Hopeless Homeless
I may have mentioned that we’re buying a house, or houses … if that doesn’t sound familiar you should probably catch up and then come back to this page. So, to recap, the house isn’t falling down.
What I didn’t mention, because I didn’t know when I wrote that post, was that the final valuation of the house was subject to a satisfactory damp survey. The surveyor wasn’t happy to set a market value without a better idea of how damp-proof the cellar of the house was.
This is quite a long post, if you’re not feeling patient then just skip to the last paragraph at this point.
So, we commissioned a damp survey, some very accredited people that the estate agents had dealt with before. Its a house with a cellar containing a kitchen and a bathroom with little ventilation and no central heating, we knew it was damp but we thought some drying-out and better management of the space would help. The survey report recommended that the cellar be completely gutted, false walls and floors fitted, and sumps and pumps to deal with the moisture. At a cost of around 20,000 GBP. If pounds sterling isn’t your local currency then go and convert the numbers. It’s a year’s salary. It also excludes the cost of removing all wall and floor tiles and extending all electrical and plumbing features (so they reach past the new walls) and then refitting the large kitchen and the shower room.
So the damp survey went to the valuation surveyor and the valuation got smaller by the aforementioned 20k. The valuation went to the bank and our mortgage got smaller by the same amount … and so did our offer on the house.
Our revised offer has been refused. The vendor has put the house back on the market and asked for a copy of the damp survey. I feel like everyone else in the world can do do this right, get their foot on the ladder, be normal, and we can’t!! Anyway it looks like our stuff stays in boxes for a while longer …
Sorry to hear that, was looking forward to you tales of moving… fingers crossed for another house…
Saj – thanks for the kind words :) We won’t attempt the buying process again for a while, think we’ve spent enough time and money on the whole thing to justify taking a rest from. At the moment we’re not sure if we’ll stay where we are or rent something else, we’ll keep you posted though.
Another bit of bad fortune, but a lucky escape again. Hopefully you can look back on this and be glad you didn’t buy a lemon, and take confidence you’re going about things the right way. Don’t give up, and best of luck with your next step!
The vendor must be a nutter. He knows that the next potential buyer is going to have a survey done and realise that 20k+ needs to be spent on it, therefore reducing their offer. Unless the vendor is related to the surveyor and they have some underhand relationship going on?
Aw, hun! :( I’m so sorry to hear that! (((hugs))) And (((hugs))) for Kevin, too.
Better luck next time, and hope in the meantime that everything else is going well.
Geoff – thanks for the best wishes, will have to arrange to get across and see your new place soon :)
Simon – we think the vendor thinks we’re trying to take him for a ride. He’s asked to see copies of the summaries of the surveys we’ve had, I think he’s trying to get his head around it! Not sure where we go from here but we’ve handed over the paperwork and although I doubt anything will come of it, we’ve said we’ll keep the offer open for a few days.
fairyJo – hugs for you too sweetie. Everything is going brilliantly apart from the house, we’re good up here and hope to see you soon.
Sorry to hear another buy has fallen through. I think, after all the troubles, you guys need a break from it all!
dotjay, thanks for dropping by :) You’re right I think and we do plan to just forget all about it for a little while now.