have we done the right thing?

big_green

hi all, back in early march we accepted a offer on my wifes property. we found a place, negotiated a deal, organised a survey, solicitor etc and generally got on with moving the process forward.

we have been as honest, up front and pro active as possible.

and then there is our purchaser........


it took her 8 weeks to organise a survey ( ours took 10 days )


allegedly her survey came back saying we had damp in our place, and she wanted to send in a specialist damp firm, ok we said, two week delay followed while we waited for company to come round.

they turned up last week, did a check, and guess what?

no damp!!! yehy:D

today we get a call from ea........... the survey shows that there may be a few loose / missing roof tiles and the pointing and flashing on chiming may need looking at, the purchaser has requested £1000 off asking price


my wife ( really proud of her for this ) told the ea in no uncertain terms we would not drop another penny and that if we did not hear back from her by tomorrow night we would put house back on the market.

i feel the purchaser has just been trying it on, if the survey did say damp and roof issues then surely both of these issues would have been brought to light at the same time?

this has become a point of principle for us. our buyer has already got a good deal on my wifes house, and she is also aware that we are much further down the buying road than she is, we feel that by asking for a futher reduction she is holding us to ransom.

my question is, what would you do?

dankes

Think you've so done the right thing. Sounds like your buyer hasn't sold her place yet and is on a go-slow so as to not lose your property.

You'll find someone else, but I reckon she'll be back and will try some more delaying tactics. Good for you, though. Stick to your guns.

D x

danuk

i would do the same as your wife mate. In fact we are intending to do just that if we get any type of renegotiation request. Similar circumstances as you too..... luckily the house we are buying is from a friend who will wait so the threat of me losing a buyer is not an issue as it would normally be for someone.

Stick to your guns mate, she has obviously paid for the survey and maybe started paying for solicitor costs so would not want to pull out either..... then again!!

big_green

thanks for youre responses guys, we are getting really fed up with all the delays we have experianced. surely if you want to buy a house you move forward on the purchase will all reasonable haste?

i guess the ball is now back in her court, but we are ready to lose our next house over this, i think next time we will take a glass is half empty approach, sad , but less chance for disappointment.

dankes

big_green wrote: »

i think next time we will take a glass is half empty approach, sad , but less chance for disappointment.

Noooo, don't let some idiot have that effect on you. She's not worth it. I don't reckon you'll have much trouble finding another buyer if she does pull out. Which I don't reckon she will, to be honest. Just trying it on.

Good luck.
x

david29dpo

from what you have said, i would have but the house back on the market weeks ago!

Doozergirl

david29dpo wrote: »

from what you have said, i would have but the house back on the market weeks ago!

Ditto. 8 weeks? You're patient!

She is entirely unreasonable asking for a discount. It wouldn't cost £1000 to rectify anyway. If you were to do anything at all, I would pay to get it sorted yourself, it would save you money. Only if pushed though, my answer would have been the same as your wife's!

:wave: david29dpo, I just moved into a house right by your Bromsgrove flat. Did it all go through okay?

lush_walrus

You can ask to see the survey, that might be the best bet. Has the EA got a copy? To ask for a reduction due to survey is quite normal, but not for a few tiles as these could have been seen at their initial viewing.

Get a copy of the survey from your buyer, your EA can request this for you.

With regards to the length of time to survey, sounds to me as if either they didn't have a mortgage in principal in place when they offered and then shopped around, or perhaps they have been turned down from someone?

But, yes as others have said you have been patient. Personally I would advice you not to shoot yourself in the foot on this (sorry I know that is slightly too late). If you are confident (and the EA is) that you will be able to sell again very quickly then offer ultimatums, if not then don't.

You say you are further down the line in the buying process, are you relying on this sale to buy the next property? If so, the only word of warning I would give (again too late) is be careful you don't end up in a worse position through threatening deadlines and re-marketing etc. Your buyer does sound pretty naff but I hope for your sake the EA has been careful in how they have worded the threat. It is far better in these cases to remain calm, think the consequences of actions on your situation through, and then act. Threats generally do not work on difficult buyers in my experience.

Sorry that isn't possitive and supportive of your actions, but I have owned EAs for quite a long period now and really as a rule negotiation and discussion without threats is always the way to keep everything together in a chain.

Good luck.

david29dpo

Doozergirl wrote: »

Ditto. 8 weeks? You're patient!

She is entirely unreasonable asking for a discount. It wouldn't cost £1000 to rectify anyway. If you were to do anything at all, I would pay to get it sorted yourself, it would save you money. Only if pushed though, my answer would have been the same as your wife's!

:wave: david29dpo, I just moved into a house right by your Bromsgrove flat. Did it all go through okay?

hi, yes, sold very quick. completed end of jan. thanks for asking.

olibrofiz

:mad: I'm at the point of exchange, and my buyer has decided he wants me to knock £2000 off the price cos of the recent increase in morgage rates (he's buying to let and we've agreed on various stuff I'm leaving in the house FoC)!!!

After I came back down off the ceiling I told the EA and my Sols 'Nope, sorry' (He's already tried to get me to reduce by £1000 cos my back door needs replacing). EA's reckon he does this with every house he buys.

Drives you mad hey!!:mad:

wnb

olibrofiz wrote: »

:mad: I'm at the point of exchange, and my buyer has decided he wants me to knock £2000 off the price cos of the recent increase in morgage rates (he's buying to let and we've agreed on various stuff I'm leaving in the house FoC)!!!

After I came back down off the ceiling I told the EA and my Sols 'Nope, sorry' (He's already tried to get me to reduce by £1000 cos my back door needs replacing). EA's reckon he does this with every house he buys.

Drives you mad hey!!:mad:

Thats crazy but goes to show what some people will do to try and get sellers to come down on the price.