is a house with underpinning unsaleable?
Feb 16th 2004, 12:18 pm
#1
Back in Brisbane!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Brisbane at last!
Posts: 84
is a house with underpinning unsaleable?
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
Feb 16th 2004, 12:59 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: somerset
Posts: 123
hi
i am no expert, but from what i remember reading, the insurers who paid out for the underpinning, have a responsibility to provide insurance. it should therefore not be impossible. i would have thought that with no movement in 10 years there was little to worry about.
unfortunately susidence is something few people know much about. could you get some info together, to reassure prospective buyers? i pressume that they are made aware of the underpinning early in the process?
good luck
i am no expert, but from what i remember reading, the insurers who paid out for the underpinning, have a responsibility to provide insurance. it should therefore not be impossible. i would have thought that with no movement in 10 years there was little to worry about.
unfortunately susidence is something few people know much about. could you get some info together, to reassure prospective buyers? i pressume that they are made aware of the underpinning early in the process?
good luck
Feb 16th 2004, 1:04 pm
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
i wouldn't buy a house with underpinning, we pulled out of a purchase for this exact reason a few years ago, to us it was not worth the risk.
you may need to drop the price or offer some other incentive.
you may need to drop the price or offer some other incentive.
Feb 16th 2004, 1:06 pm
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 174
Re: is a house with underpinning unsaleable?
Originally posted by fimart
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
As long as you have the paper work you should be OK. Bound to put some people off a little - just have to tart the inside up - give it the wow factor so they don't take any notice of the fact it may fall down
Feb 16th 2004, 1:10 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: is a house with underpinning unsaleable?
Originally posted by fimart
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
On a personal note, I would probably not buy an under pinned house as I would be concerned for the long term. Sorry to p***s on your bonfire.
Good luck anyway.
Warren
Perth 2004.....
Feb 16th 2004, 1:49 pm
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 882
Re: is a house with underpinning unsaleable?
Originally posted by fimart
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
How did you buyers find out it was underpinned ?.....
Feb 16th 2004, 2:56 pm
#7
Back in Brisbane!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Brisbane at last!
Posts: 84
the first ones found out through the survey they had done and the second the estate agent told them. I think the big problem is that there is little paperwork on what happened and also the original owner who had it done stopped insuring it after it was underpinned. (he was well dodgy) We have just changed our insurer to one who assure us they will continue insuring it after we sell so hopefully it will not be a problem now.
Feb 16th 2004, 3:12 pm
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 882
Originally posted by fimart
the first ones found out through the survey they had done and the second the estate agent told them. I think the big problem is that there is little paperwork on what happened and also the original owner who had it done stopped insuring it after it was underpinned. (he was well dodgy) We have just changed our insurer to one who assure us they will continue insuring it after we sell so hopefully it will not be a problem now.
the first ones found out through the survey they had done and the second the estate agent told them. I think the big problem is that there is little paperwork on what happened and also the original owner who had it done stopped insuring it after it was underpinned. (he was well dodgy) We have just changed our insurer to one who assure us they will continue insuring it after we sell so hopefully it will not be a problem now.
sure you'll be alright in the end....
Feb 16th 2004, 4:21 pm
#9
Banned
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,094
Re: is a house with underpinning unsaleable?
Originally posted by fimart
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
Get a structual engineer to do a survey. He will give you a report and give a copy of this to your solicitor.
Should cost a coulpe of hundred.
Hope this helps
Feb 16th 2004, 4:31 pm
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: B.c Canada
Posts: 910
Originally posted by WBB
i wouldn't buy a house with underpinning, we pulled out of a purchase for this exact reason a few years ago, to us it was not worth the risk.
you may need to drop the price or offer some other incentive.
i wouldn't buy a house with underpinning, we pulled out of a purchase for this exact reason a few years ago, to us it was not worth the risk.
you may need to drop the price or offer some other incentive.
What does underpinning mean??.......
Feb 16th 2004, 5:25 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Portsmouth heading to Gold Coast
Posts: 74
Re: is a house with underpinning unsaleable?
Originally posted by fimart
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
As has already been mentioned if you have the paperwork then I'm sure you will sell sometime. being in construction (and I'm sure you know) that you probably live in an area prone to ground movement. the reason that people are wary of buying is that there is always the possiblity it could happen again
(at a different part of the house. What you could do to help sell is offer 1 years insurance (that you pay for) as a sweetner .Hope all turns out good and sorry for sounding negative
Simon
Feb 16th 2004, 8:02 pm
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
A few words of reassurance!
We bought a new house some 30 years ago, and after eight years in it the floors started down. We had it underpinned - 97 steel piles driven down inside, floors, stairs, central heating, kitchen etc all taken off in skips. The living room floor turned out to be hanging on a rad at one end! Then they broke through all the internal walls and cast lintels through them onto other lintels which ware supported by the piles. Etc Etc. Major six month job. Then we moved back in and lived in squalor for two years while we put in new kitchens, loos, stairs etc.
The reason for telling you all this is to show it was a significant structural job.
