[Finance] Property Purchase

Murray 17 · Aug 1, 2022

I am in the process of buying a very dated 2 bedroom bungalow. The survey has highlighted a number of areas that need to be addressed quickly. I would really appreciate hearing from anybody who could give me rough figures for getting the following work done. I appreciate it's difficult without seeing the property:

A complete re-wire;
A new boiler, radiators and piping;
The cavity walls to the north and south being emptied, as insulation has been wrongly installed;
A new, absorbent driveway, approximately 3m x 5m (the water currently has nowhere to drain as there is block paving and the driveway slopes towards the garage;
Artexing removed from all ceilings due to the risk of asbestos;
Two low-level boundary walls to be removed and replaced.

I know surveys pull up all sorts of things, but any rough prices or advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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Springal · Aug 1, 2022

5 minute job

Bold Seagull · Aug 1, 2022

Murray 17 said:
I am in the process of buying a very dated 2 bedroom bungalow. The survey has highlighted a number of areas that need to be addressed quickly. I would really appreciate hearing from anybody who could give me rough figures for getting the following work done. I appreciate it's difficult without seeing the property:

A complete re-wire;
A new boiler, radiators and piping;
The cavity walls to the north and south being emptied, as insulation has been wrongly installed;
A new, absorbent driveway, approximately 3m x 5m (the water currently has nowhere to drain as there is block paving and the driveway slopes towards the garage;
Artexing removed from all ceilings due to the risk of asbestos;
Two low-level boundary walls to be removed and replaced.

I know surveys pull up all sorts of things, but any rough prices or advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

First off, has the Artex been tested? You can literally get a self test kit off Amazon, take a tiny sample and send it off. You could eliminate that being a risk with a £30 kit.

Murray 17 · Aug 1, 2022

Bold Seagull said:
First off, has the Artex been tested? You can literally get a self test kit off Amazon, take a tiny sample and send it off. You could eliminate that being a risk with a £30 kit.

Thank you. I'll look into that.

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Justice · Aug 1, 2022

Rough guide price for the project £20k.

amexer · Aug 1, 2022

Murray 17 said:
I am in the process of buying a very dated 2 bedroom bungalow. The survey has highlighted a number of areas that need to be addressed quickly. I would really appreciate hearing from anybody who could give me rough figures for getting the following work done. I appreciate it's difficult without seeing the property:

A complete re-wire;
A new boiler, radiators and piping;
The cavity walls to the north and south being emptied, as insulation has been wrongly installed;
A new, absorbent driveway, approximately 3m x 5m (the water currently has nowhere to drain as there is block paving and the driveway slopes towards the garage;
Artexing removed from all ceilings due to the risk of asbestos;
Two low-level boundary walls to be removed and replaced.

I know surveys pull up all sorts of things, but any rough prices or advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

In my experience apart from if structural issues surveys waste of money. Obvious what needs doing so take a builder along.

schmunk · Aug 1, 2022

Murray 17 said:
The cavity walls to the north and south being emptied, as insulation has been wrongly installed;

A new, absorbent driveway, approximately 3m x 5m (the water currently has nowhere to drain as there is block paving and the driveway slopes towards the garage;

You're looking at problems when you should be thinking of opportunities.

Dig a pit in the garage - free indoor pool.

Use that earth to fill up your walls - free insulation.

Ten minutes, tops.

Billy the Fish · Aug 1, 2022

Out of interest, is the cavity wall insulation actually causing a problem? That's usually quite pricey to fix.

I always think these surveys need to be taken with a pinch of salt, they tend to assume the absolute worst case scenario and propose the most expensive solution. If you've got the spare money and inclination to do everything they say then great, but IMHO some of the things they put as urgent are actually just luxury purchases. It's like the driveway, it's probably been like that for years without anyone being worried about it, is actually having a knock on effect anywhere else or does it just cause the occasional puddle? Could it be solved by installing a channel drain rather than a whole new driveway?

When I sold my last house our buyers' survey said it had a damp problem and needed a chemical DPC. In 5 years of living there I never had a problem with damp anywhere other than a disused chimney breast because I hadn't noticed the cowell had come off, easy fix and not the £4k they were quoted for a chemical DPC (which they tried to knock off the sale price!)

beorhthelm · Aug 1, 2022

"absorbant" driveways just take the water off the surface dont they? still need drainage to take the water away, so look to put that in to prevent water in the garage.

