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Homebuyers duped by DIY cover ups Homebuyers duped by DIY cover ups
(about 23 hours later)
Nearly two-thirds of people have been tricked into buying a property in worse condition than expected, according to research by Zurich Insurance.Nearly two-thirds of people have been tricked into buying a property in worse condition than expected, according to research by Zurich Insurance.
More than half of those surveyed claimed the previous owners had concealed damage through makeshift DIY.More than half of those surveyed claimed the previous owners had concealed damage through makeshift DIY.
A third of sellers admitted they had done repairs to try and fool buyers, with many carrying out the work themselves to save money.A third of sellers admitted they had done repairs to try and fool buyers, with many carrying out the work themselves to save money.
But a fifth were forced to pay a professional to fix the mess they made.But a fifth were forced to pay a professional to fix the mess they made.
False economyFalse economy
The survey found that more than 60% of those who had bought a property in the past five years had been disappointed by its condition when they moved in.The survey found that more than 60% of those who had bought a property in the past five years had been disappointed by its condition when they moved in.
Homeowners need to think seriously and carefully before taking on renovations that might end up becoming a botch job Steve Gilbert, ZurichHomeowners need to think seriously and carefully before taking on renovations that might end up becoming a botch job Steve Gilbert, Zurich
At the same time 85% of those who had sold a property during the same period said they had carried out work before putting it on the market.At the same time 85% of those who had sold a property during the same period said they had carried out work before putting it on the market.
Quick repairs undertaken included hanging pictures over cracks in walls, laying rugs over carpet stains and even moving furniture to hide damp patches.Quick repairs undertaken included hanging pictures over cracks in walls, laying rugs over carpet stains and even moving furniture to hide damp patches.
Almost half of the sellers questioned who had "done it themselves" had tried to fix plumbing leaks, while a third attempted replastering.Almost half of the sellers questioned who had "done it themselves" had tried to fix plumbing leaks, while a third attempted replastering.
Paying a tradesman was seen by many as a waste of money given the property was about to be sold.Paying a tradesman was seen by many as a waste of money given the property was about to be sold.
But nearly a fifth of those who tried to cut costs by doing work themselves had to pay someone to fix their handiwork, costing an average of £280. One in eight people had to pay more than £500.But nearly a fifth of those who tried to cut costs by doing work themselves had to pay someone to fix their handiwork, costing an average of £280. One in eight people had to pay more than £500.
'Special skills''Special skills'
But the survey revealed that almost a fifth of people who carried out work themselves would tell prospective buyers it had been done by a professional. We recently moved house and found it had been stripped of every fixture and fitting - even the house number David Butterfield, York class="" href="#Read your comments">Read your comments But the survey revealed that almost a fifth of people who carried out work themselves would tell prospective buyers it had been done by a professional.
More than a quarter of those who had done DIY said they thought buyers expected vendors to conceal work done to try to sell their property.More than a quarter of those who had done DIY said they thought buyers expected vendors to conceal work done to try to sell their property.
Steve Gilbert, home underwriting manager at Zurich insurance, urged sellers to consider the consequences before embarking on major repairs.Steve Gilbert, home underwriting manager at Zurich insurance, urged sellers to consider the consequences before embarking on major repairs.
"Homeowners need to think seriously and carefully before taking on renovations that might end up becoming a botch job," he said."Homeowners need to think seriously and carefully before taking on renovations that might end up becoming a botch job," he said.
"What might seem like a small project may require special skills, professional advice or even formal certification, so that people don't damage their property, hurt themselves or expose a future buyer to danger," he added."What might seem like a small project may require special skills, professional advice or even formal certification, so that people don't damage their property, hurt themselves or expose a future buyer to danger," he added.
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We asked for your comments. Read a selection below.
Have you bought a house or flat and discovered it was not in the condition you expected? Or have you tried to conceal damage in order to try and sell a property? We recently moved house and found it had been stripped of every fixture and fitting - even the house number! Curtain rails had simply been wrenched from the walls and holes left in the plaster etc. But most worrying was what the builder did wrong: 40amp wiring for an electric cooker through a 13 amp socket, gas hob without a tap to turn it off. Too much bad work is done and overcharged for by 'certified professionals'. When we sold, I was happy to take the buyer round and point out everything that had been done and what might need to be done in the next 4-5 years.David Butterfield, York
Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. We have had to spend over £1000 on electrical work since buying our home in 2006, mainly stemming from the previous owner's "bodged" jobs. Sockets were not earthed, an electric shower was working, but again not earthed, plus many other issues relating to plumbing and general "quick fixes". The majority of these could not be identified until I began modifications to the house a few months ago.Michael Wildy, Gloucester
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When buying my current house, I visited the property prior to completion as the vendor had agreed to do some work and I was checking progress. I found that although the kitchen had a sink, it was not actually plumbed in. Once I brought this to the estate agents attention it was fixed but would not have been had I not spotted it.Sharon Naylor, Stockton-on-Tees
Whenever I have used professionals to do repairs or renovations I have been disappointed at the quality of their output. I have usually ended up having to tidy up the work after them. Paying someone to do a job seems to end up meaning that corners get cut, details are ignored, and jobs are botched. I simply don't accept that professionals are any better than (competent) DIY.Roger, Salisbury
