What should I do?

BarmyBubba

I have a completion date for this Friday but a couple of things are worrying me.

1) the garage is still full of rubbish that the previous owner left. It needs a skip and he said he will sort one for me. But once the sale has gone through he could well tell me to get knotted.

2) the light in the dining room is not working. when i went to look around the owner told me that it just needed a new switch and he would sort it. But when I asked him last week he said he forgot. I am an electrician so swapping a light switch is not a problem. But if it is a big problem why should I spend my own time in fixing it?

3) the burgular alarm does not work. A new one was fitted by the owner but it does not work. He said it just needs a couple of wires connecting in the alarm box outside but he couldnt do it because he had no ladders. It could be a simple easy job as he suggests, but it also could not.

Any advice on what I should do with regards all three?

Thanks

susieb

Have you asked for these to be done via your solictor, if so and they arent you can bill the owner for your costs if they dont do it.

Bossyboots

At this late stage I would speak to your solicitor and ask him to agree a retention figure with your seller until the issues are sorted to your satisfaction but arranged by the seller. The threat of money being withheld might just be enough to get him to do what is necessary.

BarmyBubba

The problem is the owner has vacated the property and did so about 2 weeks ago. I do know him so I doubt he is going to try do a fast one. But, I dont want to be left up in the air having to sort a skip etc myself.

Mrs_Arkwright

BarmyBubba wrote:

The problem is the owner has vacated the property and did so about 2 weeks ago. I do know him so I doubt he is going to try do a fast one. But, I dont want to be left up in the air having to sort a skip etc myself.

Trust nobody. Mr A did some work (£1200 worth) in June for a mate of 40 years standing - nearly three months later he still hasn't paid, all we hear is 'oh yes, I'll send a cheque at the end of the week' - been hearing this for the last two months. This so called friend will soon be finding himself on the wrong end of a small claims court case.

clutton_2

once a vendor has left, there is precious little you can do unless you choose to take him to court. is it really worth it for these smallish items ? Call him up and talk to him about it all if you know him, make a definite arrangement for a specific time when you can meet him at the property to discuss things.
Or why not accept this irritations and move on and enjoy your new home

BarmyBubba

Cant move on and enjoy my new home when I will be eating my dinner in the dark lol

But given my experience, whilst the light switch could be a smallish item, it wont be if I have to start chopping walls out to pull in new cables etc. As for getting a skip, the cost about £80 now which is money I cant really afford when it should not be my responsibility. And as for the burgular alarm, it could be totally kaput but he has made it sound like a simple problem to get the sale.

Have tried contacting my solicitor but he has read three emails now over the last 2 days and replied to none even though I told him I needed a quick reply so I could arrange time of work if the sale was defo going through this week. I rang earlier, he was on the phone but was promised a call back...3 hours later I am yet to hear anything.

One final thing. Is it true solicitors charge more for reading emails, replying to them, answering your calls etc or is my colleague winding me up?

Regards

A very annoyed and stressed FTB (thanks to my solicitor)

clutton_2

i know this is a new and terribly stressful time for you, and yes, solicitors often do not return calls, and no emails are not more expensive as far as i am aware, and yes vendors often leave "messes" like the one you describe. all you can do is make sure your solicitor knows of these issues, and see if he can get them sorted out, but, don't be too hopeful of getting them fixed by the vendor. Once you have moved in, these irritations will be small beer.

goldbyron

I agree with the above. It is annoying and may incur cost to yourself however I would be relieved that the house move and purchase was part of the past! It is not the end of the world...I would just enjoy your new home and find your own solution to these problems. I have moved into a property with the oven not working and a shed full of rubbish. However I did not feel it worth pursuing as i was just glad to be in.

BarmyBubba

OK. I will try chill and look forward to the moving experience and no more nagging parents (I love them really).

clutton_2

we all know that this sort of practise is simply not "fair", but at the end of the day, wouldn't you rather use your energy and creativity in making your new home as beautiful as you possibly can, rather than allowing some plonker to spoil your very first home ?? ( what goes around comes around - he will get his come-uppance in due course)