Obstructive Estate Agent

TBG01

we've had an offer accepted on a house - the mortgage has been approved, now we're waiting to exchange contracts.

So you're still at the beginning of the transaction, and have weeks, more than likely months ahead of you before exchanging/completing. 

The vendor might be a "lovely man" and I'm sure he's keen to sell, but has he reveiwed the title? Does he know if the property is built over a mine shaft that's about to collapse?

You should not be putting money into a property that you don't already own. For all you know the title is completely messed up and not acceptable by your mortgage lender. 

By all means continue to fix this property before you own it. But you have no one else to blame (including the "lovely" man) if you waste money on a sale that falls through.

newsgroupmonkey_

lesalanos said:

Little point booking tradesmen in case it all falls through too IMO

I'm not sure what your area is like, but we're trying to get 'trades' in to do some work for us (Plumber and Electrician)

They're currently quoting November-December as the earliest timeframe. I have friends who got some people in to do work for them. They picked them based on the timescales they were willing to offer (3 month wait). It's gone absolutely horrendously and will end up in court almost certainly.

user1977

TBG01 said:

we've had an offer accepted on a house - the mortgage has been approved, now we're waiting to exchange contracts.

By all means continue to fix this property before you own it.

I don't get the impression the OP is going to be "fixing" anything before they own it, just trying to get some quotes in anticipation of owning it.

TBG01

user1977 said:

TBG01 said:

we've had an offer accepted on a house - the mortgage has been approved, now we're waiting to exchange contracts.

By all means continue to fix this property before you own it.

I don't get the impression the OP is going to be "fixing" anything before they own it, just trying to get some quotes in anticipation of owning it.

The vendor (lovely man) and myself are currently working together to get external works fixed

If you're popping round on a weekend to do some painting, fine. But if you're putting money in more fool you.

teachfast

Tradesman starts sucking air over teeth and saying it's all going to cost more than originally anticipated as stuff emerges...

That's why he doesn't want this happening. 

macman

It's insane to start work/spend money on a property you don't yet own. The vendor, lovely or otherwise, can still change his mind up to the date of exchange. He could be hospitalised, incapacitated, or drop dead. Stuff happens.
There are also potential issues with your tradesman doing work on a property that is insured by someone else. Plumber floods the house. Sparky burns it to the ground. Unlikely? Yes, very, but not impossible.

newsgroupmonkey_

Haveyougotenoughtime said:

In the meantime, I need to start booking in tradesmen to do work in the autumn following completion.

Wow! This escalated quickly.

We've gone from "Getting quotes to do work following completion" to people making MAHOOSIVE assumptions such as doing work without even having bought the property.

I'm guessing that we'll start getting some chinese whispers about whether the OP has even made an offer on the property, but is looking to do some building work - extensions, an annexe perhaps and a few outbuildings.

People sometimes need to read the OP