M_and_M

We made a conditional offer on a house. One condition was a builders report. The report uncovered:

Bora in the woodwork (mentions floors but who knows where else)
leaking septic tank,
cracked chimney
old water tank that needs replacing soon.
Scrim walls

What would your device be? We already knocked the buyer down $28k. He said he wouldn't go any lower. Are some of these problems normal? The house is 1920's.

Would pulling the offer and offering less again be normal or not normal? Bearing in mind this is our first NZ house and the minimum deposit would rise to 20% very soon!?

Catchafire

If its a lemon, then move on. I know there is a deadline looming, but don't end up buying a crap house.

Woodlea

What was the advice from the builder's report and did it suggest cost to fix these issues? Was there insulation in the walls/loft?
Will the bank lend on the house if it needs a lot doing to it, the bank may want a valuation?
What was the solicitor's advice? You'll be paying him good money for the transfer so he should give you good advice, mine did.
Don't buy a dunger that'll just be a money-pit -good luck

M_and_M

The builder suggests some prices but not all. No insulation in floor, scrim walls, partly insulated roof. Bank do want a valuation. And we haven't yet paid the solicitor.

jmh

You're in Invercargill which makes me think that there isn't the same pressure on housing prices. Can you not find something better for the same price? Unless you love doing up old houses, I'd be inclined to find a house without all these problems. You've got enough on your plate without this.

One thing springs to mind. If the chimney is cracked and the septic tank leaking, is this evidence of subsidence?

Bora can be treated
You don't need to buy a water tank yet
Scrim's not ideal but the house will be liveable until you replace it. Probably not a huge expense.

If you love the house sure, but I'd be tempted to carry on looking.

Those are my thoughts anyway.

Snap Shot

Walk away while you can.

MrsFychan

ring round and get costs to get it all fixed, then if you are prepared to do the work take off that cost and some more for your inconvenience.

You have a mortgage offer in principal? so do you have the time restrictions?

keep looking as well.

we were in negotiations on one house and a estate agent called us to look at another and in the end we pulled out of the first and went with the second.

luvwelly

Agree - would you buy a woodworm ridden house in UK?

About scrim being a fire risk? : http://www.mustardconstruction.co.nz/scrim.html

Can you not get a house with mains in Invers - septic tank?

QUOTE Council Website: 'Septic tanks
Property owners of homes not connected to a public drain are required to provide and maintain their own on-site, below ground level, wastewater/sewage treatment system.

These systems - septic tanks - should be regularly maintained and cleaned by a registered septic tank cleaning contractor.

Building consent is required by the property owner before a septic tank can be installed. This is to ensure that the tank meets the standards for building, environment and public health and safety.

If your septic tank fails contact a septic tank cleaning contractor in the first instant. If your septic tank fails and also discharges sewage you are required to notify the Council's Environmental Health Division. '

marblep

Don't touch it with a barge pole. Sounds like a shit hole.

kiwigeordie

An Englishman's home should be a castle not a hassle.

Borer can be killed but the damage is already done - especially if it's affected the floor joists rather than just the floor boards. We had a 1920's cottage in the Wairarapa which was affected like this. When we tore up the floor boards, the joists had turned to powder and the only solution was to pull the whole thing down.

Walk away.

Pete

BEVS

M_and_M.

Thank goodness for the good sense of getting a builders report.


Don't buy it. Walk right away.

You will find something else and something far better.

Kin1of2

Sounds like perhaps you should walk away from this one. Our solicitor advised us to walk away for much less than all the issues you've mentioned. If you love the house, get a quote to fix everything in the report and add some and if you're seller doesn't accept the reduction in price then definitely say bye bye to that one.

Jan n Neil

You paid for a report for a reason either use it to get a shit load of money off or walk away there's plenty more

Neil

carpman

Have sent you a PM

M_and_M

Lots of conversations later the consensus seems to be this:

Seller will fix the chimney
Septic tank is the old style, as are the whole row, where a 'septic field' was also factored in. Currently in talks with the council.
Borer seems to be normal with houses this age. Found a local builder, (who it turns out, I know through work) going to ask for a viewing with the builder.

Still deliberating. Knocked the seller down 30k so far,