And our survey says…
We got the survey back on the house we’re hoping to buy, and it’s generally good news—-we think. The whole business of buying a house is fraught with panic anyway (particularly if you’re first time buyers as we are), but the survey is written in language designed to maximise back-covering rather than practical information, so it’s very easy to read far too much into it. They never use phrases like “the structure of the house is sound”, but say things like “as far as we were able to investigate it, the structure of the house seems to be acceptable”, which immediately makes you think that there’s something they’re not telling you. What does acceptable mean? What’s wrong with it?
“The internal staircase has 13 steps”. OK. Is that good? Or bad? Why do we need to know how many steps there are? “Some of the steps squeak.” It’s cursed! It’s a cursed house! Oh my Bod!1
And breathe…
1
It's OK to have 13 steps, only don't buy it on Friday.
by valem @ 26/04/2006 9:04 am • Permalink •
2
valem:
by bsag @ 26/04/2006 5:04 pm • Permalink •
3
Never buy a house with a squeaky staircase - it infringes a burglar's civil rights, as it my result in him being caught!
by Jonathan Briggs @ 26/04/2006 6:05 pm • Permalink •
4
First time buying is a doddle. Wait until you've got a chain of biblical proportions at either end - then you'll understand stress!
We were told by the structural surveyor of our prospective Victorian purchase that "the metal ties between the brick courses were very likely to have rusted away."
Short of punching a hole in the walls to examine the cavity, we had to take his word about that. Not something the vendor would have appreciated, really?
And "evidence of old wiring" in the roof of a re-wired property turned out to be a length of cable, not connected to anything, lying on the insulation where the electrician had dropped it!
by Mr.D. @ 27/04/2006 10:05 am • Permalink •
5
I suppose in our litigatious society they have to cover themselves rather than committing to definite statements in case they get sued. Anyway I hope that your path to home ownership is relatively trouble free.
By the way do you really worship a small cartoon character from the 70s Playschool program.
by Keith @ 27/04/2006 11:05 am • Permalink •
6
You are completely right about the survey giving you minimal legal protection. If there is anything that bothers you about the house, do try to check it out personally, or ask the seller in writing.
by ThoughtBadger @ 28/04/2006 8:05 am • Permalink •
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