Clearing a house : seller or buyer?

Dan-Dan

uptomyeyeballs wrote: »

After another 3 months have elapsed, we're going to have another go at getting past the clearance problem, if he's willing to sell. If he rejects it again, we'll definitely forget it, but based on the fact that it's going to be £45k cheaper than next door (an identical cottage) I think we can cover anything we find and still sell on for a profit if need be.

Dont be so sure , 45k wont go as far as you think , especially as there will always be stuff the survey didnt pick up....

Amazed you havent moved on

ValHaller

uptomyeyeballs wrote: »

After another 3 months have elapsed, we're going to have another go at getting past the clearance problem, if he's willing to sell. If he rejects it again, we'll definitely forget it, but based on the fact that it's going to be £45k cheaper than next door (an identical cottage) I think we can cover anything we find and still sell on for a profit if need be.

It is fairly pointless armwrestling with him over clearing his stuff. You need to pitch him a choice of a price if it is cleared or a lower price if it is not

- and perhaps an option of cash representing 6 months for placing the stuff in storage - but for obvious reasons, don't contract with a storage company yourselves.

If he cannot commit to any option, then it is time to walk away.

ihatemyhouse

walk away, he wont sell through a EA, and wont clear out, the rubbish might be holding up the house

uptomyeyeballs

ValHaller wrote: »

You need to pitch him a choice of a price if it is cleared or a lower price if it is not

Yep, that's what we intend doing. It's worth another try. I reckon £20-25k will make it into a really nice cottage.

Guest101

uptomyeyeballs wrote: »

We're interested in a property that is an old cottage. We've told the owner that we'll meet his asking price, subject to survey (full) if he has the house cleared. He's a hoarder, and it's ram jam full of his rubbish. The staircase has stairs missing etc. You can't see the floor or walls to see what state it's in. He's refused to clean it out, saying he can't afford the skips required.

I'm not prepared to do it myself because it's a health hazard and if we had an accident whilst cleaning it, he'd presumably be liable.

What do you think?

Yes he should do it, but you can't force him, and he can't force u to buy

No he wouldn't be liable. Lol

tbs624

It sounds as though the OP's desire to seize a "potential bargain" exceeds the owner's apparent desire to sell.

There is a world of difference between saying to a neighbour/mutual acquaintance that you are *thinking* of selling a property and actually doing it. So many posters have taken up the "if he won't even use an EA" line which is a bit presumptive: it may be that he would consider doing so further down the line if he felt the need to but if potential buyers are approaching you direct why entertain the "services" of an EA?

The fact is that there will be always be someone around with *cash* in the bank who will take such a property on when, and if, the owner is ready and willing to go ahead with a sale. Such buyers tend to not be too concerned about what bothers a FTB [edit: or other more wary buyers] and will not only buy without a survey, but without having personally seen the property. They'll also probably have access to cheap chuck and burn clearance firms and view that as part of the deal.

The current owner may well have sizeable funds tucked away elsewhere and [edit:may] not be particularly bothered one or another about selling his "funky" property.

getmore4less

what has happened to next door.

Surprised you have not got the council on the case , unoccupied health hazard etc.

getting someone official on his case may make him more complicit.

tbs624

getmore4less wrote: »

what has happened to next door.

Surprised you have not got the council on the case , unoccupied health hazard etc.

getting someone official on his case may make him more complicit.

My bolding.

Really? "I want a bargain priced 2nd home and I'll do whatever I can to get it........"?

I'd make absolutely certain I sold it to someone else in those circumstances. Or did what I needed to do to satisfy EH and simply keep the property.

uptomyeyeballs

getmore4less wrote: »

what has happened to next door.

Surprised you have not got the council on the case , unoccupied health hazard etc.

getting someone official on his case may make him more complicit.

The property next door is currently under offer. I think it's going to go for about £85k. If we can get over the clearance hurdle with this one, we'll get the survey done and see what it looks like, then make a decision.

Reporting him to the council would ensure he didn't sell to us.

uptomyeyeballs

Guest101 wrote: »

No he wouldn't be liable. Lol

Think you've misinterpreted. I meant if we were to help clean it out before sale.