When we'd finished we thought we'd like to build our own place, and we actually found an ideal 14 acre plot - but we couldn't buy it unless we put up the money right away. So we let it go, as we didn't know whether we'd be able to sell our underpinned house and we didn't want to saddle ourselves with two properties.
In the end, we DID sell the house within a month or two of putting it on the market. None of the viewers were overly concerned about the work but then we did have all the engineers' plans and reports to show them.
I'd agree that you'd do well to invest a little on a structural engineer's report - NOT a survey, which says bugger all - and show it up front to viewers (unless of course it says the place is about to sink into the ground up to its ears!)
We bought a new house some 30 years ago, and after eight years in it the floors started down. We had it underpinned - 97 steel piles driven down inside, floors, stairs, central heating, kitchen etc all taken off in skips. The living room floor turned out to be hanging on a rad at one end! Then they broke through all the internal walls and cast lintels through them onto other lintels which ware supported by the piles. Etc Etc. Major six month job. Then we moved back in and lived in squalor for two years while we put in new kitchens, loos, stairs etc.
The reason for telling you all this is to show it was a significant structural job.
When we'd finished we thought we'd like to build our own place, and we actually found an ideal 14 acre plot - but we couldn't buy it unless we put up the money right away. So we let it go, as we didn't know whether we'd be able to sell our underpinned house and we didn't want to saddle ourselves with two properties.
In the end, we DID sell the house within a month or two of putting it on the market. None of the viewers were overly concerned about the work but then we did have all the engineers' plans and reports to show them.
I'd agree that you'd do well to invest a little on a structural engineer's report - NOT a survey, which says bugger all - and show it up front to viewers (unless of course it says the place is about to sink into the ground up to its ears!)
Feb 16th 2004, 8:26 pm
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: B.c Canada
Posts: 910
Originally posted by Rog Williams
A few words of reassurance!
We bought a new house some 30 years ago, and after eight years in it the floors started down. We had it underpinned - 97 steel piles driven down inside, floors, stairs, central heating, kitchen etc all taken off in skips. The living room floor turned out to be hanging on a rad at one end! Then they broke through all the internal walls and cast lintels through them onto other lintels which ware supported by the piles. Etc Etc. Major six month job. Then we moved back in and lived in squalor for two years while we put in new kitchens, loos, stairs etc.
The reason for telling you all this is to show it was a significant structural job.
When we'd finished we thought we'd like to build our own place, and we actually found an ideal 14 acre plot - but we couldn't buy it unless we put up the money right away. So we let it go, as we didn't know whether we'd be able to sell our underpinned house and we didn't want to saddle ourselves with two properties.
In the end, we DID sell the house within a month or two of putting it on the market. None of the viewers were overly concerned about the work but then we did have all the engineers' plans and reports to show them.
I'd agree that you'd do well to invest a little on a structural engineer's report - NOT a survey, which says bugger all - and show it up front to viewers (unless of course it says the place is about to sink into the ground up to its ears!)
A few words of reassurance!
We bought a new house some 30 years ago, and after eight years in it the floors started down. We had it underpinned - 97 steel piles driven down inside, floors, stairs, central heating, kitchen etc all taken off in skips. The living room floor turned out to be hanging on a rad at one end! Then they broke through all the internal walls and cast lintels through them onto other lintels which ware supported by the piles. Etc Etc. Major six month job. Then we moved back in and lived in squalor for two years while we put in new kitchens, loos, stairs etc.
The reason for telling you all this is to show it was a significant structural job.
When we'd finished we thought we'd like to build our own place, and we actually found an ideal 14 acre plot - but we couldn't buy it unless we put up the money right away. So we let it go, as we didn't know whether we'd be able to sell our underpinned house and we didn't want to saddle ourselves with two properties.
In the end, we DID sell the house within a month or two of putting it on the market. None of the viewers were overly concerned about the work but then we did have all the engineers' plans and reports to show them.
I'd agree that you'd do well to invest a little on a structural engineer's report - NOT a survey, which says bugger all - and show it up front to viewers (unless of course it says the place is about to sink into the ground up to its ears!)
I see what it is ........ Clay..........
The acerage I just bought is clay and in Canada (b.c) befor you can build on it has to be engineered.
So with mine they dug down 10 feet into the ground and kept on measuring with there instruments till it was ok.
Then we brought in new sand and rock 20 truck loads.......cost me extra but better safe than sorry....
Last edited by jeannie; Feb 16th 2004 at 8:33 pm.
Feb 16th 2004, 8:39 pm
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 790
Re: is a house with underpinning unsaleable?
Originally posted by fimart
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
Big problem has come up to delay our move to Australia. we have sold our house twice now and each time they pulled out because the house has been underpinned. We know it is because it is difficult to get insurance but it is not impossible. People have told me that those people must have been timewasters and would have picked anything to get out but now we feel our house is unsellable. Surely other people have sold a house with underpinning. ( I mean we bought it!) There has been no movement since it was done by the previous owner ten years ago. i don't know what we will do if we can't sell it!!
As far as I understand I don't think the foundations on 1900-1930's houses are that deep anyway.
