Disputed survey

[russ]

I have heard the results of my purchasers survey which among some minor items has picked up that the anodes are incorrect for fresh water. These were newly fitted using mag anodes which I am confident are the correct ones. Surveyor said they were starting to get a lime coating which he said shouldn't happen to mags.
Also engine and leg needed servicing. Again all done professionally a few months ago.
I have had to adjust the purchase price or lose the sale.

 

[petem]

I have heard the results of my purchasers survey which among some minor items has picked up that the anodes are incorrect for fresh water. These were newly fitted using mag anodes which I am confident are the correct ones. Surveyor said they were starting to get a lime coating which he said shouldn't happen to mags.
Also engine and leg needed servicing. Again all done professionally a few months ago.
I have had to adjust the purchase price or lose the sale.

Have you got the receipts for the work done? A bit irrelevant I suppose if the purchaser will only listen to his surveyor. At the end of the day, if you don't like the price reduction then find another buyer.

 

[PCUK]

Many so called Surveyors are just BSS twerps. I had a problem with a total idiot who said the boat didn't comply with present day specifications - of course it didn't it was built 30 years ago! Show your buyer the receipts for the items and stick to the asking price.

 

[oldgit]

Show your buyer the receipts for the items and stick to the asking price.

Sorry but buyers are not exactly forming a line to buy boats.
Providing you can put up with the reduction, bite the bullet and take the money. You can always explain to the seller of your new purchase the situation and try to and see if you can chip the price on next purchase .
Otherwise its back to re advertising the boat, weeding out the time wasters and finding a new buyer + new survey, its getting late in the season, will your new boat still be around in the future.
Grab the money and run.

 

[petem]

Sorry but buyers are not exactly forming a line to buy boats.

They are for some boats, just try finding a 10-15 year old model from Fairline or Princess in the right price and condition.

Boats like mine have only lost a third of their original purchase price.

 

[volvopaul]

I have heard the results of my purchasers survey which among some minor items has picked up that the anodes are incorrect for fresh water. These were newly fitted using mag anodes which I am confident are the correct ones. Surveyor said they were starting to get a lime coating which he said shouldn't happen to mags.
Also engine and leg needed servicing. Again all done professionally a few months ago.
I have had to adjust the purchase price or lose the sale.

Your on the Thames so you are correct in fitting magnesium anodes, you can also fit aluminium.
Di you get an invoice for the service work? All sounds a bit strange as you were only on here last week about the bellows and bearing failure so why won't that stack up? I'd be naming the surveyor for sure, is he a member or the ydsa or IIMS , complain to whoever he belongs to, surveyors don't like complaints.

 

[russ]

Your on the Thames so you are correct in fitting magnesium anodes, you can also fit aluminium.
Di you get an invoice for the service work? All sounds a bit strange as you were only on here last week about the bellows and bearing failure so why won't that stack up? I'd be naming the surveyor for sure, is he a member or the ydsa or IIMS , complain to whoever he belongs to, surveyors don't like complaints.

He is a very well known surveyor and has been mentioned in many boating magazines.
Over my years of boating coastal and rivers, the anodes have always looked like they had lime on them as they're sacrificial.

 

[oldgit]

Boats like mine have only lost a third of their original purchase price.

Sounds like classic tent boat with outdrive horrific depreciation to me.
Certain classic flybridge boats still demand over 70 % of the new price after twice that 10-15 year period...

 

[Tranona]

He is a very well known surveyor and has been mentioned in many boating magazines.
Over my years of boating coastal and rivers, the anodes have always looked like they had lime on them as they're sacrificial.

Anodes are not worth getting worked up about, but the engine/drive is worth discussing.I am assuming you have the receipts for work done to counter his claim that they need servicing. Expect some toing and froing, because he will likely be arguing that the work does not constitute adequate servicing. As always the devil is in the detail and he has to show that the boat is not as described. So if you claim it is fully serviced and there is no evidence then he has a point. However if you only claimed specific repairs, then you argue that the buyer made his offer knowing there had not been a recent routine service.

Just suggesting ways to reach an agreement, but the devil is always in the detail and the strength of your evidence - plus of course not wanting to alienate him too much if you still want the sale.

