Crafty FTB!

powerful_Rogue

Thanks for all the replies.
Our house is in a good state of repair and was recently decorated before we put it on the market. As to there being a "whole list of work" that needs to be carried out, I have absoutly no idea what it could be - thus why im curious to see the list.

We priced the house at a bargain price to get a quick sale, not because it needs work doing to it. Since then weve started to think about staying put, plus house prices in the area have risen making it even more of a bargain, so if we do lose the buyers, it wouldnt really matter.

The seller offered below asking price to start with because they wanted to dig up the garden and concrete it over.

robatwork

A genuine buyer will show you the survey and from that you can gauge how serious the issues are. If there is something in there that a normal FTB would never have spotted eg the fuse box in a dangerous position, then it's reasonable for them to negotiate at this stage.

Running_Horse

If you don't negotiate and meet them halfway, what are the chances of another full asking price offer?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

We priced the house at a bargain price to get a quick sale, not because it needs work doing to it. Since then weve started to think about staying put, plus house prices in the area have risen making it even more of a bargain, so if we do lose the buyers, it wouldnt really matter..

The danger of doing that is that some buyers think in terms of a discount from asking price, without realising that the asking price is already low to avoid such shenanigans.

Sounds to me like you have that kind of ignorant buyer.

Tell them the discounted asking price already allows for any works that need doing, and to proceed or jog on.

makeyourdaddyproud

If prices in your area are rising like you say, I wouldn't even bother to negotiate and tell them the deal is orf.

Perelandra

If the things on the list turn out to be items which the buyer couldn't have seen themselves, then I think it's fair to re-negotiate the price. However, if it's evident that they're there to a layman, then that should have been factored in when the offer was made.

So I agree with you, OP, you need to see this list before negotiating. If everything on there is something the FTB could've understood for themselves needed to be done- then the price is the price.

powerful_Rogue

Thank you all for your replies.

Im just puzzled that after she received the homebuyers report she said wanted to come back to look at a couple of points and stated they were nothing serious, to all of a sudden having a huge list of issues.

Also curious as to what legal requirements the house dosnt meet! Will have to wait until Tuesday to see the list - thats if their solicitor says its ok. Apparently they wont tell us about the legal requirements, they will only divulge that to our solicitor when we instruct one.

Looking for a house over the last 3 weeks, its very evident that house prices in our area have shot up - making our sale seem like even more of a bargain!

My concern now is that if things do proceed, they seem like the sort of people that will demand another £5k off prior to exchange.........

Perelandra

Don't judge them too harshly yet- getting a survey report back is scary, particularly when it's your first house, as they can seem to paint a very nasty view of everything that's wrong with the house, so it seems like a pretty normal (if unwelcome) reaction.

It sounds to me like you have a nervous FTB who is following the advice that they're being given, not someone who is intending to gazunder deliberately at the end. Might be wrong on that, of course!

powerful_Rogue

Perelandra wrote: »

Don't judge them too harshly yet- getting a survey report back is scary, particularly when it's your first house, as they can seem to paint a very nasty view of everything that's wrong with the house, so it seems like a pretty normal (if unwelcome) reaction.

It sounds to me like you have a nervous FTB who is following the advice that they're being given, not someone who is intending to gazunder deliberately at the end. Might be wrong on that, of course!

My only concern which has lead me to this reaction is that they didnt come forward after receiving the home buyers report to re-negotiate. Instead they were willing to wait until we had found a property, put in an offer, instructed a solictiator and then tried to negotiate - IE, if you dont drop the price then your purchase will fall through.

I also dont understand why they cant show us this huge list of works that apparently needs to be done, but instead has to be approved via their solicitor?!

kingstreet

There is no reason why it should be approved by a solicitor. Surveys are nothing to do with a solicitor, unless there's something about the title to the property which is in doubt.