Approaching the pinnacle of our adventures on the property ladder (before downsizing), we purchased a property where on entering we discovered that the previous owners had not only painted around the wardrobes and other standing furniture, but also the pictures and mirrors that were hanging on the walls.PJM, Beckenham, Kent
I had strong suspicions an extension was subsiding in my property, so I just kept re-plastering over the cracks until it was sold. I didn't go near a professional as it would have been logged on a national insurance database! I feel slightly guilty for doing it, but the cost of getting it done professionally and the blight of under-pinning on a property can make it unsellable in the short term. I had little choice but to stay quiet and hope the surveyor missed it, which, despite the buyers paying a fortune for a full structural survey, he did. David C, Essex
I bought a property with kitchen units and laminated floor ready-installed. Within days of completion, the laminated floor started lifting. Underneath, the woodwork was rotting and worms were all over the place. Needless to say the floors and kitchen units had to be thrown out and redone. Ghanashyam Master, London
The house we purchased had numerous hidden botched DIY jobs: an ill-fitted boiler with incorrect flue exit and unfused plugs, incorrect electrical wiring, nonsensical plumbing, incorrect overflow tank plumbing causing a constant leak of water which means the cladding on the house has started to fall off. I dread to think what is still left to uncover in the rooms. The kitchen is next and I am dreading unveiling the rest of the botched jobs.Karen, Skelmersdale
When we were buying our home in 2005, the survey brought up an improperly supported chimney. The owner told us he had been there 10 years and that it had 'always been like that'. We really wanted the house and managed to get some fixtures and fittings throw in because of this. Once we moved in we found the supporting timbers were all date stamped July 2003.Ben, Kingston Upon Thames
When I sold my last house I justified to myself that I was fully entitled to maximise its value even if this meant tarting up a few areas. If the buyer missed them it was their fault, surely? I cleaned it from top to bottom and even left a welcome letter with local info. However I was still too embarrassed to ever go back because a spate of appalling weather turned the garden from the neatly trimmed one the buyer saw to a cross between a jungle and swamp. I did clean out the past four owners' junk from the brick shed though! Nich Hill, Portsmouth
We bought a flat from a family who'd lived there for 10 years. We viewed three times but only on dark evenings, when it suited them. The teenage children were always studying so we were only able to glance into two bedrooms. After the sale we discovered leaking pipes that had been ignored or bound with insulation tape, a funnel collecting water from a leaking washing machine joint, rotten bathroom floorboards filled in with lumps of cement and covered over. We also found faulty kitchen appliances and dangerous electrical wiring. It took over three months and about £10,000 to sort out. All in all a total disaster. We learned a lesson that you should always pay to get a full survey to be carried out, it could save you a lot of money in the long run.Peter, Croydon
I moved into my new home in September and had my kitchen refitted last month. When the builder removed the cabinets, he found walls that had no plaster, and, in some parts, no brick work! I had to have the whole kitchen re-bricked, cemented and plastered. No survey in the world would've picked that up.Abdul-Qadir Ahmad, Essex
Everyone knows that to sell a house you need to present it well, and covering up problems is just a part of that. It's a case of buyer beware, you're a fool if you think what you see in a viewing is a true representation of the house. I'm sure the buyer of the house we just sold was disappointed with all the holes in the plasterboard where I removed shelves etc but they knew the house had plasterboard walls and should have expected lots of holes!Mike, Suffolk, UK
It's not just DIY that's to blame. It's endemic. Just look at the fancy packaging tricks that house builders currently use to shift their overpriced badly-built plywood cupboards.Neil Wilson, Halifax
When I first viewed my current house, I did wonder why furniture was placed in awkward places and rugs were in corners. The vendor was also always 'out' when I arranged to call round with a builder to give me estimates on work that I wanted doing. I soon found out why. The best one was that the upstairs toilet sink waste pipe was not even connected to the drain. He was a master bodger - the kitchen cupboards were held up with 1/2 inch screws and tack nails everywhere. I believe in Karma so hopefully his new house was in a worse state that his old house. Ade, Cardiff
When I sold my house a few years ago, I knew the house needed urgent repairs to an attached garage roof and soffits and fascia boards because the house had not been properly maintained by the previous owner. I carried on where he left off, painting over the soffit boards and using plenty of filler. I bought a couple of bags of small chip stones to mask the falling-in roof held on under polythene. I sold the house during a dry spell which didn't show that the roof was badly leaking when it rained. The buyer should have taken more care in what they were buying. Peter, Manchester
My first house was a nightmare. The vendor was a plumber/electrician. The boiler had been botched, there was a water leak under the bath and so the floor had rotted away. With my second house I checked everything, moving furniture, looking under carpets, in cupboards etc. If the vendor has nothing to hide they won't mind you looking. If they have a problem then walk away, it's a buyers' market at the minute.Rob, Huddersfield
I rented a house that wasn't what it seemed. In the middle of a hot summer, a beautiful mill cottage came up for rent. With new carpets and freshly painted plaster walls, it was lovely and at £280 per month I couldn't grumble. But after the summer I couldn't keep the house warm, then I began to notice condensation running down the walls. By Christmas the walls were black with mould and damp! We were originally tied to a 12 month contract but our health was suffering - our landlord had no choice but to let us leave. Last I heard the landlord had the decorators in and it was back up for rent!Vicky Prince, Oldham, Lancashire
We bought a house from a heating engineer where the central heating had been installed by his company, which we later discovered had ceased trading. When we called British Gas to service the boiler they condemned the entire installation, because it had been fitted with insufficient ventilation and was pouring carbon monoxide into the house.Colin, Barnsley