Should I pay for a boiler service for my buyer?

lookstraightahead

Let's put it this way. A buyer can ask what they want. The seller can refuse. The buyer can then walk away if they want. To be honest sellers have had buyers by the proverbials for a while it's about time it was the other way around.

I would definitely check the status of the boiler - we bought a house and the first time the boiler broke down it was condemned (back in the day). As mickygg kindly pointed out, sellers aren't going to give you any negative points, a buyer needs to work them out for themselves.

lincroft1710

As this boiler appears to be 20+ years old, surely the prudent buyer would factor its replacement cost into their offer.

lookstraightahead

lincroft1710 wrote: »

As this boiler appears to be 20+ years old, surely the prudent buyer would factor its replacement cost into their offer.

Apparently it's been factored into the asking price although not mentioned lol

EachPenny

alumende27 wrote: »

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?

You are missing the point. It isn't being 'cheapskate' to question whether as a seller you need to go to the trouble of getting your boiler serviced to meet the demands of the buyer.

You are right about the bit in bold, but that isn't what the buyer is asking for. If all they wanted was the evidence then the OP could supply copies of receipts/certificates, or respond to the buyer saying that evidence was not available (but confirming (if appropriate) the servicing has been done)

The risk for the OP as seller is the service turns into major work, or for the boiler to be condemned.

The buyer is asking the OP to spend £60 to reduce the risk (to the buyer) of major costs and/or the boiler being condemned soon after the sale has taken place.

The buyer should be factoring that risk into their offer, or else having their own inspections/servicing carried out at their own cost.

If it were me my response to the buyer would be 'brief' and to the point.

EachPenny

kalamity52 wrote: »

I am in the process of selling my Victorian house with an almost Victorian boiler. I bought the house in 2000 and do not know how old the boiler was then and have not had it changed. I have never had a problem with the boiler but the pump stopped working in Year 1 after the heating was left off for about 3 months during Spring/Summer. When the same thing happened in Year 2 I just made sure I put the heating on in the summer months for a few minutes a day and it never happened again. On both these occasions my local plumber came in and sorted it out.

This shouldn't be seen as any indication of the reliability or remaining life of the boiler.

If you shut the heating down over the summer and the pump sits idle they are quite vulnerable to 'sticking'. (similar to seizing, but not as bad). This usually isn't something which even needs the pump replacing. It is a simple job for a householder with a screwdriver. But as you've discovered, it can simply be avoided by running the pump briefly on a regular basis.

parkrunner

If it's the only thing stopping the sale then spend the £60. If the sale then falls through you've got it ready for the next buyer.

Marvel1

I would do it but find the cheapest person to service it - who is gas registered of course and try and make it clear it's just a service as house is being sold and not willing to buy any parts that may go soon.

lookstraightahead

I think it will be serviced then re-negotiated. If you don't get it serviced I think the buyer will walk.

HHarry

I've just had a similar request from my Buyers, and git a gas safety check / service done. It was a small cost in the scheme of things, and made me look helpful.

You could get the service done - if the results are Ok pass the report on, if not just say you're not prepared to organise it.

Tom99

30 posts so far on whether to spend £60!