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Survey or not to survey?

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Survey or not to survey?

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Message posted by raine on 10�September�2004 at 1:23am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

raine

Corfu

Hi everyone

We are interested in a house seen on the web site of one of the estate agents and are going to view it next month.

Looking at the photos there are some cracks and the details admit there is some work needed.

My question is would it be better to have a survey done before we go out so we know what we are looking at or would it be better to wait until we have seen it for ourselves before spending money on surveys? I must admit that on paper (or rather computer!) the house looks just right for us but I don't want to jump in blind.

How much would it cost for a survey and if we should go ahead , can anyone give any recommendations?

Thanks

Raine

Message posted by Terry and Julia on 10�September�2004 at 8:51am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Terry and Julia

Corfu

Hi Raine

I would wait until you get there. We saw many houses on websites that we thought looked just right for us only to get there and find they weren't! The trouble with the websites are that the house is always photographed from its best side and you rarely get much indication of what is next door or what the surrounding area is like.

Can you tell us which house it is? Possibly another member has already looked at it and may be able to tell you more about it. Completely understand if you don't want to of course!

Most old houses have cracks, some are serious, some aren't but you are right to find out before you commit yourselves.

Julia

Message posted by Bob and Wendy (Uncle Bob) on 10�September�2004 at 9:17am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Bob and Wendy

Hi Raine

Without being specific, cracks in the walls of old houses, even if qhite large, are not normaly a problem unless it is either new, or involves a unsuported corner.

Our house had one large crck going from the front door lintel (crackedas well) right through 2 storeys to the roof eaves, at which point you could put you arm through.

No problem said our builder friend, we'll just dig out a slit in the wall at the bottom and cast a concrete load bearing lintel then you can just fill it in.

If it has a number of cracks it might be more of a problem.

I dont know of any surveyors on the island I suppose you would need to consult an architect or like us the local builder.

Remember if you are proposing to replace the roof at some stage you are required to form a wring beam round the top of the walls, so this would lock all the cracks in place, and prevent them from increasing.

Good hunting.

Bob.

Message posted by alfatzaris on 10�September�2004 at 9:21am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

alfatzaris

Corfu

For a survwy I was asked about 150 euros. I think it is better for you to see the house and then decide. Anyway if you buy the house it is highly raccomended in my opinion.

Good kuck!

Daniele

Message posted by sidarigirl on 10�September�2004 at 11:07am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

sidarigirl

I think surveys should be very much recommended. After watching a programme last night about a property in Spain. The family decided not to have a survey done and after torrential rain in the winter the ground at the side of their home completely subsided and they were on the brink. They felt it was too costly to do at the time but it then cost them �6,000 to have the side of the hillside sheared up to prevent the property from going over.

LOL

Caroline

Message posted by bridget on 10�September�2004 at 5:42pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

bridget

Corfu

I would wait until you have seen the property before you have the survey done, but do have one once you have decided to go ahead. If you were buying at home here you would have a survey done so definitely have one before you buy, a good architect will go over the property for you, I dont think they have surveryors as we know them in Greece.

I hope you find that the property is just what you want, and if not you can still have good look while you are over. Good luck.

Message posted by JoannaWells on 10�September�2004 at 5:58pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

JoannaWells

Corfu

Hi, it is so nice to hear so many people finding dream homes on corfu. Me & Jo (my wife) have agreed to move to the island one day ( I say now - she say Later) and more than likely renovate an old stone property. We want to keep the external in keeping but make the internal very modern and minimalist (IKEA). Has anyone got the same ideas and if so how are you getting on. Also how are you finding prices for this type of property in various locations around the island, most of them appear to be in the north. We want to be in the south!.

Matt & Jo.

Message posted by raine on 10�September�2004 at 10:02pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

raine

Corfu

Thanks for your advice, everyone.

I did see the programme about the couple in Spain and it only makes us more convinced that we will get a survey on the house.especially as it is on sloping land. I had just wondered whether getting one before we went out would be a good idea. Deep down I know its not but I just felt that I wanted to get things moving a little.

After viewing the house if we wanted to go ahead would it be..survey first then deposit, lawyer etc. or more like in UK with making an offer and then getting a survey after?

Talking of offers, do houses generally go for the asking price or is it generally negotiable?

Sorry if I keep asking things but I know from reading previous posts that someone somewhere nearly always knows the answer and I don't believe in reinventing the wheel!

Raine

Message posted by Terry and Julia on 11�September�2004 at 9:26am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Terry and Julia

Corfu

Matt and Jo,

There seem to be a fair few properties in the Ag Mattheos area for sale at the moment. Do you know the village? It is close to Messonghi, you pass through it if you go from Messonghi to Korrission. The prices seem very reasonable. It is true though that a lot of agents concentrate on the northern half of the Island but www.corfurealestate.com and www.cpacorfu.com do have properties in the South. There are also now many more estate agents springing up which do not all seem to have websites. If you come over to look, I will let you know where some are if you like. We also bought a lot of things from Ikea, cheap, stylish, flat-packed, convenient and lots of choice were some deciding factors. We shipped it frm England. However, I was in English Imports yesterday and there was a notice on the board offering an Ikea run so to speak. I thought at first they meant to Croydon! However, it was eplained to me that the van owners drive to Athens where there is a huge new store and collect whatever it is you want them to. That may be a cheaper way of doing it.

Raine,

I would certainly put in an offer on a renovation property, rather than offering the asking price. Unless I knew others were after it and was desperate to ensure it went to me!

Don't hand any money over until you are sure you want to buy it and have a solicitor. A reputable agent will most probably hold your deposit in a special account for such purposes but there is always the possibility that if you pull out of the deal you will forfeit the deposit. I am not sure on these things but you should bear it in mind. Again, ask your solicitor before handing anything over,although a good agent will advise you on this too. I don't think there is any harm in making an offer on a property first to see if it is accepted. Just make it clear that the offer will only stand providing the survey is satisfactory. Again your agent should be able to advise you on how binding an offer is. If the property is not for sale with an agent then get your solicitor to handle these things.

Julia

Message posted by ecotrails on 11�September�2004 at 8:47pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

ecotrails

Corfu

Hi Raine thanks for PM.

As Terry and Julia say always base your offer on satisfactory survey if that is important to you.

You will lose your deposit (minimum 10%) if you pull out for a reason that is not in the pre contract negociation e.g. you change your mind. Seller will lose 2 x deposit if they pull out for unreasonable reason.

Always put in an offer, it's not in our (UK) make up but start by offering half of what is being asked (scary if you really like the proprerty). There is a barter system that usually operastes and you should end up somewhere in between. Be aware that it is not uncommon for the seller once they know of an interest to actually increase the asking price, therefore a steady nerve is required to put in an offer and yet seem pretty uninterested at the same time.

Good luck and remember there are plenty of properties coming up and this year has been relatively bad for the agents (they will of course tell you that things are hectic).

Having said that I am flying out to look at land/property in a couple of weeks and will probably ignore my own advice if I see a 'to die for' plot or renovation project.

Ian

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