Cottage for sale. Is it worth it?
Discussion
Hi all,
I just wanted your opinions on this cottage that's for sale in my area:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
Its in a rural location, uses a septic tank (doesn't bother me), I have a viewing this Saturday. The seller is a corporate company. the house was part ex from an elderly couple that have moved into a retirement apartment.
I've asked various questions before the viewing. One thing they did say is that another buyer is interested in the property and has had a damp specialist come in quoting 3-3.k to insert a DPC. Now from what I have read is it doesn't need a DPC as it has never had one. Could this just be a case of maybe guttering, roof leak, wrong material used on walls etc?
The cottage was built in 1680. The plan is to make a sensible offer and if it becomes mine I have a budget of about 10k, maybe a little more for refurb and then live in it for a number of years before selling. I don't want to pay thousands on trying to diminish damp before I can lift a paintbrush.
What's everyone's opinion?
thank you
Michael
I just wanted your opinions on this cottage that's for sale in my area:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
Its in a rural location, uses a septic tank (doesn't bother me), I have a viewing this Saturday. The seller is a corporate company. the house was part ex from an elderly couple that have moved into a retirement apartment.
I've asked various questions before the viewing. One thing they did say is that another buyer is interested in the property and has had a damp specialist come in quoting 3-3.k to insert a DPC. Now from what I have read is it doesn't need a DPC as it has never had one. Could this just be a case of maybe guttering, roof leak, wrong material used on walls etc?
The cottage was built in 1680. The plan is to make a sensible offer and if it becomes mine I have a budget of about 10k, maybe a little more for refurb and then live in it for a number of years before selling. I don't want to pay thousands on trying to diminish damp before I can lift a paintbrush.
What's everyone's opinion?
thank you
Michael
Thanks for the reply. I've been to the cottage twice and peered through the windows, ha-ha and did notice some damp on one of the internal walls. Exterior wise for the age of the building it did appear to be in good condition although this was a quick visual and I don't know what plaster has been used (lime or Gypsum) or Mortor type.
I think the best course of action may be to take a good specialist in to try to find the root cause. Just concerned that if I instruct a surveyor they may come back with 'house riddled with damp. Please contact a specialist'. I'd want a more thorough examination.
Getting a little ahead of myself as I want, want, want. Just hope I don't get in to a bidding war with these other 'interested people', they may not even exist and if they do I would love to know what offer they have already submitted. The estate agent dropped that bit of info on m to keep my on my toes.
I think the best course of action may be to take a good specialist in to try to find the root cause. Just concerned that if I instruct a surveyor they may come back with 'house riddled with damp. Please contact a specialist'. I'd want a more thorough examination.
Getting a little ahead of myself as I want, want, want. Just hope I don't get in to a bidding war with these other 'interested people', they may not even exist and if they do I would love to know what offer they have already submitted. The estate agent dropped that bit of info on m to keep my on my toes.
Edited by michael010389 on Wednesday 16th August 15:07
Yea it's scary how many new builds are being built at the moment. Luckily there's a lot of private land to one side of the cottage and a private lake. It will be fairly close to the house but not enough for disturbance I hope. I've been looking at maps a lot at the surrounding area and have sort of worked out where the link road will be
We viewed the cottage this morning. I really like it. The only thing I did notice was some of the brickwork looked as though it had been re pointed with cement as opposed to using lime (May be wrong though). Some of the interior walls had damp. Upstairs had a damp wall but I noticed some tiles missing from the roof. A couple of cement bags were blocking one of the chimney breasts. Proobaly to keep the house warm but it didn't seem to be breathing at the moment. It wasn't a cold house as well which I was surprised.
I also noticed where paint had peeled probably from damp, it looked as though gypsum plaster had been used but the plaster didn't look damp it looked damp on painted walls but couldn't see whether gypsum was underneath or lime plaster.
I have to look at worse case scenario. Hacking lots of plaster and replacing with lime and the worded case would be reprinting in line (expensive). I'm new to this type of build though but just going off what I've read.
I could unblock the fireplace and check air bricks, fix any missing tiles and who knows, with cement pointing and gypsum here and there it could be fine.
Ground floor felt solid. Not sure if there used to be floorboards on the ground level. I know a slab of concrete could cause damp if it wasn't built that way originally. You just never know what people do until you start ripping stuff out
It is 1682. As the sign said so very old, not that, that would ever put me off.
I also noticed where paint had peeled probably from damp, it looked as though gypsum plaster had been used but the plaster didn't look damp it looked damp on painted walls but couldn't see whether gypsum was underneath or lime plaster.
I have to look at worse case scenario. Hacking lots of plaster and replacing with lime and the worded case would be reprinting in line (expensive). I'm new to this type of build though but just going off what I've read.
I could unblock the fireplace and check air bricks, fix any missing tiles and who knows, with cement pointing and gypsum here and there it could be fine.
Ground floor felt solid. Not sure if there used to be floorboards on the ground level. I know a slab of concrete could cause damp if it wasn't built that way originally. You just never know what people do until you start ripping stuff out
It is 1682. As the sign said so very old, not that, that would ever put me off.
Edited by michael010389 on Saturday 19th August 12:35
Edited by michael010389 on Saturday 19th August 12:43
Edited by michael010389 on Saturday 19th August 12:47
also is run on LPG. I also noticed the ground floor felt very solid. whether this was originally floorboards i'm not sure. floor could have been cemented over, transferring damp to internal walls. May be worth enquiring with neighbours next door to see if they've had any issues with damp.
ah didn't know that re LPG. Going to view it again on Saturday. There's also joists that are bowing in certain rooms quite significantly so I reckon the survey will throw out several red flags. Hopefully not a rip out and replace and just a case of either sistering some of the joists or packing the floors up.
Has anybody got an old property where it has been cement mortared but have had no issues regarding potential trapped moisture? I just don't want to be paying a builder to rake and re point straight away if it can wait 5 years until we have the funds to do this.
Has anybody got an old property where it has been cement mortared but have had no issues regarding potential trapped moisture? I just don't want to be paying a builder to rake and re point straight away if it can wait 5 years until we have the funds to do this.
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