Walkthrough with builder when bidding on a house

MaggyB · 27-03-2022 9:06am #1

Hi everyone, we are currently looking at potentially putting a bid on a house in Dublin. We viewed yesterday and had a long chat with the EA, it’s a very old house that’s had nothing done to it (structurally) since it’s been built in the 50’s.

We would like to bring a builder along with us to give us an idea of costa/work that needs to be carried out. The EA said she would be suggesting an serious bidder to do this anyway to understand what they are taking on and this would be separate to a survey. The house is absolutely habitable how it is now but we wouldn’t chose to move in until some of the basics were done.

My question is, where do you find a builder that will come along to a viewing with you? We don’t know any at all, do companies just do this for people if you call and ask and I presume there is a cost for their time to do this, any idea how much?

Thanks in advance for the help!

CreadanLady · 28-03-2022 11:46am

You'll be going well to get someone to do this. Unless you know someone, any other serious builder won't have time to be wasting walking around houses that someone might be thinking of buying.

antoinolachtnai · 28-03-2022 12:23pm

I am concerned that you’re underestimating what you would be taking on here. It is extremely difficult to get building work done even for people who have good relationships with builders.

The best I can suggest is to get a building survey done by a surveyor or engineer. This would normally be done after an offer is accepted. The building surveyor can also give you a report for the bank. The surveyor or engineer should be able to give you a very general indication of likely costs.

But it still leaves the problem of how you would get a builder of there are significant works to be done.

CreadanLady · 28-03-2022 1:04pm

It is extremely difficult to get builders in to do refurbishment jobs. All the decent builders are contracted to do new builds or are subcontracted in to larger developers. None of them worth there salt who are in that game are going to waste their time mickeying around with householders with feck all budgets. Most lads I know wouldn't even get out of bed nor start the van for the kind of money householders would be capable of paying.

houseyhouse · 28-03-2022 3:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058239057/walkthrough-with-builder-when-bidding-on-a-house

You could try asking an architect to walk around with you instead. Find one that specialises in domestic renovations. They’ll be able to give you a rough estimate of cost, too. You’ll pay a few hundred for this service.

Xterminator · 28-03-2022 3:45pm

Hi MaggieB

i see your logic but your placing the cart before the horse here. what you are suggesting is impractical

Why would you spend money on a house you dont have a bid accepted on ? your bid may not be the best bid, nor accepted. how long do you think you would be waiting for a builder to be available, to do the walk through. What happens if the builder misses something, what's his legal responsibility.

As another poster said, bid in good faith, then if accepted get a proper survey done, and then when survey is done you could speak with buyer if issues are found.

Claw Hammer · 28-03-2022 3:47pm

1950s isn't a very old house. A very old house is one built before 1850. 1950s houses usually have a damp proof course and were built with drains and plumbing and are quite often very sound structurally. Subsidence is unlikely to have developed and any problems with damp penetration etc will be obvious. There may be a bit of woodworm however.