Buyers being difficult

Bananabelly

Hi all,I am in the process of selling a maisonette (built around 1970) with my now ex-partner. I am moving back overseas at Christmas. We put the house on the market early September and got offers within a few days, and ended up slightly over the asking price as two people were going for it (on the market for 189, 995 and final offer accepted was 191,000). The buyers then changed mortgage companies, from what we understand, and this took five weeks before a survey was even done, despite us pestering the estate agent to get things moving. Things have been going OK, although quite slowly. The survey was done in October. From the survey 2 things came up, although they didn't tell us at the time:1. No banister on the stairs (it is ground floor, split level). I feel it is fairly obvious when you look at stairs whether there is a banister or not, so they made an offer on a house without a banister on the stairs. (We bought it like that, we didn't take them away). They got a quote, which is dated 17th November, and only today informed the estate agent that they would like us to pay for a new banister.2. The boiler is old, I'm not sure exactly what came up on the survey but the mortgage company wanted it tested and now the Corgi guy says there is not enough ventilation and we have to basically smash a hole in an outside wall to put in a bigger grille.I am aware that it is a buyers market, etc, etc however I have a few issues with this. We have been very patient whilst they sorted everything out and they have been very slow to do anything, the survey was done at least 6 weeks ago and we are only finding out now 10 days before I fly! They know we are leaving the country.The banister quote is 1800 pounds which seems extortionate to me, it is not a big area (straight up and about 12 stairs, no corners etc). I think they are just trying to get a discount but don't want to come out directly and ask? Also they have had that quote for nearly a month!I can understand that the boiler ventilation is something that would only come up on a survey, and we have said we will sort that out before completion, but the banister issue is a bit cheeky.At the moment we have said we will sort the boiler but we won't pay for the banister. Is this reasonable? Do you think we should negotiate at all on this?Another quick question if anyone knows, as we are leasehold would we need to ask permission/planning permission from the freeholders (ex-council) to put in a bigger grille for the boiler ventilation? That is really going to slow things up.Thanks for any help you can give.

cherry_blossom_6

I would say they are taking the p with tha banister. As you said, there wasn't one when they agreed to that price, it isn't something which has come as a shock.

devils_advocate

Tell them you'll knock £2,000 off the price if they exchange next week. Its simpler than you doing all the work, and it gives them the money saving incentive. Who knows, for that price they may wish to live without a bannister!

Bananabelly

When the guy came to quote on the bannister he wasn't interested in the work (which makes me doubt his quote even more, he might have quoted high just to avoid the work) and he said he thought the people buying it weren't going to get it done anyway. I don't know why he said that (I wasn't there) but that makes me suspicious that they just want money off rather than getting the work done. Also they said to the estate agent today they wanted to exchange ASAP, by Thursday so it's mixed messages a little bit?? Our solicitor has been ready to exchange for 3 weeks.Further complicating things is my ex, who I own the house with, who now has taken a 'principled stand' and I think has decided he won't budge on the bannister just because they are being difficult. I am happy to negotiate to get the sale going. He is being a bit silly, especially as he has already moved out and so if we lose these people he will be paying rent on his new place and half our mortgage for who knows how long until we sell it.

PasturesNew

Yes. At £1800 I think he doesn't want the job.
Although maybe his, or your, choice of design/supplier could make a lot of difference to the cost.

e.g. if it is for twisted, nice spindles and a carved handrail, or a simple block shape for both parts.

david29dpo

£1800 is taking the p@ss. As you say, the buyers know you have to sell, so I think they are taking the p@ss as well. Personally I would tell them you want to exchange now or you re-market.

lynzpower

I would say the same.

Besides, how could you choose which banister.

I can sense after youd done the work theyd probably pull out.

I wouldnt do anything of the sort.

morg_monster

the buyer probably saw that thread on here a few weeks ago from the poster who was buying a house from someone about to leave the country, and everyone basically said "screw them for everything you can get, its a buyers market, they'll take a massive discount rather than mess up their travel plans..."

and yes i know it was a different situation and the vendor in that situation sounded like an utter dog and tried to screw the buyer but ultimately, the message "ask them to drop the price and threaten to walk away if not" in the case of people moving abroad was given and maybe this is what the buyer in this case is trying? - not saying it is right but you are in a bit of a tight spot OP. I would hold your nerve - but ask yourself is the hassle caused if you leave the country without selling the house worth £2000?

(ready for flaming...)

carpetbelly

morg_monster wrote: »

the buyer probably saw that thread on here a few weeks ago from the poster who was buying a house from someone about to leave the country, and everyone basically said "screw them for everything you can get, its a buyers market, they'll take a massive discount rather than mess up their travel plans..."

Re read that thread... It was nothing of the sort. The vendor was clearly trying to screw the buyer and had no intention of moving. Here the situation is clearly different.

morg_monster wrote: »

and yes i know it was a different situation and the vendor in that situation sounded like an utter dog and tried to screw the buyer but ultimately, the message "ask them to drop the price and threaten to walk away if not" in the case of people moving abroad was given and maybe this is what the buyer in this case is trying? - not saying it is right but you are in a bit of a tight spot OP. I would hold your nerve - but ask yourself is the hassle caused if you leave the country without selling the house worth £2000?

Totally valid point. Is £2k (£1k each when split between you and your ex) something to get picky about when you can sell the property, get out of the country on your timescales and be done with it?

morg_monster wrote: »

(ready for flaming...)

*pours petrol and lights a match*

morg_monster

hm i'd rather be flamed with brandy if its all the same, seeing as its the season.
probably cheaper than petrol too at the mo...

carpetbelly

ahhh good point, apologies, I'll switch to the cheaper fine brandy