House Surveyer

We need a Surveyer to check a property we are hoping to buy. Lots of names in the phone book I can engage but I d prefer a personal recommendation. We’d appreciate a private message with a few suggestions please?. Property is in south county Dublin.

I had a few leads but they have fallen through. I’d love to get it done this week.

Muchos!

Owen.

Not a peep out of anyone! Golden pages it is so!

Smelly Old Boots said:

Not a peep out of anyone! Golden pages it is so!

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Patience is a virtue ...........................

Cortina said:

Patience is a virtue ...........................

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Time is not on my side. I’m sorted now in any case but Thank you for your contribution.

All sorted.

I was just hoping someone would go ‘yeah sure, I can do that!’

Or my brothers partner can or whatever’.

Based on cortina’s response I wish I hadn’t but live and learn. Ber f, so I guess was hoping for a few tips alongside a bit of gs banter.

Have a lovely weekend!

Ah bollix.I’ve a good guy that’s done several for us . I missed your post as I’m not on here as much anymore.

Smelly Old Boots said:

All sorted.

I was just hoping someone would go ‘yeah sure, I can do that!’

Or my brothers partner can or whatever’.

Based on cortina’s response I wish I hadn’t but live and learn. Ber f, so I guess was hoping for a few tips alongside a bit of gs banter.

Have a lovely weekend!

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Look at your timing : Post made after 11pm (lots of people in bed asleep ?) next post is the following morning at 10am (Those same people are probably now working away somewhere). Kind of a limited window of opportunity for someone to read and respond ... even if they did actually know someone !! (PS I have no idea what Ber f above translates to). We must operate in different markets - buying a house for us is a kind of a major financial outlay ... not something we try and complete in under 48 hours with no forward planning. Hope it all works out for you ........................

BER = Building Enery Rating on a scale of A to G. Some improvements needed if BER is F. Not sure the OP is trying to buy a house in 48 hrs but likely trying to speed up whatever part of the buying process he can.

I can’t help with a recommendation but I would suggest you take care what you instruct whoever you find to do. Standard caveats will include “did not lift the carpets”, “didn’t go in the loft”, etc., etc. That’s exactly what you do want him to do! If there are issues they are most likely not obvious and will be in the places he’d normally exclude. No surprises at a later date that way, and if there are, you most likely have a genuine case against the surveyor.

Sorry, I was stressed and a bit of bollox. Apologies for my tone.

Anyway, just waiting to close at this point.

I have contacts but they are in the wrong side of Dublin city.

We need (hopefully will not need further than my current contacts) but lots of work to be done. So if you are a;

Roofer
Plumber
Electrician
Builder
Glazer

Drop me a PM?

Andy B said:

I can’t help with a recommendation but I would suggest you take care what you instruct whoever you find to do. Standard caveats will include “did not lift the carpets”, “didn’t go in the loft”, etc., etc. That’s exactly what you do want him to do! If there are issues they are most likely not obvious and will be in the places he’d normally exclude. No surprises at a later date that way, and if there are, you most likely have a genuine case against the surveyor.

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Buying an ex council house built 1950. These things will survive the Russian bombs. Everything checks out except for the list above.

Very excited - good area. Safe.

Best of luck with it Owen
Although I can’t help with your list…

Thankyou Sir.

Anyone got any horror stories about mortgage protection approval? I can only say be careful what you declare. Hoping for a collective of ukgser finger crosses for us.

For example, if you had an ingrown toenail, had surgery and have a follow up check up in six months they will not issue the cert until then. Not our circumstances but I do hate grey men in grey shapeless suits.

We got the keys. Next stop, buy a con saw so I can get the bike inside!

Still looking for an electrician. Tradesmen are hard to get these days!

Smelly Old Boots said:

Anyone got any horror stories about mortgage protection approval? I can only say be careful what you declare. Hoping for a collective of ukgser finger crosses for us.

For example, if you had an ingrown toenail, had surgery and have a follow up check up in six months they will not issue the cert until then. Not our circumstances but I do hate grey men in grey shapeless suits.

