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.

"Calla" wrote in message
ups.com...
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.


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

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.

"Andrew Mawson" wrote in message
...



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

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

Mary

On 3 Sep, 12:02, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
"Andrew Mawson" wrote in message

...



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

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

Mary

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.

Calla wrote:
On 3 Sep, 12:02, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
"Andrew Mawson" wrote in message

...

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

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

Mary

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.

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
http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpB...wforum.php?f=1


NT

" wrote in news:1188801966.910724.206950
@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com:

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.

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?

"Mike the unimaginative" wrote in message
...
" wrote in news:1188801966.910724.206950
@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com:

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.

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?

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

On 2 Sep, 22:27, Calla wrote:
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.

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

wrote in message
oups.com...
On 2 Sep, 22:27, Calla wrote:

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.

snip further details

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

wrote:
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.

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

--
Chris Green

On 4 Sep, 19:29, wrote:
wrote:
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.

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

--
Chris Green

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

On 4 Sep, 20:47, wrote:
On 4 Sep, 19:29, wrote:

wrote:
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.

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

--
Chris Green

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

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 £150
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.

wrote:

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?

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


NT

On Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:32:27 -0700, Calla wrote:

On 4 Sep, 20:47, wrote:
On 4 Sep, 19:29, wrote:

wrote:
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.

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

--
Chris Green

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

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'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

"Anna Kettle" wrote in message
...

SNIP

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

....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 G

AWEM

On Wed, 5 Sep 2007 08:26:19 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
wrote:


"Anna Kettle" wrote in message
...

SNIP

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

...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 G

AWEM

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

"Anna Kettle" wrote in message
...

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

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

We we both have time :-)

Mary

"Anna Kettle" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 5 Sep 2007 08:26:19 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
wrote:


"Anna Kettle" wrote in message
...

SNIP

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

...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 G

AWEM

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

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

AWEM