Patrick had been searching for a family home for over a year. When he found a 1960s semi-detached house in Limerick, everything felt right — the location, the size, the bones of the place. The asking price was within reach, and after his offer was accepted, Patrick's solicitor began the conveyancing process.
During the standard property searches and enquiries, something caught his solicitor's attention. When asking the vendor's solicitor for disclosure of any structural surveys or reports, the response was vague. After gentle pressing, it emerged that the vendor had actually commissioned a structural engineer's report two years earlier — but had never mentioned it. When Patrick's solicitor obtained a copy, it made uncomfortable reading: the report identified subsidence in the foundations and recommended remedial works estimated at €15,000 to €20,000.
Patrick felt let down. He had every right to walk away, but he genuinely loved the house. Instead, his solicitor helped him approach the vendor with the structural report in hand. The conversation that followed was honest: the vendor admitted to being uncertain about the findings and had hoped the issues might resolve themselves. Patrick requested a price reduction of €18,000 to cover the necessary work and provide a buffer for unexpected complications. After negotiation, they settled on a reduction of €16,500. Patrick went ahead with the purchase, immediately commissioned his own surveyor to plan the subsidence works, and moved forward with confidence.