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As a follow up here, do declare everything. Fill in your proposal form ten weeks before you intend to close the sale. Initial underwriting takes 48 hours and at that stage you’ll know any arising issues. If the underwriter is querying anything with you tell them to do a PMA (GP report) or do a full medical. They pay for both so this will focus their minds. The issue can be lazy mortgage brokers not sending in applications early and then expecting a miracle. By the way . . . . . Congratulations on getting the keys.

Thanks Luke.

We got the keys to our house a week ago. 1960's ex council house in Dublin. On Friday night we were over the moon. Drank champagne and got drunk on dreams of the future. On Saturday, I got a smell from the kitchen behind the cabinets. Smelt like urine. Pulled the washing machine out and found filth. Pulled the cabinets out and the full reality of the situation was revealed. Loads of mouse droppings and overwhelming smell of urine.


Sweet suffering jesus. How did the surveyor not notice this??? Can I take him to court? That is a side bar - i've bigger fish to fry. Fried fish would smell better than this kitchen.


Bought a hazmat suit, gloves, good mask. Removed as much of that as i could. Sprayed everything with a 50/50 bleach water solution before moving it. Smell still there. I've used enzyme cleaner but the smell is still there. A full bottle of flash antibac lemon stuff used. About a pound of baking soda has been left on it for days. No effect. Along with loads of expensive enzyme cleaner which just seems to have made things worse but it could be part of the process. I've been hunting the internet for solutions but it's time I discuss this!

I met the neighbour yesterday. Turns out the previous occupants had a different view to mice to us in Ireland. They were feeding the mice and their children were playing with them. Unbelievable. Anyway, rentokill had been out a few times before our possession of the house and poison was put down. basic attempts were made to block the access for the mice. They didn't bother investigating under the sink area shown in the photo above. The outside area shown below will need have work done to repair and seal any areas that the mice could enter. they did a piecemeal attempt at repair.

IMG_0853.jpeg
In terms of the holes in the wall and cracks along the floor edge, I've put expanding foam in as a short term measure and I have just learned about the joys of SIka cement. I'll be filling all holes with this stuff asap so that there is no way in for the furry friends.

My question is how the hell do I get the smell gone?!!!! I have read about ozone being used, vinegar, bleach, wash, wet vac up repeat until the smell is gone. then use a strong cement sealer to lock in the smell. But in the same article, there is mention of having to diamond grind to the concrete.

Can any of you help sort through the mess in my head and kitchen? Herself is traumatised. This was supposed to be a special time for us and instead it's turned into a bit of a nightmare. I want to get this sorted as quickly as possible. Happy to hire specialists that deal with this sort of stuff but rentokill seem to be more about the killing and not the cleaning. I'll leave you with a photo of the space now i've cleaned it up a bit. but it still stinks of mouse urine and all the various chemicals i've used. We were planning on changing the kitchen next year. The hot water tank is in the kitchen and my plumber of choice is over today to dicuss moving that. Also will discuss putting in a combi boiler and not having a hot water tank at all. Need that done before we spend money on a new kitchen and we knew the kitchen was grotty but we were expecting to be able to use it for six months while we got to know the house and figured out a plan that suits our budget. This has radically altered the landscape.


And yes, i know the plumbing is a horror and the electricity cabling is even worse. I've an electrician over later and the plumber that'll be doing some larger works is over later too. the bottle with orange stuff in it that is holding a cable off the floor has a label on it that say orchid food. I'd say it's just a bottle of piss. It's now in the bin. FML. I paid how much for this?



Thanks for any help or suggestions on getting rid of the smell!

Maybe Paul could edit my username to 'smelly old kitchen'

Just to say my gut instinct at this point is to rip out the rest of the kitchen so I can gain access to that dank corner. I had back surgury at the start of august and all the twisting, bending and stretching has brought back the sciatica and if I'm to do this myself I'll need to minimise the awkward bending etc. I'm TOTALLY out of my depth here and really don't know what to do.

Jeepers, that's bad.

Sorry to hear about this not good. If I were you, I'd contact the surveyor, at least get them to comment, and see if there is any recourse.

Unfortunately, I've not suggestions for removing the smell, but I'd probably strip back as much as possible to tackle the problems head on, it doesn't seem to me that I'd want to save much from the kitchen, and a fresh start will do a lot to remove the memories.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Pm replied to pal.