Selling with no faults - help please

ben_m_g

Hi all,

We are finally selling our three year old house and the buyers have asked in writing, if there are any faults.

As far as i'm aware nothing is wrong with the property, however without going through everything in the house I couldn't be sure.

Some items like the dishwasher electrics and plumbing have never been used so I have no idea if they work.
Similar items like fused spurs, radio hook ups and a garden tap (that has now been unscrewed to fit furniture) have never been used, but may well be an issue should the buyers want to use them.

With contracts needing to be in this next week, i'm running out of time but need to reply.
What can I put to be honest but not set me up for complaints further down the line?

foxy-stoat

Have the buyers solicitors asked your solicitors to confirm if the house has any faults?

Wouldnt this of been covered in the contract inventory document?

davidmcn

Just tell them what you've told us. I take it you don't live there?

DRP

Ask your conveyancer how to deal with the question. Ideally you want to be as non-specific as possible. After all, every house has faults (if it is even possible to define a fault).

You could tell them that all the relevant information is in the property information form.

societys_child

Q: Are there any faults?

A: Not to my knowledge (unless you know of any)

DRP

societys_child wrote: »

Q: Are there any faults?

A: Not to my knowledge (unless you know of any)

Yep, that's pretty non-specific and all-encompassing. :cool:

eddddy

Assuming it's in England/Wales, I would reply something like this:

"I am not aware of any significant faults, however the buyer should only rely on their own inspections and surveys to confirm this."

... and ask your solicitor to double-check the answer to ensure that you aren't offering any guarantee, or increasing the risk of litigation against you.

(You don't need to test everything.)

ben_m_g

Hi all thanks for the updates.

A bit more info for you, I do live at the property however most of the items above came with the house as a new build. The dishwasher hook ups are ready for a dishwasher to be installed. We never got round to buying one.

I have spoken to my solicitors, however they steered me wrong last time, so I appreciate the comments.

DaftyDuck

Can you be more specific? You say the buyers have written.... If you mean that, ignore it and don't respond at all. If the buyers' solicitor, what exactly has he written, and is it the only question.

I believe eddddy is right. I'd combine:

Please see Property Information Form for further details, otherwise buyer should rely on their own inspections and surveys. If there are any specific points they wish to raise, we will answer to the best of our ability.

However, at this juncture, I'd be most tempted to simply not respond.

Are they first time buyers? Have they had a survey of any kind?

dc197

Don't lie. Don't say too much.
As already mentioned, tell them to do their own inspection, especially if they have a specific concern about one specific item (e.g. boiler).

DRP

DaftyDuck wrote: »

Can you be more specific? You say the buyers have written.... If you mean that, ignore it and don't respond at all. If the buyers' solicitor, what exactly has he written, and is it the only question.

I believe eddddy is right. I'd combine:

Please see Property Information Form for further details, otherwise buyer should rely on their own inspections and surveys. If there are any specific points they wish to raise, we will answer to the best of our ability.

However, at this juncture, I'd be most tempted to simply not respond.

Are they first time buyers? Have they had a survey of any kind?

Agree with most of this, but (assuming the query comes from the vendor's conveyancer) the problem with not replying is that a month down the line OP will wonder why no progress has been made and be eventually told the buyer/conveyancer is still waiting a response to all the questions...

I think it should be acknowledged