Fixtures and Fittings question.

chickmug

JoolzS wrote: »

I find it amazing, but sad, that so many people in this country still don't realise that estate agents are basically used-car salesmen in disguise. They think that EAs are professionals (such as lawyers, doctors, etc). They aren't - they are salesmen. Don't ever believe a single word an estate agent tells you. Their job is to basically lie to you in such a way that earns them commission and doesn't get them sued.

No offence intended by referring to salesmen - female estate agents are just as bad.

When DH and I were looking for a property a few years ago - without exception every single estate agent lied to us. I had fortunately worked in the legal business, as a secretary, for many years so I could pretty much see every lie coming.

Don't believe a word they say. Trust what your solicitor has on the forms s/he sends to you - that is the reality.

Oh, and if you don't mind being scared of buying property forever - "The Money Pit" is a very funny, if dated, film.

Julie

The many agents who help out, on this board, would of preferred you to have said many agents and not suggest that ALL agents?

tek-monkey

Its always the bad that colour the rest, but unfortunately its what many believe. It would of course also mean all soldiers are mindless thugs with drink problems, all people who work in IT are fat with no social skills and all lawyers are parasitic moralless sub humans. Typical Daily Mail thinking, its always them and us regardless of who 'them' are.

OF the EAs I met most were just normal people, a few were slimey and one was exceptionally nice. Unfortunately the really nice one worked for a much smaller agency, who got less clients probably because they didn't lie/cheat to get their clients the most money. In which case, blame the vendor for wanting the most £ possible an choosing their EA accordingly.

fi_trix29

I was surprised when I was buying a house recently at the things the lawyer put in offer notice to say we wanted to be included in the sale (in Scotland so lawyers deal with things straight from the initial offer).

He basically sat with the estate agents brochure and wrote in everything it said were included and a few more that no-one in their right minds would consider taking (like wheelie bins!!). I asked him why it all had to go in, as I would have assumed the brochure was effectively an advert and if it says they are included they have to be included, but he said that this wasnt the case, and that unless items are in the legal offer then they don't have to be included in the sale, even if they are stated as being included in the estate agents brochure.

DVardysShadow

ognum wrote: »

I believe it is not leagal to leave wires hanging from the ceiling, if a fitting is remover a ceiling rose and hanging bulb fitting must be put in its place.
If there are specific things you want to remain make them subject to your offer.

Where do you get that idea from? As far as I can see, although far from good practice, there is no law against it. However, most fixtures and fittings forms pre-specify how lighting shall be left - but there is no reason I am aware of not to strike that bit out as seller, if you are so minded.

JoolzS

chickmug wrote: »

The many agents who help out, on this board, would of preferred you to have said many agents and not suggest that ALL agents?

Part of me wants to apologise, but the other part of me knows that I have never, ever met an honest estate agent. I worked in conveyancing for many years and every single agent, without exception, used to joke around with me on the phone, or in person, about how they had "taken" such and such buyer.

When DH and I were considering moving a few years ago we had an absolute upper limit (not a vague limit like most of the people on TV property shows), but a real, absolute upper limit. Time and time again we were offered property details that were between 25% and 50% above our limit - and this was in a time of boom, not bust. We were also not shown details of any properties at the bottom of our budget until we started telling the agents that our maximum budget was £30K lower than it really was. Then they finally started showing us properties within our actual budget - they just tagged 20K onto what we had said was our maximum, which made them within our real maximum. No-one should have to play that sort of game, especially when they haven't been taught the rules.

Maybe there are a couple of good ones who post on this forum, as there maybe a couple of good used car salesmen, but, from experience, I will always distrust both.

Julie

chickmug

JoolzS wrote: »

Part of me wants to apologise, but the other part of me knows that I have never, ever met an honest estate agent. I worked in conveyancing for many years and every single agent, without exception, used to joke around with me on the phone, or in person, about how they had "taken" such and such buyer.
Julie

So I guess I need to be grateful for the part that does apologise:cool:

As my signature says I am glad to be out of it because I got thoroughly sick to the back teeth of all the lies we were being told, from all parties, on a very regular basis. Buyers, sellers, solicitors, brokers. You only have to read the posts on here to see half the time someone is complaining about trouble with the seller and the other half someone is complaining about trouble from the buyer.

And the funny thing is it is not just EA's and car dealers but we found some of the liers were Vicars, Policemen, Accountants and on and on and on. The world we live in perhaps.

But I stick to what I say there are some really good ones on here myself included. I can't speak for others but I offer help particularly with posters problems with agents as I do know the legislation well.

Surbybird

chickmug wrote: »

But I stick to what I say there are some really good ones on here myself included. I can't speak for others but I offer help particularly with posters problems with agents as I do know the legislation well.

I agree. I found Chickmug's advice to be very useful when I was lurking on here prior to buying my house.

:T

not_loaded

JoolzS wrote: »

…we had an absolute upper limit (not a vague limit like most of the people on TV property shows), but a real, absolute upper limit. Time and time again we were offered property details that were between 25% and 50% above our limit - and this was in a time of boom, not bust. We were also not shown details of any properties at the bottom of our budget until we started telling the agents that our maximum budget was £30K lower than it really was. Then they finally started showing us properties within our actual budget - they just tagged 20K onto what we had said was our maximum, which made them within our real maximum. No-one should have to play that sort of game, especially when they haven't been taught the rules…

That’s the game that the people on TV property shows are playing!

lindos90

Just a quick update, the F&F list has now come, and it looks like they are taking all the light fittings now as well! :rolleyes:

They want paying extra to leave all the integrated kitchen appliances....and the fitted fire!!! (all mentioned in the EA borchure)

If they take the fire place then the carpet will be no good as it is fitted around the harth!

They are also taking up the vinyl flooring in the kitchen (not even giving us the option to buy that:rotfl:).

This is really starting to give me a bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing, I was really looking forward to moving, but now Im going off the whole idea.

If they intended to sell everything extra, they should have been honest and told us from the start, not after we had made the offer.

What redress would I have, should they move out and dont 'make good' ?

I mean Im not really going to be able to take them to court bacause they dont replace the light fittings and leave a hole in the wall where the fire was surely?

chickmug

Sometimes this is how it happens!!!

You seem to have 2 separate issues:

1) The accuracy of the EA's sales details but I would expect the EA will say the seller signed them off as accurate so no redress against the EA? Have you checked this and if not signed off TS may be interested.

2) An AH of a seller who keeps changing their mind, which they can do, until contracts are exchanged. And if this be the case no rederess for you but just a very bad experience.

So is it time you started calling the shots because they are doing absolutely everything they can to make you want to pull out?