Carpets fitted after we exchange?

NicolaOgden91

Hello,

Apologies if this is a duplicate thread I couldn't see one already created.

Just a quick question as I can't find a solution online, we are wanting to put new carpets down in the house we are buying, what are the chances of us being able to do this after we've exchanged but not completed/moved in yet? Is this even possible? or would we need to wait until all monies are transferred and the title deed is "officially" ours and have a completion/moving date?

Is it possible to gain access to the property prior to moving in so the carpet fitters could size up and order the carpets then we could possibly book in the fitting the day of the move or the day after?

Is there any reasonable way around this or would we just need to suck it up and wait until we've moved and sort it after, which means lugging/moving all the furniture around when the fitters come.

MovingForwards

You can ask the seller but they may say no.
The alternative is wait to move your stuff in / unpack and have the carpets done then.

user1977

You gain access to the property for measurements in the same way as you do for a survey i.e. via the estate agents. The vendor doesn't have to say yes.

As for fitting carpets before completion - that would be a rather bizarre request. And you also risk completion not actually happening but your carpets already being in the property.

I presume the house is current unoccupied?

NicolaOgden91

user1977 said:

You gain access to the property for measurements in the same way as you do for a survey i.e. via the estate agents. The vendor doesn't have to say yes.

As for fitting carpets before completion - that would be a rather bizarre request. And you also risk completion not actually happening but your carpets already being in the property.

I presume the house is current unoccupied?

Thank you for the comment, yes its vacant, we was just trying to minimize down time of enjoying our new home waiting for a few days for carpets to be fitted then move the furniture in

NicolaOgden91

MovingForwards said:

You can ask the seller but they may say no.
The alternative is wait to move your stuff in / unpack and have the carpets done then.

MovingForwards said:

You can ask the seller but they may say no.
The alternative is wait to move your stuff in / unpack and have the carpets done then.

Thank you for the comment

TripleH

If it's unoccupied AND you've exchanged, ask away. They can but say no.

The risk is on you failing to complete and the current owners get new carpets in the mix.

Unless they're really grim and you fill the house with your stuff, I'd get the floor measured and carpets put in after you move.

If you're going to repaint, you want to do it on old rather than brand new carpets.

saajan_12

NicolaOgden91 said:

Hello,

Apologies if this is a duplicate thread I couldn't see one already created.

Just a quick question as I can't find a solution online, we are wanting to put new carpets down in the house we are buying, what are the chances of us being able to do this after we've exchanged but not completed/moved in yet? Is this even possible? or would we need to wait until all monies are transferred and the title deed is "officially" ours and have a completion/moving date? - would be quite odd, as its still the seller's property. Its rare but not impossible that completion falls through, but with your carpets there someone has to pay your losses/seller's cost to reinstate.. Also is the place empty? If not, then its also inconvenient to move their boxes + furniture around for your carpet fitters

Is it possible to gain access to the property prior to moving in so the carpet fitters could size up and order the carpets then we could possibly book in the fitting the day of the move or the day after? - this is more reasonable, you can ask for access to measure up (though the seller can refuse). Fitting on completion day might be tricky as the exact time you get access can vary, regardless of what the contract says. 

Is there any reasonable way around this or would we just need to suck it up and wait until we've moved and sort it after, which means lugging/moving all the furniture around when the fitters come.

You can ask, worst anyone will say is no, as they aren't under any obligation to agree to any of it. Measuring ahead of time to fit the day after completion is the most reasonable of your options. 

Owleyes00

We had carpets fitted about three weeks after moving in. I’ll admit it wasn’t ideal but we just kept lots of stuff in the garage and slept on a mattress on the floor for a bit

canaldumidi

I bought a vacant property some years ago and the vendor kindly agreed to let me have access between Exchange and Completion, provided I did not stay overnight and returned the keys to the EA every day.

In that time I painted most of the house, had new UPVC windows measured for fitting the day after Completion, and laid new carpets. Also had a joiner fix broken kitchen units and internal doors (angry foot through the door panels...!).

Within a week of Completion, I had a semi-trashed house (an ex letting) restored and new tenants installed.

But this is highly unusual and exposed me to some risk (ie if Completion had not happened). It was also entirely dependant on the vendor agreeing.

eddddy

NicolaOgden91 said:

we are wanting to put new carpets down in the house we are buying, what are the chances of us being able to do this after we've exchanged but not completed/moved in yet? 

Often, the seller's solicitor will advise the seller against this as a matter of course.

FWIW, I came across a case where the seller's solicitor regarded it as such a bad idea that they said "no" without even asking the seller.  But when the buyer asked the seller via a mutual friend, the seller said "yes" - and advised their solicitor.


But in that case, the seller was an experienced property owner who understood the risks - and felt confident enough to override their solicitors advice.  A lot of sellers might not feel that confident, and just follow their solicitor's advice.

Noneforit999

As others have said, you can ask but don't be surprised if the vendor says no.

In reality, where would you stand legally if you paid for new carpets but the completion fell through? Unlikely after exchange granted but a risk none the less.

We are currently selling and will be moving out 1-2 weeks before completion, so just after exchange and I would happily let them in via the EA to measure up etc but I wouldn't be allowing them to recarpet or paint walls. There is no benefit to me as the vendor, only risk.