extensively refurbished, tastefully modernised and extended the property, means?

notanewuser

EverGreen wrote: »

I guess I would need it for the extensions done and also to check the building regulations. Am I correct?

Your solicitor would deal with that as the purchase proceeds and before exchange of contracts. You're not committed to the purchase until exchange takes place. Just go and look at it and if you like it make an offer!

flea72

Lord_Baltimore wrote: »

The problem lies in the interpretation of the description "extensively refurbished". Slapping magnolia paint throughout large areas of the house is not the same as installing a new kitchen and bathroom...

Slapping magnolia throughout is a redecorate, not a refurb. For it to be refurbished, new stuff has to be installed

adouglasmhor

flea72 wrote: »

Slapping magnolia throughout is a redecorate, not a refurb. For it to be refurbished, new stuff has to be installed

New light switches and/or fittings, or new worktops in the kitchen. That'l do it.

cloo

You don't have to trail through building regs and planning permission when you buy a house (unless you really want to), that will, or should, all be carried out in the purchasing process, so don't worry about extensions or refurbishment, that's really down to your judgement as to what they've done with the place.You don't have to check out legal and structural stuff, you'll be paying other people plenty of money to do that.

Davesnave

EverGreen wrote: »

The area is Selly park Road. You can actually look at the Selly Park and Selly Avenue from the window or living room.

Ah, that's an OK place too.

I was just giving options in case you didn't want to ID it exactly.

Selly Oak is a different matter, though! :rotfl:

As others have said, your solicitor and surveyor will be checking things for you, so concentrate first on whether you can see yourself living there happily.

Lord_Baltimore

flea72 wrote: »

Slapping magnolia throughout is a redecorate, not a refurb. For it to be refurbished, new stuff has to be installed

I was illustrating a point which you have admirably confirmed: the definition of a refurb is open to question and interpretation. Another view is also proposed by adouglasmhor:

adouglasmhor wrote: »

New light switches and/or fittings, or new worktops in the kitchen. That'l do it.

An "extensive refurbishment" can only be regarded as a guide before a proper viewing; it isn't about the English words used but the intention, interpretation and the real state of affairs in the property.

jjlandlord

EverGreen wrote: »

It seems that we are going to argue.
My original question was not directly targeting the dictionary meaning of the words. Because of my past experience in Canada I wanted to ask "do (seller and SA) mean it or (from your experiences) could it be just marketing issue?".

You asked what the terms meant.
The answer can only be based on the meaning of the words and the assumption that the person who used them understood English.

After that, obviously as the copy is intended at marketing the level of BS can be anything, not to mention that the average estate agent is not usually known for his mastery of the language.

You have to see the property for yourself to check their claim. It is pointless to try to guess how much they have lied/stretched the truth.

casper_g

The real answer to the question is that the terms used by Estate Agents in the UK do not have specific legal definitions. They are merely advertising copy. For the most part, they will try to say things that sound good but cannot be unarguably demonstrated to be false even if the subjective impression they give is misleading.

In short, the EA's literature is useful only to decide whether you want to view the house, not whether to buy it.

EverGreen_2

jjlandlord wrote: »

The education system is really going down... This is very simple English.

"extensively refurbished" means that the refurbishment was extensive, which means that it affected a large area of the house.

You could say "they re-did almost everything" if you only wanted to use only the 100 most common words of the English language.

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught".


I visited the house yesterday for viewing. Like other languages, English can be extremely ambiguous. That was my impression after being there. My offer was 12% less than the asked price.
Will update when I hear from agent.

DRP

casper_g wrote: »

The real answer to the question is that the terms used by Estate Agents in the UK do not have specific legal definitions. They are merely advertising copy. For the most part, they will try to say things that sound good but cannot be unarguably demonstrated to be false even if the subjective impression they give is misleading.

In short, the EA's literature is useful only to decide whether you want to view the house, not whether to buy it.

Exactly this!

Good luck with the offer, OP.