...or, rather, about a house being bought. Not my own, sadly. I'm asking on behalf of a friend who showed me the house they are about to move into.
The house has had renovations done. This includes sideways extension, removal of interior walls and building upwards, a granny flat on a section of the house.
1. The seller says he has an electrical certificate. This is questionable (its authenticity), since in the garage there are conduit pipes with open T-junction covers. What does one do when you don't trust the seller's certificate? He is a builder, and I suspect he can easily get an electrician buddy to issue the certificate.
2. The upstairs granny flat has interior walls that are not reflected on the approved plan. They are solid brick walls. On the plan, this space (with no interior walls) is called a family room.
3. The tiled upstairs floor has a crack running though them that goes across the whole width of the floor. Should one be concerned?
4. A few floor tiles are loose; not completely, but they crunch when you walk on them. Any advice?
5. The banister is made from a curtain rail, complete with the curtain rail brackets. Acceptable?
6. The tiles on the staircase are slippery. Acceptable?
7. The plans list specs for fascia and bargeboard, but these are not fitted. I'm almost sure that there are no gutters and downpipes on the new roof.
8. The plans are titled "Proposed additions...". Should there be a final as-built plan?
I don't want to scratch out problems, but I also would not like to see my friend buy someone else's troubles. Please share your thoughts.
The house has had renovations done. This includes sideways extension, removal of interior walls and building upwards, a granny flat on a section of the house.
1. The seller says he has an electrical certificate. This is questionable (its authenticity), since in the garage there are conduit pipes with open T-junction covers. What does one do when you don't trust the seller's certificate? He is a builder, and I suspect he can easily get an electrician buddy to issue the certificate.
2. The upstairs granny flat has interior walls that are not reflected on the approved plan. They are solid brick walls. On the plan, this space (with no interior walls) is called a family room.
3. The tiled upstairs floor has a crack running though them that goes across the whole width of the floor. Should one be concerned?
4. A few floor tiles are loose; not completely, but they crunch when you walk on them. Any advice?
5. The banister is made from a curtain rail, complete with the curtain rail brackets. Acceptable?
6. The tiles on the staircase are slippery. Acceptable?
7. The plans list specs for fascia and bargeboard, but these are not fitted. I'm almost sure that there are no gutters and downpipes on the new roof.
8. The plans are titled "Proposed additions...". Should there be a final as-built plan?
I don't want to scratch out problems, but I also would not like to see my friend buy someone else's troubles. Please share your thoughts.
