Questions to ask seller before handing keys over

osaddict

Hello everyone,

In addition to the 10 questions mentioned here:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/moving-house-checklist

I have thought of 'do you have a window cleaner, do you have a milkman!

Can you think of any others you asked, or perhaps wish you'd asked your buyer before they handed you the keys?

Many thanks - I'm completing in a week (all being well) and trying to get a list of everything

good_advice

I have just asked about the gas and electric company they are with and which tariff. No good moving in and having no idea.

osaddict

Thankfully I already have that from the property information form they've filled in, which is good

G_M

osaddict wrote: »

I have thought of 'do you have a window cleaner, do you have a milkman!

Can you think of any others you asked, or perhaps wish you'd asked your buyer before they handed you the keys?

* Do you have a newspaper delivery boy/girl?
* Do you have an odd job man?
* Do you have an electrician?
* Do you have a plumber?
* Do you have a daily cleaner?
* Do you have a butler?

Hedgehog99

If you're moving some distance, it'd be useful to know if they have a good set of maintenance people they've used in the past - gas man, electrician, plumber etc.

Also wise to check whether there's a Wayleave Agreement in place - I was pestered to sign one and didn't know what it was, so I asked the planning officer at the council. He said it allows whichever company you sign one for to pass their services under your land (e.g. cable TV), but not only that - they can come back and dig it up anytime! That would definitely put me off buying.

If your new garden has fruit trees, do they know what varieties? No point putting a Bramley in your packed lunch!

Missus_Hyde

We're completing on my late mother's house tomorrow and we'll go round there in the morning to read the electricity, gas and water metres, before handing the keys over to the estate agent for collection by our buyer once it goes through (hopefully with no problems!)

We've left her a 'welcome to your new home' card plus a vase of flowers with any information she might need to help her settle in (location of electric and gas metres, stopcock for the water and instruction pamphlets for the boiler, oven, hob etc.) She's local to the area, so obviously would know things like bin collections etc. and we've given her the names of her immediate neighbours, who are all fantastic.

We're so pleased that we've found such a lovely buyer for the house and I'm hoping that she'll have many happy years in her new home.

osaddict

I'd love to have a seller like you! I suspect that my seller will leave the place in a state, and probably rush through any questions I have unfortunately!

good_advice

osaddict wrote: »

Thankfully I already have that from the property information form they've filled in, which is good

Our property info did not say a lot. I had to ask.
I have to decide on a new phone and internet, unsure who.
We have Virgin here but no cable in the new place.

I have also bought a new home card to leave in the kitchen when we move out.

Hoploz

My fictional conversation....

Are the drains blocked?
Yes

Does the boiler work?
No

Are you leaving the handles on the wardrobe doors?
No

Where is the switch for the outside light?
There isn't one.

Are you leaving the portacabin in the driveway?
We will leave it for a while then eventually collect it after a month, at an inconvenient time, expect you to be there to deal with the lorry collecting it, and accept any damage caused.

Are you leaving the hamster?
Yes, under the floorboards in the eaves cupboard, from where it cannot be rescued.

Are you leaving the dog mess all over the lawn?
Yes.

Are you leaving any useful garden tools?
Yes, a rusty wheelbarrow with one handle.

osaddict

Lol, thanks for the positive response! Hopefully the fiction in your head doesn't become a reality!!! I walk past the house every day, so unless they do something in the next few days the portacabin won't happen - besides, with their people carrier they'd not have space on the drive!

PasturesNew

What took you so long? Watching you load the van I thought you'd never **** off!!