Decking

svis

Hi there, 
Hoping this forum can help...
we’ve recently sold our house, a lot quicker than we had thought it would take. As a result, there were a number of home improvements we had made that required sign off from building control (under permitted development). One if which is a single storey side Extension. We had to make a couple of minor alterations after building control came round. However, when they visited we think they alerted the council to our newly raised decking as a letter came through the post a couple of day’s later. We had no idea that raising our decking (to be in line with an existing balcony) would require planning permission. Our ignorance really. 

Anyhow, we’ve been asked to reduce the height by around 45cm. Not an issue and this is currently happening. My question is, when should we tell the buyer? The decking has been lowered and looks good but we now need to put a couple of steps in. Should we involve the buyer in the design of these? Or just let them know after the work is complete and hope they still like it? 

Sorry for the long post...anyone had a similar experience or have any recommendations? 

Many thanks. 

princeofpounds

Just do it and let them know. You need steps that you can live with and are happy to sell to others because your buyer can pull out at any time. If they do pull out, it's likely to be because the height of the decking has changed, not because of a couple of steps.

svis

Thanks for your response. That’s what we we’re going to do but don’t want to loose our buyer. Hopefully, they will be ok with it being lower. To be honest, it doesn’t look much different!

Davesnave

Not many people will pull out of a property purchase because the decking is lower than it was when they first viewed.

Indeed, a proportion of buyers, myself included, might look at decking and wonder what could usefully replace it!

svis

Maybe we’re overthinking it. Just another hurdle we didn’t expect. 

carefullycautious

I would find out if they want to keep the decking first as you may go to all this trouble only to find out they are going to rip it out

greatcrested

carefullycautious said:

I would find out if they want to keep the decking first as you may go to all this trouble only to find out they are going to rip it out

That's what I would do. I hate decking!

wilfred30

greatcrested said:

carefullycautious said:

I would find out if they want to keep the decking first as you may go to all this trouble only to find out they are going to rip it out

That's what I would do. I hate decking!

Me too.  It's the first thing I did when I moved into a house with decking covering the whole garden.  Once it was up, you could clearly see the rat runs!!!