Vendor dictating terms

w00519772

I am in the process of buying my first house. I met the vendor a few days ago. There seems to of been a communication breakdown throughout the process so far e.g. the estate agent said that the vendor would look at a leak (identified by survey), but they are not willing to (this was in writing - however they said: "look into" rather than "resolve").

I sent a strongly worded email to the estate agent yesterday and copied the vendor in. The vendor gave me an ultimatum today saying that I have to accept that he will not investigate anything that was identified by the survey unless I pay for it and asked me to accept the terms by a specific time today, which I did not do (I contacted the agent instead expressing that I was unhappy).

I don't want to be pushed around. I am in a good position. The house was on the market for four months before I offered, though I do believe someone offered slightly more than me early on, but the vendor wanted to wait to be offered more - the estate agent implied this. I have two options:

1) Reply to the vendor accepting the terms
2) Wait and see what happens

Does anyone else have a similar experience?

Running_Horse

Option 3. Apologise for being a macho @rse.

Why are you communicating directly with the vendor? That is generally a job for the agents, to smooth over any problems that arise. It's what they do day in day out. In my experience, sending angry emails in any situation is more likely to inflame emotions on both sides than resolve anything.

But having read your numerous other posts on this house purchase I get the impression you are not really sure about it anyway. Are you deliberately sabotaging the process for the sake of something that can be fixed for a few quid?

Jennifer_Jane

You are in a strong position if you are not in a chain: as a first-time buyer you will probably be pickier than people who are more accustomed to house-buying. Nevertheless, if you are prepared to walk away from the house, then you can ask for anything you want to be done. The vendor has the choice to do it or not.


I got my vendor to do most of the things the Surveyor mentioned, and paid half of one bill which the vendor requested. I was a serious buyer, but not in a chain: thus in a very strong position.


It's up to you. Insist and be prepared to walk away. But you can also ask for things to be done and they can be done in a slapdash way or cheaper than you would have done. The surveyor won't go round to check that things have been done.

w00519772

w00519772 wrote: »

I am in the process of buying my first house. I met the vendor a few days ago. There seems to of been a communication breakdown throughout the process so far e.g. the estate agent said that the vendor would look at a leak (identified by survey), but they are not willing to (this was in writing - however they said: "look into" rather than "resolve").

I sent a strongly worded email to the estate agent yesterday and copied the vendor in. The vendor gave me an ultimatum today saying that I have to accept that he will not investigate anything that was identified by the survey unless I pay for it and asked me to accept the terms by a specific time today, which I did not do (I contacted the agent instead expressing that I was unhappy).

I don't want to be pushed around. I am in a good position. The house was on the market for four months before I offered, though I do believe someone offered slightly more than me early on, but the vendor wanted to wait to be offered more - the estate agent implied this. I have two options:

1) Reply to the vendor accepting the terms
2) Wait and see what happens

Does anyone else have a similar experience?

Running_Horse wrote: »

Option 3. Apologise for being a macho @rse.

Why are you communicating directly with the vendor? That is generally a job for the agents, to smooth over any problems that arise. It's what they do day in day out. In my experience, sending angry emails in any situation is more likely to inflame emotions on both sides than resolve anything.

But having read your numerous other posts on this house purchase I get the impression you are not really sure about it anyway. Are you deliberately sabotaging the process for the sake of something that can be fixed for a few quid?

i think that is an unhelpful post and is also a little offensive. I am an anxious first time buyer with real concerns. I am certainly not trying to "sabotage" the process. I am just a little inexperienced. The vendor provided his email address and specifically asked to me copied into all emails.

Jason74

The unfortunate thing you have to remember is that in much of the UK,it is very much a sellers market right now. Certainly if you're in London or the South East, the vendor will probably be able to re-market at a higher price than you agreed, and have the house under offer with a new buyer in a matter of days. The second thing, is that if you as a buyer want further investigations done, it is perfectly normal that you will be the party paying for them. Ultimately, the vendor is not asking anything unusual there.

Being a FTB is a nightmare for anyone. As you say, inexperience in these issues makes an already stressful situation even harder. I'd suggest backing off a little, and communicating via the agent as another poster suggested. This is a stressful situation for you and the vendor, and it sounds as though you'd both benefit from dealing through a professional intermediary. That mediation is imho the one and only sense in which a good agent can really earn their money.

chewmylegoff

w00519772 wrote: »

I am in the process of buying my first house. I met the vendor a few days ago. There seems to of been a communication breakdown throughout the process so far e.g. the estate agent said that the vendor would look at a leak (identified by survey), but they are not willing to (this was in writing - however they said: "look into" rather than "resolve").

I sent a strongly worded email to the estate agent yesterday and copied the vendor in. The vendor gave me an ultimatum today saying that I have to accept that he will not investigate anything that was identified by the survey unless I pay for it and asked me to accept the terms by a specific time today, which I did not do (I contacted the agent instead expressing that I was unhappy).

I don't want to be pushed around. I am in a good position. The house was on the market for four months before I offered, though I do believe someone offered slightly more than me early on, but the vendor wanted to wait to be offered more - the estate agent implied this. I have two options:

1) Reply to the vendor accepting the terms
2) Wait and see what happens

Does anyone else have a similar experience?

As I have pointed out before, you are posting on the wrong board if you genuinely want advice about this sort of issue. There is a board specifically for questions about house buying selling and renting. Try there.

If you want to have an argument about something then this is the right place. If you want to start an argument I suggest you post a clich!d ignorant comment - something like "great to see today's low inflation figure shows that prices are finally falling" and then sit back and wait for the slagging off to start.

purch

w00519772 wrote: »

Does anyone else have a similar experience?

Whenever I have not been 100% comfortable about the transaction, I have not gone ahead.

Buying a property is a huge transaction, that will have implications on your life and finances for a huge chunk of the rest of your life, so if you have any concerns, don't go ahead.

mayonnaise

w00519772 wrote: »

I have two options:

1) Reply to the vendor accepting the terms
2) Wait and see what happens

Does anyone else have a similar experience?

1)

As someone already said, it's a vendors market.

Generali

Unless there is something amazing about this house I'd walk away.

My suspicion is that (s)he knows precisely what the problem is and doesn't want to shell out for something that will most likely lead to you not buying.

Don't touch it with a bargepole.

marlot

You need to work towards a win:win rather than just demanding. Why should the vendor spend money just to keep you happy? What's to stop you demanding more and more work/money off?

After all, even if he spends the money, you could still pull out.

You could either factor the repair into your offer, or pay someone to look at at.

Or you could move on a buy a perfect house somewhere else.

chucknorris

chewmylegoff wrote: »

If you want to have an argument about something then this is the right place..

No it isn't!