Am i being conned

wendy42

Hi, i have purchased a house and we are nearly ready to exchange, when i first went and looked around the house with my parents, we commented on how beautifull the fire was, the vendor showed us how it worked. I has been around there another couple of times after to measure etc... on the third visit the vendor stated she had to news i was not going to like, she was taking her gas fire which i must state is a hole in the wall fire and her digital arial, she has stated i can purchase her fire for £700, which i did agree to eventually (she has shown me recceipts for fire - £1000) She wants the same fire, when she moves. and also wants to take her digital arial or leave it for me @£120. This is the first move i have done on my own as i have recently lost my husband and feel quite vunerable, im not sure if she can take these items or am i being ripped off, please advise.

JQ.

Ask your solicitor, that's why you pay them. They've presumably seen the fixtures and fittings list.

However, irrespective of what they say, if you're paying £700 for a second hand £1,000 fireplace then you are being ripped off. If I had to, I'd be looking to pay £300-£400, assuming it's in good condition.

I'm sure someone will be along shortly to provide you with some proper advice.

keith969

They are trying it on. Say no, you don't want them - there's a reasonable chance they won't want the hassle of removing them, and you can almost certainly get a replacement for less.

My vendors wanted £450 for some custom made blinds, I said no thanks, guess what they were still there when I moved in!

googler

Dig your heels in - or more precisely, get your solicitor to dig your heels in for you; as the previous poster said, that's what you're paying them for.

If they remove the fire and the aerial, then you should insist they 'make good' the holes in the wall(s) and not leave you with bare plaster, etc.

If you buy them additional to the house, then yes - a USED £1000 fire (!) for £700 isn't on - less than £500 I would say....

pastmybest

Until contracts are exchanged either side can change their mind on anything. The price, what is or is not included. Legally you have no argument but morally you do. Sadly morals went out the window many years ago in this type of situation.

Yes ask your solicitor but they have no real interest but the EA you are buying through will so you need to sound them out. The EA will want the sale to stay together to get their commission.

jrrowleyws

Also, there is no such thing as a "digital aerial" and if she it taking it with her, just put up a new one. DIY for £30 or someone would fit one for less than £100.

terrierlady

as above poster states the choice is yours, might be worth saying..... i really like the fire you did say it was included in price and also its on the details your solicitor has proved also on the estate agents list its stated as being included so perhaps you would like to reduce the price of the house, with regards to digitial aerial there is no such item....
Buyer is King in this market yes you are being conned with a smile.

kriss_boy

If you think you got a bargain then Id pay the money. If you think your offer was a very reasonable one then Id be tempted to call their bluff and say they either include the items of youre walking away from the sale.

poppysarah

The fire must be removed by a qualified person and the remaining pipework capped off safely if she is taking it.

If it was in the description with the ea then she's being a witch imo.

You should probably let her take the fire and go and buy a new one.

DVardysShadow

Ignore the aerial. It will cost her more to take her one down and put it up again than just to have a new one put up - I think if you get a quote, you could get a new one for that.

As for the fire, if you offered her on the basis of the fire coming with the house, [even if it was not discussed, but just your understanding] then drop your offer by £700. She will be mortally offended most probably, but you are more justified to do this than she is to ask for another £700. If she wanted to take it, she should have said she was taking it, not showed you how it worked.

Basically the greedy woman has seen that you like the fire and is trying to monetise your interest.

Milliewilly

jrrowleyws wrote: »

Also, there is no such thing as a "digital aerial" and if she it taking it with her, just put up a new one. DIY for £30 or someone would fit one for less than £100.

Err yes there is they are slightly more expensive than the normal analogue ones. I had one fitted a few years ago and even then it came to less than £100 inlucing the aerial and the fitter fixing it onto the chimney. I would not pay anything for the aerial and would dispute the gas fire. Whats mentioned in the brochure / fixtures and fittings form?

Plus I would ask if she does remove the fire that you can get a copy of the removal invoice from the Gas safe fitter before exchange and knock the cost of having to have a new fire fitted off your offer.