FTB - Ask for repairs through EA or conveyancers?

Reue

Hi guys, just a quick question;

We've had our homebuyers report back and its picked up 2 items we feel need to be addressed asap to stop further damage between now and exchange/completion.

The first is the guttering at the back of the house is leaking. The 2nd is that one of the back double-glazed windows will not close.

Should we raise these items with the selling estate agent or do it through our conveyancers to ask that these items be repaired before purchase.

Thanks.

jc808

I wouldnt do either - it will delay things or risk the seller saying no

whats the price like? is it priced accounting for these defects (theyre really minor tbh) or is there scope to reduce your offer by say 500 pounds or so to reflect the work?

mrginge

If i was your vendor and you came to me with those i would politely tell you where to go.

kingstreet

What is the agreed price?

What is;-

the value in current condition from mortgage report & valuation?

the value after any essential repairs?

ethank

I had some issues come up with my old flat before I sold. One was the render was damaged in a dormer extension and another was a leaking gutter. I told the buyer to fix them prior to completion.

Reue

mrginge wrote: »

If i was your vendor and you came to me with those i would politely tell you where to go.

Charming

Reue

jc808 wrote: »

I wouldnt do either - it will delay things or risk the seller saying no

whats the price like? is it priced accounting for these defects (theyre really minor tbh) or is there scope to reduce your offer by say 500 pounds or so to reflect the work?

Its not so much about the price.. more that we're unlikely to exchange untill after christmas, and thats going to be a long time with the house being unsecured and leaking water from the drainage.

AdrianC

Reue wrote: »

Charming

But he has a point. The leaky gutter might be as simple as needing a joint unclipping, cleaning and reclipping - like the one on the back of our house did recently. Or it might even just need cleaning out.

The window not shutting might be as simple as the latch needing adjustment.

Or they might be more serious.

If you just came up with that, and no more, to try to justify a reduction, you'd probably get short shrift from me, too.

(Actually, no, you wouldn't. Because I'd have already identified them both and fixed them before putting the house on the market. But that's a side issue.)

Either way, without more info, they're both lousy negotiating points.

Reue

AdrianC wrote: »

But he has a point. The leaky gutter might be as simple as needing a joint unclipping, cleaning and reclipping - like the one on the back of our house did recently. Or it might even just need cleaning out.

The window not shutting might be as simple as the latch needing adjustment.

Or they might be more serious.

If you just came up with that, and no more, to try to justify a reduction, you'd probably get short shrift from me, too.

(Actually, no, you wouldn't. Because I'd have already identified them both and fixed them before putting the house on the market. But that's a side issue.)

Either way, without more info, they're both lousy negotiating points.

But im not trying to negotiate for a reduction. The survey suggested they were both minor issues and easily fixed for very little cost. The problem is that it will be some time and during the winter that we complete and so I am worried about damage occuring between then and now.