Reply to: Subject to Survey : House Buying

[Board Game Geek]

If you want your house to move up in value then it will do so very slowly if it is smack bang in the middle of a housing estate.

Have you had a good look at the area?????

Aye, we have. It's a nice middle class area, no shops, no gangs of kids, decent motors on people's drives etc. Low crime rate, etc.

[norrahe]

No idea. Built in 1970. The area is a housing estate, but none of the houses are of the Council type if you know what I mean.

If you want your house to move up in value then it will do so very slowly if it is smack bang in the middle of a housing estate.

Have you had a good look at the area?????

[Bagpuss]

I said that because council houses tend to be full of asbestos. I never leave serious negotiation to the dazzas at the estate agents, your solicitors (conveyancer) won't haggle for you, they usually get the office junior to do the mundane paperwork. I would simply ring up the vendor and negotiate direct. Remember the agents have a vested interest, and are not that bothered that you get the best deal (think recruitment agents and you won't be far wrong). Having said that I wouldn't touch a house that has asbestos in it.

[Board Game Geek]

Is this house ex-council by any chance?

No idea. Built in 1970. The area is a housing estate, but none of the houses are of the Council type if you know what I mean.

[Bagpuss]

Is this house ex-council by any chance?

[norrahe]

Well, if they were supposed to, they didn't.

When the Estate Agent informed them, they said they were unaware.

I assume then that when you have a HIPS done, the person doing it doesn't clamber around the loft, and even if they did, isn't trained enough to spot asbestos ?

of course they're not.

If it's supposed to be in the HIPs and isn't then use the fact that they did not disclose it as leverage.

Do not be afraid to go in guns blazing and negotiate hard.
Other things you might want to look at is how long the house has been on the market
the personal situation of the people selling ( are they desperate to flog it for some reason)
check zoopla to get a reflection on what the house price should be, as people often take the highest price the estate agent will offer and then tack a little more onto it.
Look at similar houses in the area and find out what they sold for.

The asbestos issue is not a small one, if you really want the house then negotiate, but if they fuss about it too much be prepared to walk away, it's not worth it.

[Board Game Geek]

I thought the vendor had a duty to mention any asbestos in the property information pack.

If this wasn't mentioned, they may have been a bit naughty, which may give you some leverage in negotiating a price reduction.

Well, if they were supposed to, they didn't.

When the Estate Agent informed them, they said they were unaware.

I assume then that when you have a HIPS done, the person doing it doesn't clamber around the loft, and even if they did, isn't trained enough to spot asbestos ?

[Diver]

I am already in one of those. Why else would I be reading cuk?

Cant wait until 11am when I can go home and take the kids for a walk at the local country park

Whether they want to go or not

[OwlHoot]

I thought the vendor had a duty to mention any asbestos in the property information pack.

If this wasn't mentioned, they may have been a bit naughty, which may give you some leverage in negotiating a price reduction.

[BrilloPad]

Yeh!

Commitment to a suitable mental health facility for reading all of his other posts

I am already in one of those. Why else would I be reading cuk?

Cant wait until 11am when I can go home and take the kids for a walk at the local country park

[Diver]

I have found a sensible sasguru post!

Do I win a prize?

Yeh!

Commitment to a suitable mental health facility for reading all of his other posts

[BrilloPad]

I've probably bought and sold more properties than most - and my golden rule was always to walk away if the vendors did not do everything to my satisfication.
The asbestos issue is potentially quite serious - and I would definitely haggle over the price. Get the best Asbestos specialist you can find to give you a quote to make the property completely safe and asbestos free and make sure the price is reduced by that amount - no compromise.
Your conveyancer should help with negotiation.

I have found a sensible sasguru post!

Do I win a prize?

[BlasterBates]

Agree with the above. Abestos means workers turning up fully clad in protective suits and breathing masks, and risk of death by a long painful lung disease.

Wouldn't worry about the leaky roof or a bit of wet rot.

[shaunbhoy]

He was probably in the RFA, which was paid for by the queen at that time.

Who in turn is paid for by US all of the time!!

[Moscow Mule]

Er!

The merchant navy is not public sector and merchant seamen do not work for the government?

I think the clue is in the word "Merchant"

He was probably in the RFA, which was paid for by the queen at that time.