Getting access to get building quotes

mprcomp

Where do I stand legally on this?

We have had an offered accepted on a property to buy. Now the vendor won't let us get a few builders round until we have exchanged contracts. We only want some quotes from builders and I am really annoyed as they know that we would only buy house if from day one of completion we are working on the house.

I must also add the property is empty and the vendor is not employed and lives 5 minutes away. Just really frustrating.

Thanks

Paul

maninthestreet

They have something to hide - once you have exchanged contracts, you are committed to buying the property. What happens if the quotes you obtain for the work are too expensive???

mprcomp

We had a full structural survey and had a list as long as well it was quite long.

I have no intention of not buying I just need accurate prices and timescales as it's going to be a refurb that means we will be out of house for at least first two weeks.

I want the work to start from day one to minimize the time we are out of the house. I therefore need to get quotes now so I can book them for January some time.

Thanks

Paul

JimmyTheWig

I agree with maninthestreet.
We don't know their personal circumstances (e.g. maybe they have a phobia of tradesmen; maybe it was their parent's house and they can't bear the thought of someone coming round, while they still own it, to plan changes; maybe, despite not being employed, they are really busy; or they are sick, etc) but it sounds like they have something to hide.

Presumably you've had a decent survey done. Is the work that you want priced up based on stuff from the survey, or is it more cosmetic?

If you got some quotes and they all came out much more expensive than you'd imagined, what would you do?
If you'd say "fair enough, I won't get that work done then" then I think you're best off making it known that you are unhappy but will carry on.
But if you'd walk away from the sale then you need to get these quotes sooner rather than later and be prepared to walk away if they won't let you.

[Edit: Cross-posted with your post #3. Then you either need to accept that this will put you behind schedule, or say that it is a deal-breaker and be prepared to walk away. Obviously a compromise might be an option. E.g. if this means that it will be 2 weeks more when you can't move in then you could drop your offer by the cost of 2 weeks rent, etc.]

hazyjo

If it's for repair works, they're worried you'll drop the price. If it's for something that you want, like an extension or a loft conversion, I can kind of see why they don't want their lives inconvenienced - and they're probably still concerned you're going to drop the price!

Personally, if works were essential as part of my purchase, I would have taken a builder round in the very beginning before making an offer.

A house came on the market yesterday I was interested in - I phoned to arrange a viewing, and the EAs said they're now not having any viewings until after Christmas. Maybe that's part of the reason - they might have gifts/presents lying around the place, and are somewhat paranoid someone might be 'casing the joint'!

If it makes no difference to the price you pay, and you're not going to knock them down or pull out, I'd just wait until after exchange.

Have you made a lot of visits/viewings to the property already?

Jx

maninthestreet

OP says the property is empty - so there should no security issues (if it's empty, there won't be much to steal...), and squatting is now a criminal offence (if that is what they are worried about).

ReadingTim

mprcomp wrote: »

Where do I stand legally on this?

Nowhere - it's not your property; and until it is, anyone on it who isn't the owner is tresspassing.

mprcomp

Thanks for posts. Just to clarify property did belong to parents but has been vacant for over a year.

I will have to be homeless living in a family members bedroom for 2 weeks with two children. I don't want to do work on the house just get some quotes so I can get best price and have them booked for when house will complete.

Look I know house can be somewhere to live for years. I don't think I am been unreasonable to get some builders to give me quotes on the property so that I can hire someone to get work done. As it's vacant the exchange and completion will be probably within a week of each other which means no time to get people booked. As doubt many builders will be able to start a big job a week after quotation.

Thanks

Paul

Tiddlywinks

mprcomp wrote: »

I will have to be homeless living in a family members bedroom for 2 weeks with two children. I don't want to do work on the house just get some quotes so I can get best price and have them booked for when house will complete.

Look I know house can be somewhere to live for years. I don't think I am been unreasonable to get some builders to give me quotes on the property so that I can hire someone to get work done. As it's vacant the exchange and completion will be probably within a week of each other which means no time to get people booked. As doubt many builders will be able to start a big job a week after quotation.

Let's not get all dramatic by talking about homelessness - how can you compare your situation with those living on the streets? You will be overcrowded and probably a little uncomfortable - nothing more.

Reasonable doesn't come into it - if the vendor refuses access then that is their choice - end of.

Why not find a short term let / Travelodge - that will give you space and time to make the right decisions about the re-development.

martinsurrey

If you haven’t exchanged yet, phone the EA and tell them you are dropping the offer by £2-3k to cover a short term rental caused by their unwillingness to allow access for quotes.

I agree that if they’ve got sentimental reasons for not letting you in, you can’t make them, but you can make them realise the financial implications of thier actions.

JimmyTheWig

mprcomp wrote: »

I don't think I am been unreasonable to get some builders to give me quotes on the property so that I can hire someone to get work done.

I don't think you are being unreasonable either, but while it is the vendor's house it is up to them who they let in and who they don't.

I will have to be homeless living in a family members bedroom for 2 weeks with two children.

Which is either something that you are prepared to do or not.

You have the following options...
1. Accept their decision.
2. Tell them the issue is a show-stopper and you will pull out if you can't get your builders round to quote. At which point they will either make arrangements or put the house back on the market.
3. Tell them that this will set you back at least two weeks and so will be modifying your offer accordingly. At which point they will either make arrangements for your builders, accept your revised offer, haggle over the revised offer or put the house back on the market.

I think it depends on how incomvenienced you would be by the delay and how much of a bargain you are getting.
If you can put up with living with family for a fortnight and don't want to jepodise the purchase then just begrudgingly accept it.
If the thought of living with family for two weeks sounds like hell and you are happy you could get a similar house for similar money then it's worth pushing.