 

[Boat2016]

Assuming what's said above about a problem with drive is correct there will be an invoice for the repairs carried out prior to sale? If not I would think the buyer would be knocking money off if work is still required, I certainly wouldn't expect to buy a boat where the seller knows there's an issue but does nothing about it, I can see why a mechanical survey is often advised on here

 

[Seastoke]

for me its simple if it needs servicing again and he is taking the money off the asking price ,I would keep the receipt from when you had it serviced ie when he sell if he does not have it serviced on your money there will be a break in paper work

 

[volvopaul]

Assuming what's said above about a problem with drive is correct there will be an invoice for the repairs carried out prior to sale? If not I would think the buyer would be knocking money off if work is still required, I certainly wouldn't expect to buy a boat where the seller knows there's an issue but does nothing about it, I can see why a mechanical survey is often advised on here

Wise words .

 

[Portofino]

The boats I have looked at with a view to purchase have had a history file .
It's in the brokers interest to prevent collapse to have copies etc of the relivant stuff a buyer may want to see .
Like in this example the last "service " bills .
The surveyor too surley will have have had sight of the file , or asked ?
Or the seller Convieniantly left a copy of whats been spent /done on the dinette table for all and sundry to see .

So what exactley was done ,when and by who ( in a tecnical qualification role ) for the surveyor to then reccomend do it all agian ?

 

[Momac]

Not sure I would expect money off because a service is due .
If there is a fault it's a different matter .

Boats seem to be selling recently - if the asking price is sensible , and some even when the asking price is a little high.

 

[Boat2016]

The boats I have looked at with a view to purchase have had a history file .
It's in the brokers interest to prevent collapse to have copies etc of the relivant stuff a buyer may want to see .
Like in this example the last "service " bills .
The surveyor too surley will have have had sight of the file , or asked ?
Or the seller Convieniantly left a copy of whats been spent /done on the dinette table for all and sundry to see .

So what exactley was done ,when and by who ( in a tecnical qualification role ) for the surveyor to then reccomend do it all agian ?

I don't think there's a broker involved after reading the other post on this sale, it's been done privately

 

[Richard10002]

Unfortunately it is very difficult for a seller or their agent to convince a buyer that their surveyor is wrong... they have paid for an expert, received their report and opinions, and have an opportunity to negotiate something off the price. The person trying to convince them that their expert is wrong is the one trying to take their money off them... so there is no chance, (most of the time). This "two bites at the cherry" process happens all the time with boats, houses, and probably other things that get surveyed as part of the purchase process.

Given that it is a natural part of the process, the seller has a choice of accepting the reduction, agreeing to meet some of it, or refusing to negotiate. The latter two options can risk losing the buyer. Having said that, when a buyer asks for a reduction, they are equally at risk of the seller seeing his backside, losing the chance to purchase.

In a buoyant market, where boats are hard to come by, and buyers are ten a penny, refusing to negotiate should not be a problem. Alternatively, if your buyer is "the only show in town", you generally have to let them bend you over the desk and stick one up you, just to get whatever money they are prepared to hand over.

The contents of a survey generally merely give the buyer a reason to have their second bite at the cherry, so it doesn't really matter what those reasons are, because they are going to have their bite, or a bit of a bite, or the seller is going to blow them out.

 

[jrudge]

Do bear in mind that as I recall all surveys I have ever seen carry a recommendation that the mechanical parts be serviced by a compentant person or words to that effect.

In the absence of specific evidence to the contrary ( invoice ) it is not apparent from inspection when they were last serviced hence the surveyors comment. They also usually recommend a separate engine survey as that only cover basic operational checks.

 

[russ]

Engine survey was a separate inspector. Last three years of invoices were copied and sent to buyer for the surveyor.
I'm just going to let it go through as had enough of it now. I will be holding back all the original service bills for last 12 months although he has copies.

 

[Greg2]

Sorry but buyers are not exactly forming a line to buy boats.
Providing you can put up with the reduction, bite the bullet and take the money. You can always explain to the seller of your new purchase the situation and try to and see if you can chip the price on next purchase .
Otherwise its back to re advertising the boat, weeding out the time wasters and finding a new buyer + new survey, its getting late in the season, will your new boat still be around in the future.
Grab the money and run.

Actually not a lot on the market and our local brokers haven't been so busy for years. Stock is becoming a real problem for many brokers. May vary for different types of boat of course.

 

[superheat6k]

Engine survey was a separate inspector. Last three years of invoices were copied and sent to buyer for the surveyor.
I'm just going to let it go through as had enough of it now. I will be holding back all the original service bills for last 12 months although he has copies.

Remember the hard time you had been given, especially when clearing the boat of non included items, and when you get calls afterwards asking for advice. Good will is not necessarily free, especially if you have been mugged.