Our buyer wants us to demolish our shed

mistertea

Woodyautumn wrote: »

We got this sale in 4 days.

If you mean you accepted the offer within 4 days of having the property on the market then you're in a strong position. I'd say no to their request and tell them that if they want to re-open negotiations then the starting point will be the full asking price as it'll be on the open market again.

Norman_Castle

Woodyautumn wrote: »

We have obtained quotes and can’t afford to take it down, nor do we want to.

Explain you have found the shed useful and expect others buyers would and because of this you're not willing to remove it. Offer the quotes for removal which they are welcome to do once they own the property. Explain you cannot reduce the price to accommodate this.


Out of interest, how much for its removal?

EachPenny

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Given that, I would agree to take it down stating it will be removed between exchange and completion.
Depending what type of asbestos it could be dismantled by you and each sheet wrapped in bags and taken to dump or you can pay someone.
If they pull out and it comes to light with future sellers the reason was :eek: "asbestos" :eek: most likely everyone else is going to insist on this anyway.

And that's the start of a slippery slope. The OP will only know what kind of asbestos is involved by getting it tested (=£££). The results of those tests might reveal it is ok for DIY removal, but if not a contractor will be required (=££££). It also assumes the local council has a policy of accepting DIY removed asbestos, if not, licenced skip hire will be required (=£££).

Then the current prospective purchaser pulls out because they don't like the kitchen.

If the asbestos on the shed roof is not in poor condition there is no reason for a prospective purchaser to have it removed. If they decide to, then it is their call, in the same way the OP shouldn't have pay to re-carpet the property if the purchaser doesn't like the existing.

There is also a strong possibility the purchaser has no idea about the asbestos or doesn't care - the surveyor was only concerned about wood rot and a 'structural' crack apparently. God knows what he'd make of some of the sheds I've seen.

quantumlobster

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Which is exactly why i said "offer to remove between exchange and completion"

Isn't this a bit of an insurance minefield, if something goes wrong?

lisyloo

quantumlobster wrote: »

Isn't this a bit of an insurance minefield, if something goes wrong?

What are you envisaging getting damaged during removal?
Sorry but I'm struggling to work out what could happen to damage the property during removal.

theartfullodger

Tell buyer you didn't realize price was not fixed and it's just gone up £2k

AnotherJoe

EachPenny wrote: »

And that's the start of a slippery slope. The OP will only know what kind of asbestos is involved by getting it tested (=£££). The results of those tests might reveal it is ok for DIY removal, but if not a contractor will be required (=££££). It also assumes the local council has a policy of accepting DIY removed asbestos, if not, licenced skip hire will be required (=£££).

No slippery slope because the OPs already had a quote for removal.

G_M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKNeaiXIT4c

Davesnave

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153129170943

StarTrekkie007

I would get quotes on the cost of taking down the shed. Have the buyer add this cost when giving a deposit ( exchange of contracts ?) and say you will do it then. However, if buyer pulls out then this fee is none refundable.


You need to protect yourself from doing costly work when there is a chance buyer could pull out and you are left out of pocket. So let him foot the bill with a none refundable fee.