Buyer trying it on?

DVardysShadow

Mojisola wrote: »

I would be looking for a new buyer. Someone who starts like this is going to be trouble right up to the final minute of the sale.

I agree. I would be giving buyer an fair opportunity to explain, but the presumption would be that they were messing about, and that I would not deal with them any more.

angrypirate

I had a full structural survey on a 2 up 2 down terrace in London and it took 6 hours. The only comment on the electrical made was there was a modern RCD which was approx x years old and it was advised that should get an electrician to check the electrics. Similar sort of comment was made about the boiler.

DRP

fannyanna wrote: »

Just ask them to the surveyors report. If they can provide one then have a look and think whether what they're asking is reasonable. If they can't provide one - well, then you know your buyers are having you on.

^^yeah , that


that is the first thing to do before throwing toys from pram or putting your house on the market.

Ivana_Tinkle

IME a survey only ever includes a visual inspection of the electrics - you'd need to pay an electrician to actually test them and tell you what work needs doing. So, yes, they're trying it on.

Call their bluff by asking to see the report but, even if they back down, don't trust them any further than you can throw them from now on and try not to get yourself into a situation where they can gazunder. (ie just be a bit wary - don't do any packing, book removals etc until contracts are exchanged. Obviously you shouldn't do that anyway, but people do...)

londonlydia

First off, I wouldnt panic.

It could be dodgy buyers, but it could also be a dodgy surveyor. I think it's not a bad idea as others have suggested to ask for the report, but also I would see if you could send the buyers the details of the roofer who said it's fine. I would also send the message back that the surveyor only spent 40mins in the property, didnt go in the roof etc. They may be unaware. Could you also get an electrician to do the same re the rewiring?

End of the day, sounds like your house is sound, and if you end up back on the market, you had 4 offers before so I doubt you will struggle to sell if you have to.

Mojisola

Orinoco253 wrote: »

we put our house up at 170k, we accepted an offer of 165500 we had 4 competing offers on the table within 3 days of house going up for sale

Most sellers would kill for interest like this in their house - it's obviously very desirable and offered at a sensible price. Put it back on the market and choose another buyer.

cattie

Orinoco253 wrote: »

3 weeks later we are contacted by estate agents they are nervous and now want a full structural survey, appointment arranged, surveyor attends spends 40 mins at house.

Considering my buyers surveyor doing a homebuyers report was here for 3.5 hours, it seems shocking that any qualified surveyor can try to convince somebody that they can carry out a full structural survey in 40mins.

I know this homebuyers report was very detailed and it is unusual for a surveyor to spend so long on one, but I would expect any structural survey I commissioned to take this amount of time. It sounds as if your buyers surveyor just quickly glanced around the place.

Orinoco253

Thanks to everyone for the replies, we had a builder at the house this morning sent by prospective buyers, he confirmed does not need rewire, wall ties and that the purlin in the roof is free from rot and is not damp, he said roof should be good for 4/5 years and cost to replace would be £3300 awaiting feedback now from buyers, I have also asked for a copy of the survey

Many thanks again

Conrad

girl_withno_name wrote: »

They may or may not be trying it on, but I'd probably be asking if a copy of the survey was available... Just in case!

The survey in and of itself is often irrelevant.

People either will or wont pay an asking price.
In this case the property seems popular as it had 4 offers right away, so OP, deffo stick it on the market now and do not take it off if your current buyers come crawling back, just tell em it reamins on market until exchange and if better offers come along, so be it.

People who have full structural surveys in my long experience are allways tyre kicker types that expect the world to do them a favour. These people nearly always muck up sales. But you can bet when they are selling a property they don't budge an inch, these @anal time vampire typres drive people potty.

I noticed you said they took 7 weeks to have a valuation - you must be very trusting as most sellers would re - market if no valuation within 2 weeks.

Given the lender valued the property above price and that you had keen interest, you really should not drop a penny in this case. The fact a buyer feels they have reason to haggle is totally irrelevant when clearly your property was very fairly priced, if anything underpriced.

arbrighton

Conrad wrote: »

The survey in and of itself is often irrelevant.

People who have full structural surveys in my long experience are allways tyre kicker types that expect the world to do them a favour. These people nearly always muck up sales. But you can bet when they are selling a property they don't budge an inch, these anal time vampire types drive people potty.

This is a load of baloney. We had a full survey done, because OH had not done so on previous purchase and was then stung on finding out close to exchange about subsidence and underpinning which vendor hadn't mentioned on PIF etc, and because we want to know as much as possible about a fairly quirky period property in order to ensure we know what maintenance MAY be required etc. We are fully intending to proceed, subject to any issues that may yet come up, have been open and honest, funds in place etc.
Unlike our buyers who didn't get any survey done, then proceeded to try and knock the price down just prior to exchange. And we met them half way.