vendor putting us off

VICSH

HI

I hope some of you more seasoned buyers will be able to add some sort of advice about our situation.

My DH and I went to view a house, it is on for 270-250k was on originally for 269,950 with no interest.

£249,999 is our max we dont want ot go over that.

The house itself was lovely a bit dated but right location for us, has reasonable size bedrooms, nice garden and opportunity to extend in the future.

The vendor showed us round and was a bit too honest telling us not only the good but the bad also.

At the end of the viewing she tried to talk numbers with us, I tried to avoid the conversation but what she did say was that if she accepted an offer under the stamp duty price she would remove fixtures and fittings.

Now I dont know where we stand on this, if we brought the house could we end up with jsut a shell? I mean in respect it had a fully intergrated kitchen and fitted carpets, could she take those? what usually happens with this?

I do like the house but she does put me off and I am worried she would mess us around during the process with that said she did say she is desperate to move (her partner couldnt sell his house so they part exchanged it to buy a new house and they are selling hers to make up the difference and until then she has taken out a bridging loan).

The estate agent has said that they have tried to explain that she will not get an offer over 250 for the house but she is more optimistic about it.

Any advice appreciated on this, I do really like the house, the location and things like parking is fine but do we risk entering in a chain with this person?

lee111s

She can do anything she wants with the property that doesn't affect it structurally.

Part of the process they will have to fill in a form which stipulates what will be left when they leave the property. If they advise on that form that they're taking evertyhing with them then that's entirely up to them as it's their house and their belongings.

I believe the only things they must leave are working lights (no fixtures just bulbs) and leave the sockets etc in tact. There have been people who have taken taps etc with them when they move!

Dukesy

To be honest, there's a risk with any house. If you offer and it is accepted, then you will get a property information form which the vendor will have filled in stipulating what will and what will not be included in the sale. Some people want to take literally everything.

What I'd suggest is that you try and find out what she means she would take. If it's just the curtain rails etc is that such a big problem? If it's everything - water tank, carpets, light fittings etc etc then depending on what if any work you're planning for the place, maybe it wouldn't be worth it. If, however, you're planning on putting new carpets in and she says she's taking the old ones then I wouldn't find that a problem.

steppevos

You could always make an offer in writing stating that the offer is conditional on the inclusion of fixtures and fittings (specify!), but nothing is sure till exchange takes place with the official forms filled in.

DRP

If the house is "a bit dated" perhaps it isn't too much of a biggy that she wants to take a lot of the fixtures.

As everyone else has mentioned you need to find out *exactly* what she intends to take (and get it in writing).