Should I pay for a boiler service for my buyer?

G_M

kalamity52 wrote: »

.....I bought the house in 2000 and do not know how old the boiler was then

..........


The house does need work doing to it which is reflected in the selling price

The buyer knows the house needs work.
The buyer presumably knows the the boiler is at least 18 years old.
The buyer must already be budgeting for renovations.
Budgeting for a new boiler either in the near to medium term is just common sense in this scenario.


If the buyer wants the boiler inspected, or serviced (not the same), then provide access for his engineer (just as you have presumably provided access for his surveyor).

alumende27

kalamity52 wrote: »

Hello
The question is: should I?

Yes. Don't be such a cheapskate. It's entirely reasonable to expect to see some evidence that a boiler has been regularly serviced. You could say no, but for the sake of £60 is it worth it?

They *should* be regularly serviced, one of the few items in a home that should be. The usual reason for having a boiler serviced, other than to check for any obvious issues and to possibly clean them, is testing for safety reasons relating to carbon monoxide and for gas leaks.

Accountant_Kerry

This is a pretty standard request, for the sake of goodwill at the least with your buyer just get the service

lookstraightahead

Your choice but if I was the buyer I would want to know that the boiler works. At what point did you reflect a non working boiler into the price? Did you say that the boiler was old and had not been serviced in the particulars?

Mickygg

To all the people saying it's only £60 how on earth do you know. There will more than likely be extra costs that come with that for an old boiler that hasn't been serviced for ages. What if the part isn't sold anymore.

I have had exactly this with my last 2 houses I have sold. No way was I getting a service done. If I had a bill for £500 as a result of this the buyer still has 100% right to pull out before exchange.

Mickygg

lookstraightahead wrote: »

Your choice but if I was the buyer I would want to know that the boiler works. At what point did you reflect a non working boiler into the price? Did you say that the boiler was old and had not been serviced in the particulars?

Blimey with a comment like that you can tell you don't have experience in sales! If anyone in my company tried to sell something pointing out the negatives they would be long gone.

So if you ever sell a house (I'm guessing you never have) I expect you to list all things not right with the property including that tap that drips once every 60 seconds.

lookstraightahead

Mickygg wrote: »

Blimey with a comment like that you can tell you don't have experience in sales! If anyone in my company tried to sell something pointing out the negatives they would be long gone.

So if you ever sell a house (I'm guessing you never have) I expect you to list all things not right with the property including that tap that drips once every 60 seconds.

Of course I've sold and bought houses! The op said the old boiler was reflected in the price. Just wondering how purchasers know this? And thank you for pointing out why buyers must check out these things - it's because it isn't made obvious by the seller.

AnotherJoe

The advantage of you arranging it is that when the engineer sucks in his breath and says "old boiler like that on its last legs guv can't get the parts any more you should replace it" you can just take the receipt for the service which merely says "boiler serviced" and pass it on to the buyer with none of that documented, unlike the situation if the buyer had the wit to arrange the service themselves.

eddddy

Mr.Generous wrote: »

What if the service can't be carried out because he finds numerous faults and quotes to put them right?

I imagine that's one of the main reasons that the buyer has asked for the boiler to be serviced.

Why else would they ask?

It's a quick and cheap way of finding out if the boiler works and/or is safe.

G_M

eddddy wrote: »

I imagine that's one of the main reasons that the buyer has asked for the boiler to be serviced.

Why else would they ask?

It's a quick and cheap way of finding out if the boiler works and/or is safe.

errrrr...or he could just do a 2nd (3rd?) viewing and put his hand on the radiators. Hot? The boiler is working! Hot at the top and at the bottom? The radiators don't need bleeding or flushing.


Turn on a hot tap. What comes out? Hot or cold water......?


As for safe, well, check if the seller has a CO alarm (flashing). Even take one round and leave it near the boiler for 10 minutes whilst looking round the house.........