House sellers asking for money to leave carpets/blinds etc

tobyjug

This exact thing happened to us, we were moving down from Scotland where fixtures and fittings are included in the house sale.

We decided to risk it as the carpets were cheap and well used.

They left the stairs carpet but took all the others. Stripped the house completely. we survived on underlay for a few months then got carpets as we redecorated.

Having said that we have just moved 10 years on and we left curtains carpets behind. Some people are just plain greedy.



You have to say " offer includes carpets curtains etc " right at the start I'm afraid. I think this is normal behaviour, especially in this market where people think they have dropped the price of their house.

dimbo61

As others have said if they remove the light fittings they have to replace them with cheap plastic pendant type light.
Now are the current light fittings brass? expensive looking ?
Perhaps new carpets ( your choice) and new modern energy saving lighting might improve the house.
point out the risk of HMRC re Stamp duty and say NO THANKS

JQ.

Offer them £500 for the lot, take it or leave it.

We had the same situation and told the vendor to get stuffed - they took absolutely everything with them. Whilst we had every intention of replacing all the carpets and curtains it was a real PITA moving into a house with bare floorboards and no curtains. It meant we had to buy replacements much sooner than we'd anticipated. In hindsight, I'd have certainly paid £500 to avoid the issue.

mpet

As others have said - call their bluff - tell them you don't want them. This happened to my BIL when he was moving - he told them to take the carpets with them - they didn't. It's just the seller being greedy. Worst way, if they do take them, you can probably get new (cheapish) carpet to replace them - at least you will get a colour/design you like.

As already said, if they remove light fittings, they cannot just leave bare wires - they will have to replace with a standard pendant.

Paul_the_Painter

What most people above seem to be forgetting is that you haven't agreed to anything yet! You have made an offer, but signed nothing. You certainly haven't exchanged contracts.

Phone up the estate agents, simply state that

"Our offer stands at £250,000, this includes all carpets, light fittings, and the blinds (if you want them that is!), we also require access to test taps/view garage. If the vendor finds this unacceptable, the offer is withdrawn"

"If the vendor has sentimental attachment to any particular light fitting or carpet, we are more than happy to negotiate a reduction in the purchase price to reflect the cost of a replacement"

You are the ones with an agreed sale, who are mentally prepared to move into rented - you are in a very powerful bargaining position - the vendor is not.

I would hazard a guess that the vendor really thinks their house is worth £260 - £270,000 but the stamp duty threshold is stopping people paying that. They are trying it on. Resist!

londonlydia

I swear somewhere else on here though mentioned that fixtures/ fittings arent included in stamp duty? Or is it just stuff that is properly *stuck* to your house like counters/ integrated appliances etc?

What a load of rubbish though- I hope when you pay for your house survey at least they will allow access, as I would not trust them otherwise, especially regarding the garage...may be an asbestos hell, that's fairly common with garages...

jackieb

The day we moved into our house we opened the garage door for the first time, and the whole lot came crashing down. My husband just managed to get out of the way before it fell on him. We tried through our solicitor to get some comeback from the sellers but no such luck.

I wouldn't buy another house without opening the garage door at least.

gravitytolls

I'd politely (don't naff 'em off, they'll strip it just to be spiteful), say that you assumed this would all be included, you apologise for not checking, but you're not in a position to increase your offer to take into account these added costs. Therefore you wil regretfully have to withdraw your offer and look for something else.

They'll have a change of heart when they think they've lost their sale,and hopefully allw ill go as planned.

Alternatively, say no thanks, and keep an eye on ebay, buy 'em for a fraction of the asking price, and when you turn up to collect, say they can leave them down as that's where you want them.

harrup

I seemingly am the lone voice of dissent but.....

......I would NEVER assume that curtains or light fittings are automatically included in the sale. Fitted carpets, ok, that is a different matter, and to an extent even curtain rails( if they are bog standard, ordinary rails instead of hand turned wood ones or something)....but light fittings and curtains?

Often not only are they very expensive and highly personal to individual taste, chances are high that many buyers would just discard them since they may not suit their style of decor.

I would no more include certain light fittings than I would include, say, a sofa. As to curtains, again, depending on the fabrics, these can be alarmingly expensive to replace. Thus, if they would suit my new house I would absolutely take my existing ones.

I'm thinking that's what the vendors were planning to do. And the prices they list on the inventory state what it would cost to replace them? Somewhat baffled by the carpets, though. Who rips out a fitted carpet before they leave?

As for gravitytolls suggestion to indicate that you would withdraw your offer because of it...hmmm, this could backfire. All depends how much you want the house, of course.

I have never once viewed a house where truly gorgeous curtains, curtain rails or light fittings were included in the sale...and the ones who were included in the sale I would have paid the vendor to please take them with them!

Having said all that, DEFINITELY insist on turning on all the taps, flushing the loos, test the water pressure in the shower, kitchen, etc and view the garage AND the attic!! How peculiar that they discouraged that. My guess is that the garage is choc-a-block full with some "treasures" aka hoarded junk.

Whilst you are at it, open and close kitchen cupboards and drawers and check whether they are ok. Our last kitchen looked ok from the outside, but, upon moving in we discovered on 3 of the drawers the bottom had fallen out. In fact, open and close ALL internal doors AND windows and see whether they open & shut correctly.

seven-day-weekend

You should have bought my Spanish house! We left it set up as a holiday home in case the sale did not complete - even down to crockery, bedding and towels and a barbecue and a sunlounger. All the new owners had to do was walk in and put the kettle (provided) on.

Seriously though, if you want the carpets and curtains offer them £500. Otherwise, just say you don't want them. They will probably leave them anyway.