LamieRobertson · Aug 1, 2022

No idea …but wish you all the best with this project

METALMICKY · Aug 1, 2022

schmunk said:
You're looking at problems when you should be thinking of opportunities.

Dig a pit in the garage - free indoor pool.

Use that earth to fill up your walls - free insulation.

Ten minutes, tops.

Neither funny or useful for the original poster. Slow day?

Gwylan · Aug 1, 2022

I can't speak for all of it, but when we bought our house we had to have the Artex removed and it cost us £6k - that was nearly 20 years ago, so assume about £9 or £10k now (we did get the cost of the house reduced by £6k as a result of the survey)

PILTDOWN MAN · Aug 1, 2022

Murray 17 said:
I am in the process of buying a very dated 2 bedroom bungalow. The survey has highlighted a number of areas that need to be addressed quickly. I would really appreciate hearing from anybody who could give me rough figures for getting the following work done. I appreciate it's difficult without seeing the property:

A complete re-wire;
A new boiler, radiators and piping;
The cavity walls to the north and south being emptied, as insulation has been wrongly installed;
A new, absorbent driveway, approximately 3m x 5m (the water currently has nowhere to drain as there is block paving and the driveway slopes towards the garage;
Artexing removed from all ceilings due to the risk of asbestos;
Two low-level boundary walls to be removed and replaced.

I know surveys pull up all sorts of things, but any rough prices or advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

You state it's dated so therefore most of those issues can't be a surprise. Does the value reflect the fact updating is required.

Brian Fantana · Aug 1, 2022

PILTDOWN MAN said:
You state it's dated so therefore most of those issues can't be a surprise. Does the value reflect the fact updating is required.

This was going to be my exact point too. Presumably the sellers would have been aware of the issues too, so may well have either priced the property appropriately or be expecting you to come back to knock some money off.

The Clamp · Aug 1, 2022

Murray 17 said:
I am in the process of buying a very dated 2 bedroom bungalow. The survey has highlighted a number of areas that need to be addressed quickly. I would really appreciate hearing from anybody who could give me rough figures for getting the following work done. I appreciate it's difficult without seeing the property:

A complete re-wire;
A new boiler, radiators and piping;
The cavity walls to the north and south being emptied, as insulation has been wrongly installed;
A new, absorbent driveway, approximately 3m x 5m (the water currently has nowhere to drain as there is block paving and the driveway slopes towards the garage;
Artexing removed from all ceilings due to the risk of asbestos;
Two low-level boundary walls to be removed and replaced.

I know surveys pull up all sorts of things, but any rough prices or advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Who’s been living there before you, Frank Spencer?

Westdene Seagull · Aug 1, 2022

Murray 17 said:
I am in the process of buying a very dated 2 bedroom bungalow. The survey has highlighted a number of areas that need to be addressed quickly. I would really appreciate hearing from anybody who could give me rough figures for getting the following work done. I appreciate it's difficult without seeing the property:

A new boiler, radiators and piping;

A new, absorbent driveway, approximately 3m x 5m (the water currently has nowhere to drain as there is block paving and the driveway slopes towards the garage;

Boiler shouldn't cost you more than a grand to have fitted. Probably the same for the radiators and piping depending on the flooring - floorboards easy - tiles / laminate hard.

Re the drive drainage. I have two spare drainage pipes with grills on top that you could put at the bottom of the slope - you can have them for free assuming you're in the Sussex area.

Bold Seagull · Aug 1, 2022

beorhthelm said:
"absorbant" driveways just take the water off the surface dont they? still need drainage to take the water away, so look to put that in to prevent water in the garage.

I think he probably means 'permeable' so you wouldn't need to take water away, it can just soak into the ground as normal.

Elbow750 · Aug 1, 2022

Get the artex tested. If asbestos is present I'd walk away as removal costs can be huge and you wont be able to sell it on until its clear. Then get a builder to quote for the drive and insulation. They should also be able to ball park cost the wiring and central heating although athey arent usually 'urgent' but desirable in the near future.

B-right-on · Aug 1, 2022

Justice said:
Rough guide price for the project £20k.

Seems about right imo. As long as no major issues found.

Seaview Seagull · Aug 1, 2022

I have no idea on cots but I agree surveyors will give you worst case including stuff that can wait years to be done. If you are having radiators and piping completely redone it might be worth looking at a heat pump to replace boiler?

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