired a structural surveyor for an hour to look at the specific issue. £60. He gave me his view that the issue wasn't what I feared it was (subsidence in my case)
2) Offered on the house. Paid for the minimum lenders survey required £315.
3) Paid for my own full structural survey from a reputable local business £750
The output of 2) was no use to me, only to the bank. I think they did a drive-by survey.
The output of 3) helped in my negotiations to have £5500 of work done on other issues, plus a £1500 payment on completion towards a future budgeted issue.
So overall, it's cost a lot initially, but de-risked the purchase, and overall, Ill be better off and I'm going in to the property eyes wide open....
1) Hired a structural surveyor for an hour to look at the specific issue. £60. He gave me his view that the issue wasn't what I feared it was (subsidence in my case)
2) Offered on the house. Paid for the minimum lenders survey required £315.
3) Paid for my own full structural survey from a reputable local business £750
The output of 2) was no use to me, only to the bank. I think they did a drive-by survey.
The output of 3) helped in my negotiations to have £5500 of work done on other issues, plus a £1500 payment on completion towards a future budgeted issue.
So overall, it's cost a lot initially, but de-risked the purchase, and overall, Ill be better off and I'm going in to the property eyes wide open....
There's a 6" difference in level between the front/back of my house (1930's semi).
Before the extension you could stand a pound coin on the dining table and watch it roll off at some considerable speed. Not subsidence though and the extension was piled so now props everything up nicely.
All the houses in my street have similar movement, do any other houses in the area look at all wonky?
Before the extension you could stand a pound coin on the dining table and watch it roll off at some considerable speed. Not subsidence though and the extension was piled so now props everything up nicely.
All the houses in my street have similar movement, do any other houses in the area look at all wonky?
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff