The Pretty House With a Hidden Problem

Looking at this attractive Victorian house, you might wonder why it would be of interest to Scruffy Old House.

After all, it had expensive new windows, a modern kitchen and appeared to be in reasonably good condition.

But appearances can be deceiving.

The property was being sold following the death of its owner, with the executor living abroad and trying to manage everything from thousands of miles away.

Unfortunately, things weren't going particularly well.

Although considerable money had been spent improving the property, some of the building work had been carried out to a very poor standard.

The loft had been treated with spray foam insulation, there were questions about the quality of other alterations, and important certificates and paperwork relating to the work were missing.

Despite the improvements, the property still needed general modernisation. There was no central heating, the electrical installation needed attention, and the bathroom required updating.

The executor had tried selling through an estate agent, but each time a buyer was found, problems emerged.

Surveys raised concerns about the workmanship and the spray foam insulation, and buyers were reluctant to proceed.

Sales repeatedly fell through.

For someone living abroad, dealing with estate agents, solicitors and prospective purchasers across different time zones was becoming increasingly frustrating.

Every time the property went under offer, there was renewed hope that the matter would finally be resolved.

And every time, another problem appeared.

That's when we became involved.

We inspected the property, including the areas that had caused previous buyers concern.

We understood that some of the expensive improvements would need further attention, and we took those costs into account when assessing what we could pay.

Rather than asking the executor to arrange further building work, obtain missing certificates or spend more money trying to make the house acceptable to another buyer, we agreed to purchase it in its existing condition.

Once we'd agreed the price, we moved forward with the legal work and were able to exchange contracts and complete the purchase quickly.

For the executor, it meant no more failed sales, no more uncertainty and no more trying to manage a troublesome property from another country.

Sometimes, even a beautiful house can become a burden.

And sometimes, the simplest solution is to sell it exactly as it stands.

Is your property proving difficult to sell?

Perhaps you've inherited a property that needs updating, building work has been carried out without the correct paperwork, or buyers keep pulling out following surveys.

We buy properties with all sorts of problems, including those that look perfectly presentable from the outside.

No need to carry out repairs or spend more money getting the property ready for sale.

Give us a call and tell us about your property.