Home Reports For Properties Marketed Since Dec '08

[Democorruptcy]

I don't know if my efforts made any impact but the email to my MP received a letter back that said he was investigating the matter.

[Democorruptcy]

Home Report repairs are categorised as follows:

3

Urgent repairs or replacement are

needed now. Failure to deal with

them may cause problems to other

parts of the property or cause a

safety hazard. Estimates for repairs

or replacement are needed now.

2

Repairs or replacement requiring

future attention, but estimates are

still advised.

1

No immediate action or repair is

needed.

How bad does something have to be for a surveyor to not put a "1"?

Below is part of single survey. Am I being alarmist or should some of those not be a "1"?

Structural movement

Repair category 1

Evidence of previous movement was noted in the property, but within the

limitations of my inspection, I found no evidence to suggest that the movement

appears serious or that there were obvious signs of recent movement having

occurred. It is my opinion that this evidence would not have an adverse effect on

future saleability.

Dampness, rot and infestation

Repair category 1

There is evidence of woodworm in timbers throughout including the roof void.

I understand that a full range of timber/damp specialist works were carried out by

Alliance Timber Preservation in the past and that Guarantees are available. You

should obtain these Guarantees. I have assumed that there are no outstanding

works.

There is dampness at the front door and at the fire escape door.

Chimney stacks

Repair category 1

Notes There are areas of open and weathered pointing.

Roofing including roof space

Repair category 1

There is rusting evident to the ridge and hip clips.

There are cracked, broken and slipped slates.

The valleys have been patched.

Rainwater fittings

Repair category 1

There is some overflow and rusting evident which is particularly marked on the

front elevation.

The downpipes on the Conservatory have not been set in to traps.

Main walls

Repair category 1

There are areas of open and weathered pointing.

Maintenance is required to doorsteps.

Windows, external doors and joinery

Repair category 1

Maintenance is required to the original windows including timbers, decoration,

fittings and glazing.

There is some failure to sealed unit double-glazing particularly in the

Conservatory.

Weathering is evident to timbers together with slight softness.

The windows are particularly poor at Attic Floor level.

Some maintenance is required to external doors particularly the Kitchen door.

There is some weathering and softness to door frames.

Conservatories/porches

Repair category 1

Notes There is failure to sealed unit double-glazing.

Garages and permanent outbuildings

Repair category 1

Notes General maintenance is required to the Garage including timbers and roofing.

Outside areas and boundaries

Repair category 1

Some maintenance is required to the site boundaries particularly the stone wall

along the front elevation.

There are a number of large trees which could cause structural damage if they

were to fall towards the property during adverse weather.

Ceilings

Repair category 1

There is some plaster cracking together with unevenness.

There is loss of key to plaster finishes within the Attic.

Internal walls

Repair category 1

There are visible tape joints together with some cracking most of which appears

historic.

Floors including sub-floors

Repair category 1

There are areas of loose and uneven flooring which should be refixed, where

possible, taking care not to puncture sub-floor services.

There is moderate dampness to flooring throughout the Ground Floor

accommodation but there is only very limited access.

Electricity

Repair category 1

There are one or two loose electrical face-plates and socket outlets.

Water, plumbing and bathroom fittings

Repair category 1

Some attention is required to sealant and grout.

[pyracantha]

Home Report repairs are categorised as follows:

3

Urgent repairs or replacement are needed now. Failure to deal with them may cause problems to other parts of the property or cause a safety hazard. Estimates for repairs or replacement are needed now.

2

Repairs or replacement requiring future attention, but estimates are still advised.

1

No immediate action or repair is needed.

How bad does something have to be for a surveyor to not put a "1"?

Below is part of single survey. Am I being alarmist or should some of those not be a "1"?

Agreed. By the standard definitions clearly quite a few 1's are at least 2's.

Given the survey has everything as a 1, it might be that this is an error. I'd go back and ask for confirmation. Sounds like a money pit...

[Democorruptcy]

I've no intention of buying it.

It's just that I've looked at a few and I'm always amazed that almost everything is a 1.

It's as if the surveyors are too scared to upset the vendors or don't want to put a 2 or 3 in case it may affect the price.

[pyracantha]

It's as if the surveyors are too scared to upset the vendors or don't want to put a 2 or 3 in case it may affect the price.

I think the descriptions alone would affect what I though the place is worth. Agreed with your suggestions but I really can't see the benefit to the surveyor unless they are worried about not getting future work. Makes a bit of a mockery of the single-survey principle.