Negotiating money off housee advice needed!

Oscarsbaby

Hiya, first time on this forum, so I hope someone can help!

We have just had a survey done on a house we are buying there are a few bits wrong - old cast iron guttering needs replacing, eletrics are very old, boiler needs replacing among other things. This i was fine with as it is an old house. However I would like to negotiate some money off as the garage roof is asbestos and it is very damamged. Also on a second visit to the property (to take measurments) I noticed the double glazing has condensation on the inside. The survey picked this up but I didn't realise it was as bad as it was - the worst window is in what will be my sons room and my bedroom. These will need replacing pretty soon after moving in.

I will get some quotes but the asbestos is proving to be a difficult one! One website said £3000 for removal and replacement and one said £1100 How much is a reasonable price to take off the house including the windows??
1
Thank you for your help

Thank you for your help

AdrianC

By "asbestos", I presume you mean asbestos-cement sheet, the corrugated stuff? It's nowhere near as evil as the A-word suggests.

We had a large (roughly triple garage size) outbuilding re-roofed in corrugated metal panel, including removal and disposal of the old A-C sheet, for about £2500 earlier this year - so £1100 isn't unrealistic. £3k is playing on the A-word fears...

If it's a blown unit (condensation between the panes) in sealed-unit double glazing then they're cheap, depending on size. £20-ish upwards each.

Oscarsbaby

Hiya, thanks for your reply. The windows are very old as well, so I may have a couple replaced. But nice to know I can do it very cheaply if I can't afford brand new windows. Bit of a relief that the asbestos roof is on the cheaper side too. We're close to signing contracts and I wasn't looking forward to having to ask for thousands off of the price!

Thanks again.

AdrianC

Oscarsbaby wrote: »

We're close to signing contracts and I wasn't looking forward to having to ask for thousands off of the price!

TBH, both of those are so obvious that - if I were selling - I'd not be that willing to negotiate, since I'd assume you'd taken them into account with your offer.

Oscarsbaby

First time buyer. Tons wrong with the house - I think I am entitled to ask for a thousand or so for a couple of bits I missed. I offered the full amount as it is a lovely house in a lovely area.

Argghhh

if you offered full amount i would ask them for 2500 towards roof and windows - if a few units are failing then the rest are probably due to go soon - the guarantee is usually 10yrs inupvc frames and 5yrs in wood frames. window units are like everything else they can be cheap or dear depending on your spec - if you change a frame then the new glass will have to meet current building regs and a 1000mm x 1000mm glass unit will be approx £30 - £60 depending on if it needs to be safety glass or not and will need coated glass for heat insulation etc - not as cheap as people think these days

Oscarsbaby

Hello, thank you. Waiting for the Estate Agent to ring back. Bit nerve racking as I have to sound like I know what I'm talking about. I'm going to give him a run down of the all the bad bits in the survey and then ask for what I want. I think I am being very fair and the place needs to be re-wired, new boiler, fire placed ripped out, gutttering, boundary walls, roof lining is torn, re-pointing on the chimneys, garage is about to fall down. I'm going to have to clear the front and back gardens as the house was left vacant during the summer - the front and back gardens are very large so this won't be easy!

Fingers crossed. Thanks for your help.

Newly_retired

With a property in that condition, I am guessing that the asking price was a low one compared with similar properties in the area.
So, priced according to its condition.
If so, I would not expect to get more than £2000 off, depending on the price range overall.

societys_child

As above, it's quite possible that the price reflects the work needed.

john_white

What did the surveyor value the property at?

Oscarsbaby

Hiya, yes it was a bit lower than a house in the same area which had an extension and looked very well cared for. The survey said the asking price was fair provided I was prepared to pay for all that needed doing to it, and that I should get quotes on all the work before I committed to a purchase. (I'm guessing that's standard)

I am generally very happy, but wasn't prepared for all the windows to be that bad - it said that they will all need replacing and they are much older than ten years, no guarantees etc. The garage is partly below ground level and from the garden you can see the roof. I have a little boy and next spring/summer you can guarantee he'll find a way of getting up there - obviously i'll stop him if he does but you can't be too careful!! Which is why I wanted to get that sorted and put it out of my mind.

I think I will go for 2500 and drop to 2000 if she isn't happy. You don't get if you don't ask. Thank you for your help