mint Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 I reproduce here an email I received today from an estate agent. Thought the Forum is getting a bit serious the last couple of days what with people arguing with each other, making snide remarks, being sarcastic and all the attitudes adopted that make this Forum such a lot of FUN!See, I do try and lighten things up occasionally![;-)]I have used italic type for my questions in order to make things clear though, of course, I did not use italics in the original![geek]Here is the email with no further editing other than using spacing to make for easier reading:Answers as follows:Is the fosse fully compliant with current regs - I have asked for confirmationAre the underground rooms properly ventilated and lighted with proper full-size windows . I believe soHow steep is the drive and is it easily usable even in winter. It is quite steep but would not think it would be a problem especially as we have so little snow!Is the electrical system modern that is not needing updating. I hionestly do not know...part of the diagnostic test before you are legally bound is a full check of the electric systemWhat type of heating does the house have OilHow far are the nearest neighbours The house sits on its own but there are neighbours within reach on two sides.Let me know when you ahve had a chance to think about it./Soooo..........do you think I should go and view the property, make an offer on the basis of the answers, pass GO and collect £200?[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 [quote user="sweet 17"]Soooo..........do you think I should go and view the property, make an offer on the basis of the answers, pass GO and collect £200?[:D][/quote]Yes (you never know, it might just be the place), definitely no (but you knew that) and maybe.[:'(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 I think you have asked some very sensible initial question and I think the estate agent is being perfectly clear and honest. He (I assume a He) is answering to the best of his knowledge and when something is not known it is stated and info given as to the situation (eg fosse, electrics) so I would say full marks.Some of the other stuff only you can decide (are the lower rooms lighted, is the drive steep) as what may be OK for me say may not be acceptable for you.The only way is to go and look!As has been said oft' times before, you can change almost anything about a house except its location! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment; She trusts me absolutely. I trust she does. And I, I trust her absolutely - to be absolutely human. Me? Well, I'm just a backroom boy.[6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 27, 2010 Author Share Posted July 27, 2010 Pierre, I disagree with some of your points.I feel that as the agent is likely to be earning 5 to 10% of the price, he should have acquired a bit of product knowledge?OK, he might not know if the electrics need re-doing but what is there to stop him asking the owner whether, in the course of their ownership, they have had the electrics re-done? Couldn't he say, well, I don't know if they need re-doing but they are 50 years old? (and I would then be able to make an informed opinion).As with the steepness of the drive, could he not have said, for example, the gradient is such and such? And again, I could form an opinion.With the downstairs rooms, surely he could have looked to see whether there are full-sized windows?Similarly with neighbours, not too much to ask that he could give an estimate of distance? The RH neighbour is at 10 metres and the LH one at 30 metres?The whole point about asking a load of initial questions is not to decide whether to buy the house (sight unseen!), it's to decide whether to drive for a few hours and write off a whole day in order to view. Of course, I could very well see the answers to my questions if I WENT to the house but, when you have driven as much as I have and seen as many unsuitable properties as I have in the course of the last few months, you'd try to weed out some stuff in advance before packing dog, husband and picnic in the car and go off on yet another wild goose chase.JJ, if you don't watch it, I will NOT be buying a house from you![:P] Anyway, I hope you are doing some work and not just sitting around on Weymouth harbour with glass in hand and watching the world go by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 Well Sweet, until you receive my job sheets, I have just replaced the staves in a couple of garden benches and a table (buy 'sawn' hardwood, and plane it yourself, to cut cost by about a third!) and just diving in during tea/lunch breaks[:)]To paraphrase Francis Urquhart, (I put the initials until I looked again)[:-))]You want a strong leader. Everything you view - you partake of it. - Well, what would you have? A House must be bought - and you will do it best. If you will the end, you must will the means. These things happen all over the world. Believe me, it's all for the best. What's the matter? You do trust me, don't you? Of course you do. [6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 27, 2010 Author Share Posted July 27, 2010 If you will the end, you must will the means.Alas, JJ, the means, in this case the wherewithall, is not so easy to will! Can't conjure it out of thin air, can I?Mind you, you can always WILL it to me......[I] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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