Property value challenged after this Home Buyers Survey in Walsall

This Home Buyers Survey in Walsall questioned the accuracy of the property's valuation, after defects were found

Upon surveying this two-bedroom bungalow in Walsall, West Midlands, the surveyor completing this HomeBuyer Report noted several outstanding issues. A number of these required immediate attention before the house would be safe and comfortable for permanent habitation.

What is the home's real value?

An offer of £230,000 had been agreed between the seller and the potential new occupants. The surveyor argued in this Home Buyers Survey in Walsall that this was likely too high, due to the current condition of the property, including defects. It was recommended that the offer be renegotiated.

If this advice is followed, the buyers who commissioned this Home Buyers Survey could save £1000s off the sale price - easily worth the price of a Home Survey.

Damp and potential damage to foundations

Extensive dampness readings, taken during the Home Buyers Survey, suggested that there were problems with moisture soaking into walls throughout the property.

It was suggested that a specialist be hired to inspect the problem and advise futher, as it was impossible to say what had caused the water damage at first glance. In order to inspect the property fully, it would take some disturbance of the construction, and therefore the current owner’s permission would be needed.

Dampness problems can arise for a number of reasons, most commonly either through rain simply soaking through the walls into the building, through seeping into the building through the ground, or by getting in through the top of the wall and leaking downwards. Damp should be avoided where possible; it not only makes house an unpleasant place to live and causes superficial damage, which can significantly reduce the property's value over time, this issue can lead to serious and long-term health problems.

Other minor problems discovered during the Home Buyers Survey in Walsall included:

• Both the front porch roof and the flat roof on the property’s garage built with materials with a short expected lifespan. Though immediate repairs were not required, this information allows the new owners to plan and budget ahead for future work.
• The kitchen fittings, and joinery in general throughout the house, were described in the Home Buyers Survey as “dated but functional”. This is, of course, any new tenant would probably want to replace them. 
• As highlighted in our HomeBuyer Report house diagram, the drainage pipes and gutters had not been cleared in some time. The whole drainage system requires regular maintenance to avoid water damage to walls and building foundations.