Am I unreasonable or is the vendor being difficult?

elliejay_2

I knew this purchase was going too smoothly....


We offered full asking price for the house, vendor required us to exchange in 28 days as he is buying a new build, with a month or so between exchange and completion for his house to be completed.

When our survey comes back, it finds some damp and woodworm. Estate agent gets in a specialist, who quotes around £1400 to solve the problems.

We asked vendor to reduce price to cover this cost. He refused to believe there was any damp or woodworm. We agreed to show him our survey and the specialist report.

He then decides that he still doesnt believe there is woodworm, but agrees about the damp.

So we offer to cover the cost of sorting the woodworm, if he covers the damp by reducing the price by £700 - so split the cost 50/50.

He still refuses that. So he agrees about the damp, but doesnt think he should compromise over it.

We are at the end of his 28 day period, and are ready to exchange. I can't believe he is prepared to lose this sale, and probably the house he is buying, for the sake of £700.

Am I being unreasonable here?

nearlyrich

No you aren't being unreasonable but are you prepared to lose the house for £700?

Doozergirl

I'd stand firm and refuse to exchange until he agrees to the compromise. He's in the awkward position of buying a newbuild and those firms don't really mess around. If he loses the house he'll lose his reservation deposit which is normally about £1000.

Stick him between a rock and a hard place.

Debt_Free_Chick

elliejay wrote:

I can't believe he is prepared to lose this sale, and probably the house he is buying, for the sake of £700.

Just playing Devil's advocate here ...... some people will think


"I can't believe you're prepared to walk away for the sake of £700, given all the time & money you've already invested in a property you (presumably) want" ....?

tomstickland

Oddly enough, I don't think he's being unreasonable. He's selling the house "as is" for the price he wants. I've got a friend who bought a house a few years back and the vendor said "that's what I'm selling it for, if you don't want it for that price then don't buy it."

louise_1981

I have to say, we have, although the roof was found to have a huge split in the beam holding it up, in the short term it could be 'screwed' together (£3000) in the long term which would require a new roof!!! the seller would not budge and neither would we, dispite £2000 already spent on survey soliciters fees etc

poodledoodledoo

The thing is, if the vendor is refusing to do this for you, then he won't do it for other buyers either. I don't think either party is being unreasonable, it just boils down to whether you are willing to lose a house you have gone so far with for the sake of a few hundred quid.

Robert_Sterling

You are involved in negotiations to buy a house.
You want to pay as little as possible.
The seller wants to get as much as possible.
The agent wants you and the buyer to compromise.
The agent is the sellers agent not yours but the agent will want the commission.
I think your offer to meet half way is a good one.
I can see why you might pay the full asking price.
I can also see why the seller might meet you halfway.
Good Luck

elliejay_2

Thanks for the reponses guys - I'm feeling calmer about things after a night's sleep!

I think I am probably more bothered about the way he is dealing with it than the actual money itself. When we offered to split the cost 50/50 he offered to fit carpet on the stairs and landing instead - but a new carpet there is listed on our fixtures and fittings, so it just feels like he is trying to pull a fast one!

Oh well, it will all come out in the wash no doubt!