So after posting the list of things the survey apparently found I wrote the thread...
Ok, the survey's in... advice please

and thanks to awl for calming down. I agreed that my buyers could get estimates on work that might need to be done but was really very worried that they were going to try and knock me down with insignificant problems, or make problems seem worse than they were.

Two very decent older proper builders turned up today and had a look around. They found NO damp in the bay, the air vents were all fine, floors were all fine, drains showed no evidencfe of either blockage or collapsing. They confirmed the damp I knew about and a little bit in the lounge wher next door is slightly higher than I am. The damp is coming from their side and is no trouble to fix nor expensive. So basically they said to me that there was nothing I needed to worry about ..... YESSSSS !!!!!!

Ok thats really a double double WOOPPEEE as the house is as I knew it to be, however...

I know surveyors have to cover themselves saying likely problems in houses of this age... but why do they need to phrase things in such a way that they don't give the opinon that in this case this isn't a problem rather than drawing your attention to it and needs to be fixed right now !?!

For an update... spoke to my buyers just now (lovely to be able to do as I don't have an EA) and their buyers have their mortgage offer and I already knew they did... now I'm happy Just still need to find me a place to rent for me and my animals

I've noticed this being a bit of a trend in other posts. Yet on the other hand you have poor trevgo with his useless surveys going completely the opposite way. In another thread there was mention of ceiling tiles and the loft not being insulated! That's beggar all to do with the structure and safety of a property but is merely cosmetic and/or desirable, yet bringing these sorts of things up can cause panic on both sides, especially those who are not constantly reading property forums and doing all the research everyone on here does. You could say trying to cover themselves and I suppose that's what this day and age is all about - indemnity insurances for this, that and the other and pinpointing potential areas as probable areas that must get a mention just in case someone tries to claim financial compensation for not noticing something.

quote:

I know surveyors have to cover themselves saying likely problems in houses of this age... but why do they need to phrase things in such a way that they don't give the opinon that in this case this isn't a problem rather than drawing your attention to it and needs to be fixed right now !?!

When I was selling my house, one of our intersted buyers had a incredibly negative survey come back. It said things like ' the ceiling is uneven, however this is entirely cosmetic'- it also mentioned the fact that he didn't think the fireplace was 'in tune' with the decor- oh and that there might be damp in the front wall but that there was also a damp course.

Unfortunately, the couple freaked- even tho' he priced all this at 5k worth of fixing.

I don't understand why surveyors have to say things like 'I couldn't find any damp however there might be some' unless they are just scared of getting sued.

yep, queenstomper - noticed the little reference to the ceiling tile thread. in case it was mine -
Re ceiling tiles - this could cost over £1500 to fix. Don't pay to have it done and if we ever had a fire (touch wood we won't)the scalding stuff would drip all over my little babies. Not very 'desirable' as you call it and not for decorative purposes - it's a safety issue. How is a fire hazard not a safety issue! Any do you know how much it costs to get everything insulated? Particularly when the older lady vendor would've been able to get a grant and have it all done.

On first reading, our survey made it sound like the house should be condemned and the vendors were lucky to be alive...

Glad to hear things are progressing Lillie-B!

Well holy cheeses I just brought up a couple of things that sprang to mind. Insulation in lofts isn't anything to do with valuation or the state of repair of a house. I was merely saying if this sort of thing is brought up in survey it might make buyers think that this is some sort of prerequisite in houses and that all houses must have loft insulation - which isn't the case.

So far as ceiling tiles go, well it still sounds to me like something that isn't really anything to do with a survey or valuation, more to do with a safety inspection which is a different thing, surely? Nobody would have those tiles now, as yes, if they catch fire there is a lot more danger than just having a painted ceiling, but it's not something imperative to house value or condition which is what the survey is for. They were put up there in the first place for cosmetic reasons as they were fashionable.

I hope I've explained what I'm getting at. It just seems that some things they bring up in surveys these days are nothing to do with condition of a house for the purposes of buying it and for the purposes of lenders loaning the money.