Appliances included in Rightmove description but vendor wants money for it

poolboy

I sold a flat and left appliances free of charge.  Buyer phoned me up and said she can't get the washer working, I said I d refund what she had paid for it....zero.  it did work btw she just didn't know how.

AnotherJoe

Like many others here I'd say no thanks because they are trying it on. Its not as if you undercut their price, you bid £15,000 over AP !

As someone else posted, they signed off the details and I woudl go back to teh EA and say how disappointed you are that either they or the vendors made such a mistake, what else about the details isn't right?

Worst case you can buy a s/h one much cheaper or a brand new one with guarantee for a bit more.

When they discover what's involved moving it (these things are heavy and much less transportable than a standard oven!) they are likely to leave it anyway.

Does leave a bad taste in the mouth, Id be very careful looking at everything else there.

princeofpounds

Newnoel said:

Are the Estate Agents members of RICS or the NAEA, or the Property Ombudsman scheme? If so the threat of a complaint to their regulatory body might focus minds

This behavior is likely to put them in breach of the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 (BPRs), which covers misleading adverts from Estate Agents and could lead to a prosecution:
Consumer and business protection regulations (rics.org)  

It is worth pointing this out to them. If they still don't budge, you can always let your local Trading Standards office know, and they may be interested in a prosecution.

No-one is going to get prosecuted about this, be realistic. Even an ombudsman scheme is only going to result on a slap on the wrist, at most.

The fact is that whilst the property was advertised with appliances, the vendor is changing their ask. Just the same way a buyer can change their bid at any point prior to exchange.

Personally I would push back hard on this. No sane vendor is going to risk a sale over a grand - especially when it's them trying to change the de facto terms of an agreed offer - in the same way no sane buyer would risk a purchase over a grand. But that's easy for me to say as I'm not a desperate buyer. Just say 'the cooker stays or the deal is off, I'm not dealing within someone who goes back on their written word'.

All that stuff about 'you should have specified the range in your offer' is just nonsense. There is no specification beyond the advert until the fixtures and fittings form is completed.

Skiddaw1

Bet the cooker won't fit into their new house (and it'll be a complete PITA to move especially if it is a Rangemaster or similar). If they're insisting on charging you for it I'd be tempted to say you've changed your minds and don't want it. Bet it costs them more to get it taken away.

justworriedabit

davidmcn said:

Nothing is "binding" until you exchange contracts, so it's all up for negotiation. Given the typical prices for second-hand appliances, the cooker would have to be gold-plated to be worth £1000, surely?

As above other than the cooker as they can cost a few k new, top of the range ones and easily a k lsightly used, looked after.

Brucema07

Similar happened with us. They wanted to negotiate for the free standing stuff and we said no due to having our own stuff. Low & behold,  an email from EA on behalf of seller asking if it can be left.

I'd say you don't want it and your happy for them to take it. If they don't end up leaving it, as people have said your only 200-300 down for a new one for the time being!

lady38_me

Thank you SO MUCH to all who have replied!

You replies definitely have made my day! Some of them are hilarious (like asking for £10 fo a microvawe after a buyer offered £30k over AP!) but they all made me think a lot and definitely helping to stay relax about the whole situation. I am much more happier and less stressed - due to the collerctive wisdom of the forum. It also helps to realise that our situation is not unique.

I don't know the exact model (rather that it's a Rangemaster) as we were 100% sure it's included so didn't pay that much attention during our viewing. But hubby is tasked with trying to identidy it from the pictures and research the price for a brand new vs used. I will also confirm the brand/model with EA (but only on Monday I guess).

Have looked at new vs used Rangemasters and indeed I am sure we will be able to buy a second hand one for considerabely

below figures.

I really like the idea to call EA and ask to check other details in the advert. I didn't feel confortable at morning that they phoned me saying basically it's all my fault for not specifying it (and i wanted to shout: yes, it's exactly why we offered £15K OVER the AP to pay another £1k for a range cooker). At the same time, we want to buy the house so, however irritated I feel, we will think over weekend and see what is the best course of actions. 

Thank you all again - and have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Alan2020

I don’t know how desperate you are, reduce your offer by 30k, I would and walk away.

GaleSF63

Soot2006 said:

No shortage of second hand rangemasters on Ebay for £150-£400 depending on specs. Many good as new. Many other decent brands you can get brand bew for under £1,000.

I would say "no thanks" to their offer, they can take it with them.  Take a deep breath and don't stress about it. House buying is The Worst, but this is the literally the least stressful bit of it!

Probably ones that house-sellers have taken with them because their buyers have refused to pay over the top to keep them.

Aspiration

lady38_me said:

Thank you SO MUCH to all who have replied!

You replies definitely have made my day! Some of them are hilarious (like asking for £10 fo a microvawe after a buyer offered £30k over AP!) but they all made me think a lot and definitely helping to stay relax about the whole situation. I am much more happier and less stressed - due to the collerctive wisdom of the forum. It also helps to realise that our situation is not unique.

I don't know the exact model (rather that it's a Rangemaster) as we were 100% sure it's included so didn't pay that much attention during our viewing. But hubby is tasked with trying to identidy it from the pictures and research the price for a brand new vs used. I will also confirm the brand/model with EA (but only on Monday I guess).

Have looked at new vs used Rangemasters and indeed I am sure we will be able to buy a second hand one for considerabely

below figures.

I really like the idea to call EA and ask to check other details in the advert. I didn't feel confortable at morning that they phoned me saying basically it's all my fault for not specifying it (and i wanted to shout: yes, it's exactly why we offered £15K OVER the AP to pay another £1k for a range cooker). At the same time, we want to buy the house so, however irritated I feel, we will think over weekend and see what is the best course of actions. 

Thank you all again - and have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Spot on OP, the big objective is getting the house and a new oven will be even better knowing you’ve got warranties in place etc.