Buyer wants me to carry out work after Homebuyers report?

Dannytomtom

Evening all, lost seller looking for some direction

FTB buying our house had a Homebuyers survey carried out on our property this week. Had 6 points rated at condition rating 3 and she has now gone to EA in a panic!

I have been emailed a copy of the report, points are as follows:

Electrics - consumer board is old (along with the std 'I'm not qualified' stuff)
Gas - standard response about potentially needing qualified gas check
Wood burner - as above
Chimney stack - render is cracked / blown, no evidence of damp in attic but may lead to structural damage in future
Roof - lining doesn't extend to guttering (it does)
Damp - High damp reading of 35% in one specific area. Obviously he only put prongs on plaster so I feel check is basically worthless. I've had a guy out who can't seem to replicate the reading.

My main problem is - the buyer is asking for me to get all of these things done before she moves in (she wants electrical /gas reports, repairs carried out by licenced professionals etc). On top of that the estate agent is also putting pressure on me to get these things done so as not to 'lose the sale'. Is this normal? I'm loathe to spend money on a house that has been valued correct for its condition (stated in survey). Anyone had any experience with similar /any advice on how I should proceed? Not sure how to satisfy her worries without a fair outlay, however we're pretty far along with the sale and purchase now. First time selling a house.

Little more background - house built in 1852 so is old stone house but is generally in fantastic condition throughout, or so I thought!!

Thanks all!!!

davidmcn

Just tell them it's priced appropriately for its condition (as she can see from the valuation), and the buyer is welcome to get her own professionals in if she wants to spend money on specialist reports. And tell your EA to advise her appropriately so they don't lose the sale...

Bit daft of her to ask you to do it all, given that she won't be able to rely on reports from your contractors, and you might get some cowboys in to bodge repairs.

Alan2020

Tell them to jog on, next post they asked me to rebuild the house...

G_M

The estate agent is concerned about his commission if the sale falls apart - but it's his job to work for you...... and reassure the buyer.


Just be firm and tell the EA you are happy to allow access to the property for the buyer's contractors (gas engineer, electrician etc) to inspect and report, and the minor issues identified are par for the course in any property, and this one has been priced accordingly.

End of discussion and negotiation. Do they want to buy or not?

hazyjo

Agree with G_M and others - get the EA to sort this.


Tell them to spell out: unless a house has been rented out, it is very unlikely it will have any of those certificates so they will likely incur this problem with every house they try to buy. Unless it's a new build, the electrics, etc won't be 'up to date'.


You have no guarantee they will buy your house so why would you spend money for them on things that don't actually need doing. Let them foot the bill if they want it doing. They can take the risk of spending money on a house with no guarantee of getting it.


This should be linked to that other thread about FTBs lol - I think a few were trying to defend them! I agree with the others in that a lot are a bit of a 'mare to deal with. And yes, I know we've all been a FTB at some stage!

Dannytomtom

Thanks all for the wise words,

Have gone back to EA this morning basically stating I won't be shelling out on improving a house that doesn't need it, especially without the guarantee of a sale. I've offered access to the house and have provided as many certificates etc as I could find.

Had a guy round to check the 'damp' and he's shocked that they stated it was damp on the survey, readings no where near enough to be classed as damp. She's planning on getting a damp proof specialist in which I've said no problem, though I do worry that if it's someone who sells damp proof solutions it will obviously be in their interest to find something and get some work out of it.

Thanks again all!

bigisi

Dannytomtom wrote: »

She's planning on getting a damp proof specialist in which I've said no problem, though I do worry that if it's someone who sells damp proof solutions it will obviously be in their interest to find something and get some work out of it.

That's exactly what it will be so I'd make it clear now that while you will allow access there will be no discounts on the back of this "survey".

sal_III

None of the findings are out of the ordinary for a 1852, if anything it came out quite good for it's age. It's just a matter of an uneducated FTB with unrealistic expectations.

You have already handled with through the EA, so it's a matter of waiting on the buyer decision. Unless desperate to sell i wouldn't consider dropping the price to allow for some of the remedial work.

Comms69

Dannytomtom wrote: »

Evening all, lost seller looking for some direction

FTB buying our house had a Homebuyers survey carried out on our property this week. Had 6 points rated at condition rating 3 and she has now gone to EA in a panic!

I have been emailed a copy of the report, points are as follows:

Electrics - consumer board is old (along with the std 'I'm not qualified' stuff)
Gas - standard response about potentially needing qualified gas check
Wood burner - as above
Chimney stack - render is cracked / blown, no evidence of damp in attic but may lead to structural damage in future
Roof - lining doesn't extend to guttering (it does)
Damp - High damp reading of 35% in one specific area. Obviously he only put prongs on plaster so I feel check is basically worthless. I've had a guy out who can't seem to replicate the reading.
- nothing alarming.
My main problem is - the buyer is asking for me to get all of these things done before she moves in (she wants electrical /gas reports, repairs carried out by licenced professionals etc). - then she can pay for them On top of that the estate agent is also putting pressure on me to get these things done so as not to 'lose the sale'. Is this normal? - I often let people IM PAYING tell me what to do.. I'm loathe to spend money on a house that has been valued correct for its condition (stated in survey). Anyone had any experience with similar /any advice on how I should proceed? Not sure how to satisfy her worries without a fair outlay, however we're pretty far along with the sale and purchase now. First time selling a house. - Tell her that it's sold in the current condition and any improvement would mean a substantial increase in price. Remind your agent they work for you, not the other way round; and any further misunderstanding will result in you dismissing their services

Little more background - house built in 1852 so is old stone house but is generally in fantastic condition throughout, or so I thought!!

Thanks all!!!

As above in red

shortcrust

It’s such an extreme over reaction that I’d be tempted to put it back on the market to send a crystal clear message to both the buyer and EA. I’d be furious with the EA.

FreeBear

Dannytomtom wrote: »

She's planning on getting a damp proof specialist in which I've said no problem, though I do worry that if it's someone who sells damp proof solutions it will obviously be in their interest to find something and get some work out of it.

Advise her to get an independent damp surveyor who is experienced in old properties, is not PCA registered, and has no commercial (or other) ties with a damp proofing company. Also suggest to her that any injected DPC and waterproof render/plaster could have a detrimental affect on both the property and its value.