Ready to exchange and then....

pimento

Tell them you're viewing the one next door and see what they say.

flyddo

Survey picked up that brickwork needs repointing and chimney stack taken down and rebuilt. Ventilation system needs to be installed as no trickle vents on Windows or extraction fans in bathroom and kitchen. 3 new windows needed also. Garage roof also needs to be taken down and redone so will also need scaffolding. Surgery quoted 9,000 for all necessary work so when we asked for 3,000 off we were being generous I thought! The vendor has somehow got hold of my mobile number and had text me today to see if we can exchange Friday so now in a pickle as need to work out what to do. They seem.to be nice enough people.but like to.be in control of everything and I think they are taking advantage of us being FTB! Any further advice?

Lokolo

As I've asked already. What did the surveyor say the current value as?

Those problems will effect the final valuation, but if the final valuation was still £285k, that is the value of the property WITH those problems. So yes, asking to pay £282k for a property worth £285k in its current state the vendor will rightly refuse.

Obviously they could accept, but as you pointed out, they need this cash for their onward purchase.

Aylesbury_Duck

flyddo wrote: »

Survey picked up that brickwork needs repointing and chimney stack taken down and rebuilt. Ventilation system needs to be installed as no trickle vents on Windows or extraction fans in bathroom and kitchen. 3 new windows needed also. Garage roof also needs to be taken down and redone so will also need scaffolding. Surgery quoted 9,000 for all necessary work so when we asked for 3,000 off we were being generous I thought! The vendor has somehow got hold of my mobile number and had text me today to see if we can exchange Friday so now in a pickle as need to work out what to do. They seem.to be nice enough people.but like to.be in control of everything and I think they are taking advantage of us being FTB! Any further advice?

They may know about the issues and have factored them into their asking price already, so your request for £3k off was a double discount to them.

What do you mean by "ventilation system"? Installing extractors to a bathroom and a kitchen and retro-fitting trickle vents to windows aren't expensive jobs whereas "ventilation system" sounds disconcertingly vague and possibly expensive.

I wouldn't get involved in private correspondence, keep everything through the EA and solicitor channels as appropriate. As for what to do next, only you can decide.

AdrianC

That's going to be interesting when they pop round to meet the new neighbours...

Tiglet2

To be honest, those points on the survey don't sound dreadful. You won't find many "secondhand" houses without issues of some description. For instance, we have a flat roof on our garage which was brought up in our survey when we bought. 5 years later, the flat roof is still there and still in good working order. Surveys will nearly always suggest repointing, particularly on chimneys - they are not easily accessible, nor do faults become obvious because most people don't climb up on their roof very often. Also I don't think you can expect money off for 3 new windows. You should have spotted this when you viewed the property and the vendor could argue that as the windows were in situ at your viewing and at the estate agent's valuation, the price of the property would have taken that into account.

It does sound as though the house next door is better value, so of course, go for that one if you wish. Bear in mind though, your conveyancing will start again from the beginning and, as the vendors haven't yet found anything, you will have no idea how long the eventual chain will be. Decide whether you want to exchange within the next week or two, or in 4/5 months for the house next door. As you are a FTB, it may be that you are not in a hurry to move in soon.

Morata_

Losing a property or not completing on one over £3k wouldn't be for me, you will make that back and some, history suggest.


Only concern I would have is how much doubt this has thrown into your thoughts, is this def the house for you regardless of neighbour? No one can say its the wrong thing to do, £285k reasons is a lot you have to be certain on. All the best. (I wouldn't be happy they got my mobile number late in play to add a little more heat...)

Cakeguts

They can't take the carpets if they said that they were included in the sale. Look at the property information to see what they said they were including.

House next door might be cheaper but it might also need to be in a chain which has more risk decide if you want to finish up buying one of these houses. Remember "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." You can exchange on the current one and buy it. Next door you could be in a long chain and not buy it and also the survey could be at least as bad and you may still not get any money off.

If you want to live in a house in that area the one you have got the chance to buy now is likely to complete and you move in. Next door anything could happen they might not even accept your offer. Who knows?

Margot123

And if your original vendors stay put, I don't think there will be much of a decent neighbourly relationship.

This is a situation where you could end up choosing your own neighbours but not the ones you want!

AylesburyDuck

flyddo wrote: »

We have already viewed next door a few weeks ago before it came onto the market when we were introducing ourselves as the buyers of the house next door. They haven't found anywhere yet which works against us.
I don't think asking for 3,000 off the 285,000 was unreasonable but they say they won't be able to afford the house they are buying.
I know how I would feel if I was on the receiving end of someone asking for 3,000 off an agreed price but it feels like the right thing to do at the moment.

Arrrrgghhhh need to.make a decision!!

I'd be asking them to find another way to fund £3000 of their sale, because frankly it's better than you withdrawing.
It's your money and you have to get the best deal for you money, manners dont come into it, they are not considering you now are they.
I'd be saying £3000 off or you wont exchange and will withdraw, then go buy the other place.