Selling a House with Non-standard Construction

When it’s time to move house, you don’t want to wait around. However, if your home is a “non-standard construction” this could mean a lengthy wait to find the right buyer. Find out what the process is for selling a house with non-standard construction and what you can do to speed up this process.

What Is Non-standard Construction? A Guide for UK Homeowners

Non-standard construction materials include asbestos, timber frames, and corrugated iron, which can impact the resale value and buyer interest. You’re probably already aware if you live in this type of home, but if you’re uncertain, contact an expert for advice.

A dwelling may be deemed non-standard if either — or both — its roof or frame and walls fall outside the remit of standard construction.

One of the most common non-standard frames is concrete. In the post-war era, many homes, especially council houses, were made with concrete walls. Despite a recent resurgence in the use of concrete in designer homes — and growing popularity amongst architectural critics — these buildings are deemed non-standard for the purposes of securing home insurance. Many other materials count as non-standard including glass, flint, cob, metal, wattle and daub, woodwork and corrugated iron. Only brick, stone, slate and tile are “standard” materials.

Even if your home has standard walls and frames, it may be defined as a non-standard construction if its roof is made out of materials other than tile or slate. Traditional thatch roofs are non-standard, as are concrete, stramit, plastic, fibreglass, felt and timber, shingle, corrugated iron and asbestos roofs.

Why Non-standard Construction Homes Are Harder to Sell

Selling a hard-to-sell house like one with non-standard construction requires alternative strategies, such as targeting cash buyers or auctions. Determining the condition of non-standard materials like concrete can be difficult for lenders because they are unable to assess the risk of offering a mortgage on the property.

Investing in a property where the condition of its structure is difficult to ascertain is not an attractive prospect for buyers either. Furthermore, the property is likely to be hard to sell if they choose to move.

Of course, some buyers will be excited by the prospect of purchasing a unique property and renovating their “dream home”. But it’s likely going to take longer to find that perfect buyer compared to the average time it takes to find a buyer for a standard construction house.

How to Achieve a Quick Sale for a Non-standard Construction House

One way to convert non-standard to standard construction is by replacing the roof or walls with approved materials, making the property easier to sell.

If this isn’t possible or you lack the time and resources to do the work, selling to a house buying service is the best way to secure a guaranteed sale without waiting for months or years for the right buyer to come along.

House Buyer Bureau is a genuine cash buyer with the funds to buy and offer completion on your house in as little as seven days. We buy any type of property in any condition or location in the UK.

Contact us to discuss your needs and get a free cash offer today.

Chris

Chris has worked in property all his career, first as a successful estate agent before spotting a gap in the market for buying property directly from people looking for a simple, quick sale.

He has a passion for property and as an experienced valuer, has looked at well over 50,000 properties so far at HBB. He has extensive experience in property buying and regularly comments in the press on property matters, trends and promotes ways to simplify and speed up the selling process.

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